A beginner’s guide on how to play the Bonanza online slot game and win big prizes.
The first time I played Big Time Gaming's (BTG) Bonanza online slot, it looked a bit chaotic. But a few spins later, I was blown away. Why was that? The cascading Megaways, the high volatility where you can win big and take home a real bonanza, and the dazzling arcade-like gameplay.
It is unlike any video slot game you have played in any online casino in Canada or elsewhere because it offers up to 10,000x payouts across 117,649 paylines. It has 6 reels with a maximum of 8 symbols on four of them and 7 symbols on the remaining two, which is why it looked chaotic to me at first. The minimum payout is 2 symbols per reel. But years later and having won up to a maximum of 800x, I feel the game has grown on me.
I still take some time and resources to play the Bonanza slot machine. The banjo-based soundtrack, the cool graphics with pleasant sound effects, and the overall theme of mining (and gems!) make it a lot of fun to play and a great way to de-stress after a hard day. It offers a rich gameplay that you will find yourself returning to more often than you think. Especially if you're as curious as I am about playing on top of lush Mount Cashmore (with a waterfall on one side) and finding out what's in the mysterious mine below.
Bonanza is loved by millions of players around the world for the possibility of high payouts, in-game entertainment and free spins. Of course, there are some tricks you can use to win big. Here are some of my personal favorites:
The key to winning big here is to be consistent with your play. Like I said, if you are playing for the first time, start with a low bet. There is no Bonanza demo slot, so you will have to pay to practice.
But don't let that stop you. Playing Bonanza is easier than most general video slots out there. Here you simply bet according to the payline and spin. The basic objective is to get adjacent matching symbols across the 6 reels. Each reel has up to 7 or 8 symbols, making the combination a whopping 117,659 paylines.
It is probably the largest number of paylines I have personally seen in a slot machine game. And what's more? You also get the Bonanza free slot (online) if you manage to land four scatter symbols: G, O, L and D. This gives you 15 free spins with the chance to win unlimited multipliers and more free spins if you get more scatter symbols.
It is true that entering this so-called bonus round of free spins immediately puts you ahead of other players, but you will have to spin a lot to get there.
I myself had to play a few hundred times before I landed my first Bonanza free play slot round. But it was totally worth it as I was able to take home almost 800x winnings that night. The game becomes really addictive once you get a whiff of even the smallest wins, and it becomes easier if you follow my tips.
Another great way to improve your chances of winning the Bonanza jackpot is to learn all you can about the game, as I always recommend. Here's a quick rundown and some info nuggets to help you along.
Bonanza has 15 symbols in total. Your goal is to make a match of at least three symbols that are adjacent to each other. Now, some of these symbols have special powers, but before we learn about them, let's take a quick look at all the symbols.
Serial |
Symbol |
Type |
Function |
1 |
Ace |
Card symbol |
NA |
2 |
King |
Card symbol |
NA |
3 |
Queen |
Card symbol |
NA |
4 |
Jack |
Card symbol |
NA |
5 |
10 |
Card symbol |
NA |
6 |
9 |
Card symbol |
NA |
7 |
Ruby |
Gemstone |
NA |
8 |
Emerald |
Gemstone |
NA |
9 |
Sapphire |
Gemstone |
NA |
10 |
Diamond |
Gemstone |
50x boost |
11 |
G |
Scatter |
12 free spins when all GOLD symbols land |
12 |
O |
Scatter |
12 free spins when all GOLD symbols land |
13 |
L |
Scatter |
12 free spins when all GOLD symbols land |
14 |
D |
Scatter |
12 free spins when all GOLD symbols land |
15 |
Dynamite |
Wild |
Substitute, multiplier |
As you can see, the basic card symbols are low paying in the base game. But if you get the Wild or Scatter symbols, you are in for a big payout. Here's what they can do:
Playing the Bonanza slot machine has helped thousands win big. The biggest I have won personally is 800 times my bet, which was possible because I got the Free Spin mode and the Diamond game. But I have heard positive stories about other wins as well.
For example, several players from Canadian casinos have reported winning approximately 1,500 times after playing more than 3,000 spins. While this number looks big, it is easy to play if you automate it. Simply use the automatic option by clicking on the 'Answer' button next to the 'Play' button.
Most players can achieve up to 300x returns, but it takes conviction and skill to bet up and win big at Bonanza.
There is no Bonanza slot bonus except for the 15 free spins triggered by landing 4 scatter symbols. Personally, I wouldn't recommend chasing after this free spin mode as it is purely based on luck.
Instead, focus on learning the symbols and the cart system. The cart symbols (4) act as additional ones that can help you match and create a neighboring combination.
The average return to player (RTP) is 96%, which is naturally low. This is because the Bonanza slots payout only favors prolific players. You have to spin and spin and wager a lot of money to actually win some of your money back.
Since Bonanza is a game of chance and there is no way to guarantee a win, you should moderate your spending. If you feel that you are becoming addicted, I recommend that you seek help.
However, I do feel that governments and regulators need to step up and improve the economics of the game. The average player has to invest a lot of time and money to win big on slot machines, which have a house edge of around 8%. Fortunately, this is low and the enjoyment you get is higher than other forms of gambling such as lotteries and scratch cards.
If you trigger the Free Spins mode here, you are sure to go home with a real bonanza. You need to get the four scatter symbols anywhere on the reels and in any way. Once you do, you automatically get 15 free spins. This is followed by more free stuff such as
I recommend playing at greatcasinocanada.com where you can focus on your game and experiment with different types of video slots.
I would argue that Bonanza's free online slot game is perhaps the most lucrative video slot around. It's a volatile system with the highest number of paylines. Even though it takes a lot of spins to finally get something, the payout is legit.
You can start with a small bet and earn real money, at least a few tens of dollars. This is if you play for a long time and bet a good amount of money.
You should also know that luck plays a big part in Bonanza. It is possible to play for days without any significant wins and then your friend comes in and wins big. This is entirely possible, but the important thing to know is that you can win real money playing this video slot machine. Just make sure you only play at trusted casino sites like greatcasinocanada.com.
Without a doubt, yes. Big Time Gaming is considered one of the leaders in the industry. It is known in the gaming world for several types of games and has partnerships with some of the biggest companies in the world. Most recently, they have partnered with Microgaming for a new line of casino games.
Plus, BTG payouts are real casino money. In the years that I have been playing Bonanza, I have never been concerned about security. I have played through secure sites and have been able to get the money credited to my account.
Go ahead and play now.
Like most video slots, you can play Bonanza Slot on a PC (or Mac) or your smartphone. There is no standalone app, so you must access it through a web browser.
Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to log in to your favorite casino site, select Bonanza, and start playing. It's that easy.
Pro Tip: When playing in a browser, look for the secure 'lock' icon next to the website URL. This confirms that the site is HTTPS secured.
You can play Bonanza slot on any of the leading casino websites. Here are my top favorites:
All of these sites have been reviewed by me and I can vouch for their security and support. It is better to choose one site for all your slot play than to bounce between them.
Bonanza is without a doubt the biggest video slot game I have ever played. It's also unique in its own way compared to hundreds of other slots that just have different graphics and sounds. Bonanza slot game not only has a natural arcade look to it, but also provides stunning sound effects to enhance your gaming experience.
Aesthetics aside, Bonanza still trumps the competition. While it is not a free online slot (you have to pay to play), its in-game features are worth giving a try. No deposit is required and Bonanza's free spin mode is one to die for. And if you are lucky, the free spin mode can give you the money haul you desire.
I should warn you that Bonanza is addictive with its beautiful graphics, high volatility, and Megaways format that is sure to thrive in the coming decade.
Answers to some of the most common questions about Bonanza.
No. You have to pay to play the Bonanza online slot game. Wager starts from 20 cents (USD).
Yes, you can get 15 free spins if you get 4 scatter symbols on your payline. You can get more spins if you land the scatter symbols during the free spins round.
Yes. You can win real money in this video slot game.
Yes. You can find my personal tips and tricks in the article above.
Yes, Bonanza can be played without a deposit. Bets start as low as 20 cents (USD). You can play Bonanza at any Canadian casino slots website.