Chinese New Year will almost be upon casino players once more and that typically brings with it an array of new games. Eager for their own take on the festival to become a firm hit in time, Real Time Gaming has unveiled Ox Bonanza ahead of schedule.
It is hoped that by launching the game at USA-facing casinos ahead of time, it should be available early enough to make a mark with players before other developers follow suit with their own releases.
Meet Ox Bonanza
RTG is one of the primary providers of games over at US online casinos, so it is no surprise to see this slot debut there first, before making its way into other parts of the world. The slot is loosely themed on the Year of the Ox (2021) but works in other animals commonly found on the Chinese calendar, such as rats, pigs and dogs.
Aside from its appealing theme, the game will debut as a predictable 5-reel, 25-line release. Naturally, stakes are expected to cost as little as 0.25 per spin, with all 25 lines fixed. RTG has put a maximum cap of 12.50 a turn on this game, in a bid to lure in players on tighter budgets. With the ongoing pandemic, there will be more than a few of those.
Highly Volatile Action Is Guaranteed
There has been a change of late in the online casino world, with many players (American ones included) eager to play highly volatile releases. While these do not pay out often, the prizes tend to be considerably vast, making the games worth it. However, it is worth pointing out that at just 2,000x a bet, the non-progressive jackpot which features in Ox Bonanza is some way short of the types of prizes we’d commonly associate with high variance games.
It is not all bad news, though. Ox Bonanza also comes with a progressive jackpot. Randomly triggered, these uncapped prizes can make all the difference. Everything hinges on the new slot game’s RTP, which Real Time Gaming has not released.
Inside the Ox Bonanza Slot
Also found in the game are a handful of features. Doubling multiplier wilds are welcome, and a Morphing Wilds feature can see high-value icons turn into wilds. This would work better if the low paying did so instead, though.
Scatters can trigger a free spin round and up to 100 free games can be won if all five such icons appear on the reels at once. However, there does not seem to be anything overly inventive or original about that bonus round, save for the high number of spins offered.
Where to Play Ox Bonanza This Winter
Like most RTG developed video slots, Ox Bonanza will be available at US online casinos. It is scheduled to debut at most this week, giving it time to impress fans of China-themed slots before Real Time Gaming’s counterparts can get their own similarly themed titles out. One of the best spots to play it is at CasinoMax.