Pragmatic Play Review
By Alex Smith, Last Modified Apr 5, 2024
Verdict
Pragmatic Play has a huge selection of slot games, tailors them to player happiness, and provides a quality playing experience.
We’re also delighted that Jelena – a previous Casinomeister employee – is now working for Pragmatic Play and is highly active in the forums! She joined back in July, posting:
“Hello, everybody! I’m back to the beloved CM forum and will be your Pragmatic Play representative. I’ll happily collect your feedback and distribute it to the right departments!
Also, would you be interested in participating in a contest promotion organized specially for you? If yes, I’m open to hearing your suggestions and wishes! So great to be back here!”
Huge selection of slot games
Pragmatic Play is an award-winning game developer known for building a wide and varied range of online video slots and casino table games – and their commitment to building player-focused games has given them a place as one of the world’s leading game development companies.
When writing this Pragmatic Play review, they have built and released over 200 HTML5 games, alongside 100 mobile games – and their games are currently available to players in 78 countries, with their release built in 26 languages!
This huge range of games allows players in all licensing jurisdictions to enjoy the action – and as you’ll see from this post, Pragmatic Play spends a LOT of time building, testing, and tweaking their games to ensure that players enjoy them as much as possible.
Alongside their games development studio, Pragmatic Play also offers back-end systems to online casino operators – and this allows businesses to use Pragmatic’s business systems to run their online casinos.
In this article, however, we’ll be looking at the games themselves, as opposed to the back-end side of the game developer’s operations – and we’ll begin by looking at how the games are made, followed by a rundown of the top 10 releases. Later on, we will look at some details of the company themselves, alongside some ‘pros and cons’ – so, without further ado, let’s get started!
Pragmatic’s Slot Games: The Software Platform
Pragmatic Play offers all of its titles in ‘Instant Play’ mode. You can play them directly from your internet browser, regardless of your device. (Their games are built using HTML5 so that they can be enjoyed on desktop devices like computers and laptops and mobile devices like phones and tablets.
Interestingly, Pragmatic Play used to offer their games through downloadable clients – but this has now been discontinued at all Pragmatic Play casinos. Whether you play their live casino games or slot games, you can now enjoy Pragmatic Play games right from your Internet browser window.
Pragmatic Play List Of Casinos
Pragmatic Play Games
Pragmatic Play offers a massive number of games in its portfolio, and while you will find that they have a select number of casino games, video poker, and scratch games – the vast majority of their titles are video slots. Below, we will look at 10 of the most popular video slots produced by Pragmatic Play. (They’re not in any specific order, so bear this in mind.)
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways
Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is one of the most popular Pragmatic Play games, and it takes you on an exciting fishing adventure. Developed with Reel Kingdom, this game is an extension of their popular Big Bass Bonanza series. The game grid has been upsized, featuring five main reels and an extra 4-symbol reel spinning horizontally at the top. The game offers up to 46,656 ways to win, so you have plenty of chances to reel in big prizes.
Interestingly, despite being a Megaways slot, it doesn’t feature the whole 117,649-ways-to-win mechanic like many online slots. Still, the game’s RTP is a respectable 96.7%, rated high on the volatility scale, scoring a 5 out of 5, so you can expect big win potential regardless!
Betting-wise, Big Bass Bonanza Megaways is suitable for players on all budgets; most online casinos allow you to wager as little as 20 cents per spin, with the maximum bet reaching as high as $100! The symbols include low-paying 10-A card ranks and high-paying tackle boxes, dragonflies, fishing rods, and fishing floats.
The features are like the original game: free spins and a fish and fisherman collection system. You trigger the main free spins bonus by landing 3, 4, or 5 of the scatter symbols anywhere in view, and during free spins, the fisherman symbol collects prizes from fish symbols. It’s possible to re-trigger most spins – and there’s also a couple of new, unique bonuses.
During the bonus, you can also encounter random Bazooka or Dynamite features. These features add fish symbols or explode all symbols except for the fisherman, giving you more chances to collect big cash prizes!
Jurassic Giants
Jurassic Giants is Pragmatic Play’s answer to WMS’ Ragin Rhino, and this 6-reel, 1024-ways-to-win slot pays both ways, making it a pretty unique game despite the similarities to Raging Rhino. To trigger the bonus, you need to land ten or more of the diamond scatter symbols anywhere in view – and doing so awards you several spins, up to 100.
Furthermore, during the bonus round, any wins you manage to make are multiplied by either 2, 3, or 4X – and this – clearly – offers some HUGE potential for big wins!
Like most slot games from Pragmatic Play, Jurassic Giants can be played at a wide variety of stakes, and there are all the standard in-game options like quickspin, autoplay, and slam-stop. Please note that online casinos in the UK cannot offer these due to United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) regulations.
Cyclops Smash
Cyclops Smash takes you to a beach where you’ll find a 7×7 grid filled with fruits, gems, and Greek helmets. Like many Pragmatic Play slots, the theme is great – and the graphics are equally impressive. The theme offers a unique twist on the mythological creature, the Cyclops – and in this slot, he can rearrange symbols for extra chances to win. The game is highly volatile, with an RTP of 96.05%, and you can play the slot from $0.20 to $240.
The symbols include lemons, oranges, grapes, meat chunks, diamonds, and helmets. You need to connect at least five matched symbols to win. The game also features a ‘Smash’ feature, where the Cyclops stomps his feet, rearranging symbols to potentially form new wins. This feature can be triggered at the end of a spin or series of tumbles.
Regarding free spins, landing scatter symbols in four, five, six, or seven places award you ten, 12, 14, or 16 free spins, respectively. A win multiplier increases by 1X during free spins whenever a ‘Smash’ leads to a win. The game also offers a bonus buy mechanic, allowing you to buy direct entry to the bonus game for 100X your bet. Please note that not all Pragmatic Play casinos offer the bonus buy option, and UK players cannot buy entry to any bonus game.
Wolf Gold
Wolf Gold is one of Pragmatic Play’s most popular jackpot games, and while the base game is relatively dull, the bonus rounds more than make up for it. The first bonus round is a free spins feature, and this awards you with five free spins, during which the middle three reels all show one gigantic symbol.
The jackpot round is triggered by landing 9 of the moon symbols anywhere in view, and upon doing so, you’ll enter the jackpot feature, where you can win tens of thousands of times your stake!
Additionally, the game offers a Money Respin feature triggered by landing six or more money symbols. This locks the money symbols in place and gives you three respins to land more, potentially leading to massive wins. The game’s Native American theme, with animal symbols like eagles and horses, has become somewhat iconic – and it’s one of their most popular casino games, despite the low-variance math model behind it and the (often) low payouts from the bonus game.
Candy Blitz
Candy Blitz is a colorful and sweet-themed slot game with a 5×3 grid with 20 paylines. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll want to dive right into this one – and the game features various candy symbols, including lollipops, gummy bears, and chocolate bars. The game’s RTP is 95.8%, offering a medium level of volatility.
The game includes a Candy Swap feature, where you can swap adjacent candy symbols to form winning combinations. The game also offers a free spins round, triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols. During the free spins, the Candy Swap feature is enhanced, offering higher chances of forming winning combinations.
The game also includes a Candy Jackpot feature to win one of four progressive jackpots. The jackpots are triggered randomly during the base game, which you rarely see in Pragmatic Play slots; it’s more commonly found in Realtime Gaming (RTG) games.
John Hunter and the Book of Tut
John Hunter and the Book of Tut takes you on an Egyptian adventure with its 5×3 grid and ten paylines. If you’ve ever played Pragmatic Play slots before, you’ll already know that John Hunter is a familiar face – and he’s come a long way from the early online slots he featured in!
John Hunter and the Book of Tut is yet another installment in the series by Pragmatic Play, and this game offers an RTP of 96.5% and high volatility. The game features symbols like John Hunter himself, the Book of Tut, and various Egyptian artifacts.
The game’s main feature is the free spins round, triggered by landing three or more Book of Tut scatter symbols. During the free spins, one symbol is chosen to expand across the reels, offering higher winning potential. The game also includes a gambling feature, where you can double your winnings by choosing the correct color of a hidden card.
The game allows bets ranging from $0.10 to $100, making it suitable for low and high rollers. With its engaging features and adventurous theme, John Hunter and the Book of Tut offers a thrilling gaming experience.
Vegas Nights
Something we’ve seen almost all slot providers incorporate into their game portfolio is a Vegas-themed video slot, and Pragmatic Play is no exception! Vegas Nights is based all around an exotic carnival in the heart of Vegas, and alongside the great-looking graphics and imagery, you’ll be faced with an exciting free-spins bonus, which is well-known for its frequent re-triggers.
But the excitement doesn’t stop there; the game also features a unique Extra Wild Respin feature. When you land a special chip symbol on the 5th reel, you get a respin with extra wilds added to the reels, increasing your chances of hitting a big win.
The game’s vibrant colors and flashy design genuinely capture the essence of a night out in Vegas, making it a must-try for fans of Sin City. Like most slot games on this page, you’ll find Vegas Nights at all reputable Pragmatic Play casinos.
Frozen Tropics
Frozen Tropics is a winter-themed slot game with a tropical twist. This 5×4 slot offers 40 paylines and an RTP of 96.2%. The game features symbols like snow-covered tropical fruits, penguins, and snowflakes.
The game includes a Freezing Wilds feature, where wild symbols can freeze in place for a certain number of spins, increasing your chances of winning. The game also offers a free spins round, triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols. The Freezing Wilds feature is enhanced during the free spins, offering even more chances to win.
The game allows bets ranging from $0.20 to $200, catering to a wide range of players. It’s licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC), so you’ll be able to play worldwide, and, again, you’ll find it at almost every online casino with Pragmatic Play software.
7 Piggies
Pigs are a theme that we’ve seen some game developers use in their slots – but it’s fair to say it’s not the most popular of genres. Still, that hasn’t stopped Pragmatic Play from building a game around pigs… and 7 Piggies is what they’ve managed to come up with!
The game features all pig symbols – making a nice contrast from the low-symbol card values we’re used to seeing – and an exciting bonus round sees one of the pig symbols turned wild, allowing for much greater chances of hitting a big win! On top of that, the game also offers a multiplier feature during the free spins round.
When you trigger the bonus, you pick from different barns, each revealing a different number of free spins and multipliers. The game’s cartoonish graphics and upbeat soundtrack add a fun and lighthearted feel, making it a great choice if you want something different.
Dragon Kingdom
Dragon Kingdom was one of the early successes from the developer’s game studio, and the slot benefits from stacked dragon symbols across all reels. Even more enticing is the free-spins round, where you can choose one of five free-spins rounds.
The fewer spins you opt for, the higher the multiplier – so, in a sense, you can choose your preferred volatility – and it makes for really interesting gameplay! Adding to the excitement, the game also features a unique split symbol mechanic. This allows for a 6th symbol on the reels, increasing your chances of forming winning combinations.
The game’s graphics are pretty good – and while the free spins bonus rounds can be frustrating due to dead spins – if you’re looking for something new to try at reputable online casinos, Dragon Kingdom is an old-school slot you can’t go wrong with.
Hot Safari
Hot Safari is an African-themed slot that transports you into the world of safari… and, fittingly, you’ll see several safari animals present on the reels, including Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, and Water Buffalos. Like most of Pragmatic’s slots, the game’s main attraction is the free-spins bonus, which is triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 of the scatter symbols anywhere in view. But that’s not all; the game also features a unique Super Wild Bonus.
When the super wild symbol lands on the 6th reel, it triggers a re-spin, and wilds are added to each of the five reels, potentially leading to massive wins. The game’s vibrant graphics and upbeat soundtrack add to the overall safari experience, making it a must-try for fans of wildlife-themed slots.
Queen of Atlantis
Queen of Atlantis is one of Pragmatic Play’s less-well-known games, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth playing – and, if you choose to head to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, you’ll be playing for the chance of entering the lucrative free-spin round, where additional wild symbols are added to the reels.
This, of course, adds some HUGE potential to the game – and it’s not uncommon to fill entire reels with wilds, amounting to some pretty healthy-sized wins! The game also offers a Second Chance Bonus feature, triggered when you land two scatter symbols.
This feature gives you another shot at triggering the free spins round, increasing your chances of hitting those big wins. The underwater theme is beautifully designed, with symbols like mermaids, seashells, and treasure chests adding to the game’s allure.
Pragmatic Slots Already Reviewed At Casinomeister
Progressive Pragmatic Play Slots
Pragmatic Play’s progressive jackpot slots offer a multi-tier system, each with its own separate pot. Whenever a player places a bet in a jackpot game, a fixed percentage contributes to each jackpot tier, ensuring the pots keep growing. One unique feature is the Power tier’s community aspect.
When this jackpot is won, 50% of the prize goes to the winning player, while the remaining 50% is shared among the last 1,000 players of that game. This community feature aims to boost player engagement and retention, rewarding the jackpot winner and frequent players.
It’s a pretty awesome feature; even if you aren’t currently playing the game, you can still win part of the progressive jackpot, provided you’re among the last thousand players! Here’s a look at some of Pragmatic Play’s top progressive jackpot games.
Gates of Olympus
Gates of Olympus is one of Pragmatic Play’s popular titles that can be set up with their local progressive jackpot network. This game takes you to the realm of Greek gods and offers a 6×5 grid with multiple ways to win. The game features Zeus as the main character and includes symbols like gems, crowns, and goblets. The game’s progressive jackpot compliments the free spins bonus round perfectly, ensuring you’ve got two ways to win big!
The Dog House
The Dog House is another title that can be linked with Pragmatic Play’s progressive jackpot network. This 5×3 slot game takes you to a suburban backyard filled with playful dogs. The game offers 20 paylines and features like sticky wilds and free spins.
The progressive jackpot feature is only available in specific slot versions, so ensure you’re playing the right one! There’s a free spins bonus round to look out for, and Pragmatic Play has also recently released a Megaways version of the game!
Here, you can choose one of two bonus rounds. You can opt for Sticky or Raining Wilds during the free spins – and there’s massive win potential, even without the progressive jackpot bonus game!
Sweet Bonanza
Sweet Bonanza is a candy-themed slot game that can also be linked with Pragmatic Play’s progressive jackpot network. The game offers a 6×5 grid and pays out for clusters of eight or more matching symbols. The game features a Tumble mechanic, replacing winning symbols with new ones, offering a never-ending number of potential cascades!
In addition to the Tumble feature and progressive jackpot, Sweet Bonanza also offers a free spin round with multipliers. When you land four or more scatter symbols, you trigger the free spins feature, where special bomb symbols can appear, offering multipliers of up to 100X! A bonus buy mechanic is on offer, letting you buy direct entry to the bonus round for a cost of 100X your bet.
Live Casino Games
Pragmatic Play’s live dealer casino provides an immersive and exciting online gaming experience. With a state-of-the-art studio based in Bucharest, Romania, Pragmatic Play offers live dealer games streamed in high-definition video with multiple camera angles. When Pragmatic Play first announced they would be hosting live casino games, some met the announcement skeptically, wondering if the game developer could provide.
Well, they’ve provided some – and their live casino games are now considered cutting-edge. They offer everything in their live casino, from fan favorites like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat to gameshow games (with a bonus game) and everything in between.
The dealers are professionally trained to ensure smooth gameplay and lively atmosphere, and there’s an innovative betting interface that allows for quick and easy betting – with clear chips and easy access to the game’s rules.
Players can enjoy detailed game statistics and a complete betting history, with animations and sound effects heightening the experience. The live casino also offers features like live leaderboards, promotions tied to game events, and notifications for displayed side bets.
Pragmatic Play uses cutting-edge streaming technology to minimize lag and latency issues. The video quality is consistently crisp and clear, with cameras capturing multiple angles of the table and dealers. The gameplay is also optimized for mobile so that you can access the live casino from all your mobile devices!
At the backend, Pragmatic Play offers robust operational tools for monitoring and managing the live casino. Operators can access data insights, real-time alerts, and configuration options. With 24/7 support and a seasoned management team, the live casino product aims to maximize uptime and quickly resolve any issues affecting players – and it’s no surprise that it’s already giving Evolution (previously Evolution Gaming) a run for its money!
Sportsbook and Virtual Sports
Pragmatic Play recently launched a full-service sportsbook product to complement its existing live casino, bingo games, and slot products. It’s powered using data from Genius Sports, and the sportsbook provides a customizable and localized betting experience across thousands of sporting events.
While it’s not yet up to the standards you’d see at major bookies, Pragmatic Play’s sports betting platform is surprisingly good. They have an exclusive official data feed directly from major sports leagues and competitions – and this includes pre-match and live pricing data, which allows them to offer punters dynamic odds betting and in-play betting. Pragmatic Play can also create bespoke betting markets and props tailored to its partners’ player bases.
You’ll find various markets, including everything from football, soccer, golf, and rugby to tennis, virtual sports, and pretty much everything in between! It’s not yet widely available, but it’s licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), so we expect to see the sports betting product making its way to more online gambling websites soon!
User Comments
There is a lot of discussion about Pragmatic Play slots in the forum – and one exciting thread is this one from DreamRJ. We won’t go into the full details here, but here’s a snippet from his original post:
“As some of you may know, I have access to the Pragmatic Play Client Hub. They’ve recently released slots with the potential for much higher wins. Take, for example, the Madame Destiny Megaways slot they created.
I watched a YouTube video where someone got a bonus on that slot. They kept getting a bunch of retriggers and 20X and 25X multipliers on each real spin. With over 30 spins left and a multiplier of around 150X, they hit the max win of 5000X bet, which ended the bonus. I mean, why? It’s just not right, in my opinion. You shouldn’t cap it at such low amounts if you create a slot with huge win potential.
Sure, 5000X isn’t a low amount, but consider this: the player still had about 30 spins left and a 150X multiplier for each win. That could’ve been a bonus that paid 10X more than that 5,000X unless they had 30 dead spins in a row, which is unlikely.
I’ve also noticed that they keep releasing new slots. I see them in the client hub before they launch online casinos, and the info says they have a max win of 5,000X. We know Pragmatic creates slots with higher max wins, so why limit others with more potential? It’s pointless, in my opinion.”
Pros
Massive selection of titles, spanning a number of game categories, including slots, pokies, instant win games, and casino table games.
Their slots come in a wide variety of volatility levels - you’ll find low, medium, and high variance games.
Their slots are built to an incredibly high level of quality - glitches, lag, and freezing in-game are incredibly rare.
Cons
While most of their games are licensed for play in the UK, UK players may struggle to find their titles available.
Some of their medium-variance games can play very harshly, so keep a close eye on your balance while playing!
While their games are - for the most part - mobile-optimized, they don’t always render particularly well on tablets and phones.
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