88 Fortunes was once one of the most popular and spectacular slots at land-based casinos. This slot is from Shufflemaster. In collaboration with SG Interactive (WMS, known for Kronos, among others), Shufflemasters has also launched 88 Fortunes online. The gameplay of the online version at non GamStop casinos is exactly the same as the game at land-based casinos, making it a perfect way to discover next-gen casinos outside GamStop.
A key difference between online and physical slots is the payout percentage. The online payout percentage is much higher, at 96.27%. This is a major advantage for online players, as a larger portion of your bet goes into the prize pool. 88 Fortunes is a Megaways slot where you can win progressive jackpots. This allows you, as a player, to gamble online for real money at non GamStop casinos.
How does the 88 Fortunes online slot work?
88 Fortunes works a little differently than your average NetEnt slot. Firstly, it’s all about the number 8, a Chinese lucky number. There are five reels, three rows, and no paylines. 88 Fortunes is played with a 243-ways-to-win system. The number of credits you bet also determines the number of Gold symbols you play with. These Gold symbols influence the value of winning combinations and which jackpots you play for, giving players a chance to experience the Spicy Jackpots non-GamStop vibe explained.
Advantages and Disadvantages of 88 Fortunes
Our experts have collected the following pros and cons for you:
Advantages
- 243 Ways to Win
- Free spins and extra features
- Progressive jackpots
- High RTP of 96.27%
Disadvantages
- RTP of 95.93% with 1 gold symbol
- Complex system with Gold symbols
Symbols and Payouts at 88 Fortunes
You can play 88 Fortunes online starting from just €0.08 per spin, with a maximum of 5 Gold symbols. The latter will cost you 88 credits per spin, so a minimum of €0.88. Intermediate options include playing with 2 Gold symbols (18 credits), 3 Gold symbols (38 credits), or 4 Gold symbols (68 credits).
You can also set the value of a credit. This can range from €0.01 to €1. So, you can start playing this online slot at an online casino with a €1 deposit. The maximum bet is €88, a number that symbolizes fortune and happiness in China. This number, too, wasn’t chosen by chance.
88 Fortunes has four playing card symbols and five high-paying symbols. These high-paying symbols transform into Gold symbols as you increase your bet. Playing with one Gold symbol? The highest-paying combination in the base game yields 100 credits, a maximum of €100. Playing with five Gold symbols? Winning combinations yield significantly more. The highest-paying symbol then yields up to 1,000 credits per combination, a maximum of €1,000. You’ll find more of these types of symbols in Happy Riches and Long Mu Fortunes.
Bet and variance
The minimum bet at 88 Fortunes is €0.88, and this can go up to €88. This online slot has a jackpot feature where you can win up to hundreds of thousands of euros. You can also win these jackpots when playing with the minimum bet, which is possible at a €10 deposit casino. You don’t necessarily have to deposit a large amount. This is only possible with the major and grand jackpots of this casino game. The Return to Player (RTP) is 96.27%, which is above average at non GamStop casinos. That drops slightly to 95.93% when playing with 1 Gold symbol.
The prizes increase, but so do the stakes. This stake increases more progressively than the base game payouts. The difference between the prizes for 1 and 5 Gold symbols is 10 times higher. However, the stake is 11 times higher. So where does that difference lie? In the jackpots.
The variance is medium-high. This means it can take an average to long time to win a prize when playing this online slot.
Bonus features 88 Fortunes
88 Fortunes has a jackpot feature that makes the game more interesting.
FU Bat Jackpot Feature
You play for four jackpots on 88 Fortunes. These are the mini, minor, major, and grand jackpots. The mini and minor jackpots have fixed values of €2,000 and €3,750 respectively. The major and grand jackpots are progressive and can reach hundreds of thousands of euros. Four FU bat symbols are not only wild symbols but also jackpot symbols.
You play for the Grand Jackpot and the other three jackpots if you play with 5 Gold symbols and therefore 88 credits. If you play with 4 Gold symbols, you play for the Major, Minor, and Mini Jackpots. This plays out as follows. With 2 Gold symbols, you only play for the Mini Jackpot. If you play with 1 Gold symbol, you don’t play for any jackpot, which is why the payout percentage is slightly lower in that case.
Free spins
The Chinese gong is the scatter. Landing at least three of the gongs on the reels awards you 10 bonus spins. You play with the same bet you used on the spin that triggered the bonus game. The free spins are, of course, free. During these free spins, the playing card symbols are removed from the reels. So you’re left with only the high-paying symbols, the gong, and the FU Bat symbols. This means plenty of prizes, a chance to win even more free games, and of course, a chance to win one of the four jackpots. At least, if you play with enough credits.
Conclusion
SG Interactive and Shufflemaster have done a great job of translating the beautiful physical slot into an online version for non GamStop casinos. The graphics, the soundtrack, and the features: everything has remained intact. That’s good news for 88 Fortunes fans. And even if you’ve never played 88 Fortunes at land-based casinos, it’s still an excellent slot. Another online slot with a Chinese theme is Rings of Prosperity.
That starts with determining your bet. Rationally, it doesn’t matter much whether you play with 2 or 5 Gold symbols, but you don’t want to be responsible for missing out on a nice winning combination. Or worse: the Grand Jackpot just when it’s about to explode.
