9 Pots of Gold

9 Pots of Gold Overview

Created by Microgaming, 9 Pots of Gold is a classic luck of the Irish slot game with five reels and 20 pay lines. Although this game may look vaguely original, it is simply a reskinned version of Microgaming’s previous product 9 Masks of Fire. As lazy as reskinning slots and releasing them may seem, it is a commonly practised method used by providers to get more players and more money from essentially the same game. At least with this game, the aesthetics are genuinely very different, and the finish is still a high standard. Plus, players will be in for a good time if this slot is modelled on 9 Masks of Fire.

The features of this game are twofold. The first feature concerns the wild bonus. The wild icon in this game is the mushroom. It replaces any regular symbols on the board to help score more wins. Wilds are also very valuable in this game, paying up to 125x the stake for the top combination. The next feature is the free spins game triggered by landing multiple scatters on the reels. In addition to providing players with some free spins, the game also pays out an instant cash win when triggered. The free spins also come with an attached multiplier that boosts the size of the wins you score within the round.

Theme and Symbols

As is immediately apparent, the theme for this game is the luck of the Irish. This game concentrates specifically on the story of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. This popular myth comes from when the Vikings invaded Ireland and were known for plundering and looting villages all over the country. These Vikings, it was said, couldn’t transport all of the treasure they had acquired back to their Northern home and so buried it in various spots all over the country. Finding one of these treasure chests or ‘pots of gold’ was seen as an incredibly lucky thing for the Irish population as they would not only make themselves rich but reclaim the wealth of their countrymen.

The background for this slot is a field of shamrocks or four-leafed clovers. These, as most people will know, are the principal symbol of Irish luck. This symbol, some historians say, dates back as far as the druids of Ireland before Christianity came to the country. The clovers, especially the four-leafed variety, were said to have mystical powers that could ward off evil spirits and bring fortune and prosperity to those who had it on their person. Today, the clover is more of a general symbol for Ireland, accompanied by the green colour.

The playing board for this game appropriately is a golden rectangle glowing with magical luck in all colours of the rainbow.
The symbols for this game are split into low-value, high-value and special symbols. The low-value symbols are the Bars, 4-leaf clovers, leprechaun hat and gold harps. On the other hand, the higher value symbols are the single 7s, double 7s and treble 7s. The most valuable of these icons is the treble 7, which pays out at 37.5x the stake for the top combination. The specials finally are the mushroom wild, and the free spins scatter. The wild pays out at as much as 126x the stake for the top combination, making it the most valuable symbol in the game.

Game Play

9 Pots of Gold is played on a five-reel, three-row machine with twenty fixed pay lines. To win combinations, players must land three or more matching symbols on pay lines moving from left to right, starting from the leftmost reel.
The betting range for 9 Pots of Gold is 20p to £60 per spin. To adjust their bet levels, players can toggle their stake up and down using the tool located at the bottom left-hand side of the screen.

Further information, including a short tutorial and a display of the paytable, can be found via the menu button in the right-hand corner of the screen. The spin and auto spin buttons are located in the centre of the screen.
Volatility for this slot is rated in the medium range. The return to player percentage for 9 Pots of Gold 96.24%, which is above average. The biggest payout that players can win on one spin is 2,000x your stake.

Features

The first feature in this game is the wild bonus. This concerns the mushroom wild, which can substitute for any regular symbol to help score more wins.
The next feature is the free spins triggered by landing three or more scatter icons. When this happens, you are immediately given a cash win that is proportionate to the number of scatters that you landed. The largest instant cash win you can receive is 2,000x the stake. You’ll then enter the free spins round.
Land an additional three scatters from within the bonus, and you will get a spin on the free spins wheel. This wheel has ten sections, each with a modifier that will boost the value of your free spins. These are a combination of multipliers and added spins.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a solid Irish-themed game this weekend, look no further. Although this may just be a re-wrapped slot, there is still plenty to get on board with here. This includes some fun features, a decent win potential and a theme that, although a little hacky, never fails to enchant.