Pachinko Slot Review
The Pachinko slot is a joint venture between Microgaming and Neko Games but, despite its name, has little to do with Japan’s sensational Pachinko game. The Japanese Pachinko is a bagatelle-like gambling game, where players launch small metallic balls down a colourful board for a chance to win rewards. Unlike Japanese Pachinko, the online Pachinko casino game resembles video bingo, where the objective is to form as many winning patterns of numbers as possible. Aside from the already entertaining premise, Pachinko also features a handful of bonus features where the RTP increases to 96.08%. Let’s have a look at what this bingo-inspired Pachinko slot has in store for you.
About The Pachinko Slot
Despite what the name suggests, the Pachinko slot is not quite an online slot either! Casino players will find that this Pachinko game is actually very similar to Mega Ball and bingo. The game’s design is inspired by its Japanese namesake, including elements that are symbolic of luck and Japanese culture, like the Maneki-neko and the Torri Gate.
The Maneki-neko is a common Japanese figurine of a cat with its paw raised in a beckoning gesture. This charming figurine is believed to bring luck to the owner and can be often found in shops, restaurants, bars, casinos, hotels and other businesses. It is for these reasons that the Maneki-neko is sometimes referred to as the lucky cat! The lucky cats can come in different colours, most commonly white, black and gold. Some may even have a mechanical paw that slowly swings up and down. In addition to statuettes and figurines, the Maneki-neko can be a keychain, pendant, piggy bank, furniture… you name it! Let’s break it all down and get you started.
Gameplay
Pachinko is a 90-ball, bingo-inspired game where players must form winning patterns across four purchased tickets. Each ticket is comprised of 15 numbers, for a total of 60 out of 90 possible numbers. During the game, 30 balls will be drawn at random from the Temple Gate. If the drawn numbers form one of the winning patterns on any of your tickets, then you will win a corresponding payout. Pachinko also features several bonus mechanics that may help you collect larger wins, as well as unique mini-games and a jackpot prize. We recommend viewing the game’s rules before playing, as it differs quite significantly from other online casino slots.
Wagers
The minimum wager is €0.05 (or currency equivalent) per ticket, for a single round bet of €0.20 for all four tickets. Wins are awarded for patterns of numbers, as per the paytable (just like bingo cards).
Symbols
There are no Pachinko symbols; instead, the game features 90 numbered balls, with 60 of them across the four tickets. During the game, certain numbers will be highlighted in yellow or orange. Yellow signifies that a pattern will be created if that number lands, and orange indicates the highest candidate prize in the current game. A special Wild ball can randomly appear during the game. This number can replace any number not called on an enabled ticket.
Special Features and Pachinko Bonus
If there is a candidate of at least 8x the bet and all 30 balls have been drawn, then the player can purchase up to ten balls in the Extra Ball stage. The price of each ball will be displayed on the ball drum, and purchasing these extra balls may increase chances of winning. Be careful when the Extra Ball stage is in play! The ‘PLAY’ button is replaced by the ‘EXTRA’ button, which will purchase the next ball if clicked.
The Pachinko casino game also features a jackpot prize of 5,000x the bet (per ticket) if the ticket is fully cleared in the first 30 balls. Each ticket card can reveal an additional reward or a bonus game, like the Maneki-neko bonus!
There are five levels in this bonus feature, with each level represented by colourful Maneki-neko cats. At level one, the player chooses one of the cats to reveal a prize, then continue to level two. At this level and all levels above, some Maneki-neko may have an exit message. If the player selects an exit Maneki-neko, then the bonus round ends. There is one exit message per level and none on level one. Up to 1,450x the wager can be won per ticket in this bonus round.
Pachinko Free Balls
Pachinko Free balls are randomly awarded during the game, with up to five free balls per round. Free balls are just like free spins in a regular online slot, awarding one of the extra balls at no cost to the player.
Pachinko Free Play (Demo)
Want to see what this game has in store without risking a real wager? Simply log in to your LV BET account, search for ‘Pachinko’, and hover over the thumbnail to display the ‘DEMO’ button, which can also be found on the game’s landing page. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be asked to register and complete the verification process to access the demos. In cases where verification is not necessary, you may be able to play as a visitor. The Pachinko demo is also available on mobile devices.
You can play this awesome game at LV BET or check out other fantastic slots from Microgaming like Mega Moolah, Book of Oz WowPot™ and Immortal Romance™.
Conclusion
Although this Pachinko game has little in common with online slots, it offers a unique blend of entertainment and betting in one dynamic game. If you enjoy bingo or Mega Ball, then the Pachinko casino game might fit your preferred gameplay! Pachinko is packed with pleasant surprises, from free balls and Wilds to bonus games and even a jackpot prize.
Game Rules
Released by Microgaming and Neko Games, Pachinko is an online slot-like game based on bingo. Players must form winning patterns of randomly drawn numbers, just like in bingo and Mega Ball.
- The minimum wager is €0.20 (or currency equivalent) for all four tickets. Winnings are awarded for specific patterns on each of the tickets, outlined in the game’s paytable.
- The Pachinko numbers can be highlighted yellow or orange, identifying candidate numbers. Yellow signifies that a pattern will be created if that number lands, and orange indicates the highest candidate prize in the current game. If at least one candidate number of 8x the bet is present and all 30 balls have been drawn, then the player may purchase up to 10 more balls during the Extra Ball stage.
- Up to five free balls may be randomly awarded in one game, offering an extra ball at no cost to the player. A special Wild ball can also appear during the game. This number can replace any number not called on an enabled ticket.
- Pachinko has multiple bonus features, including the Maneki-neko bonus, the Torri Gate bonus and a jackpot prize.
- The Pachinko RTP is 93.86%. During the Extra Ball bonus stage, the RTP increases to 96.08%. The RTP is correct at the time of publishing and may be subject to change in the future.