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88 Fortunes Pokies Review
88 Fortunes from Shufflemaster is a classic Asian themed slot. It uses an all-ways winning system, combined with wild symbols and two different bonus features. A relaxed traditional Asian tune plays while you spin. Progressive jackpots can be won on any spin – and at any bet amount.
An ornate pot sits above the reels. This shows gold coins inside. Each time you hit a ‘Fu Bat’ wild symbol, a ray of golden light travels to the pot – adding new coins. When the lid shuts, you get a jackpot picks game. Free spins have the advantage of removing all the lower paying playing card symbols. This significantly boosts your big win potential.
This game was a brick and mortar casino classic and is now available to enjoy online. You can enjoy it on mobile devices or on your desktop.
Features
Reels/Rows
5/3
Payline
243
Payout Ratio (RYP)
96%
Stake (Min/Max)
88¢ / $88
Game Developer
Shufflemaster
Bonus Feature
Yes
Reels, Win Lines, and Betting Options for 88 Fortunes
Before you spin, you get to choose how many ‘gold’ symbols to play. Most people pick all five, making all the unique higher-paying symbols gold. This boosts the prizes for those symbols, and gives you access to the biggest (grand) jackpot when you trigger the picks bonus feature.
88 Fortunes uses an all-ways winning system. There are five reels with three rows of symbols on each – giving you 243 ways to win on every spin!
Bets start at 88¢ and go up to a giant $88. Increments of 8 are used as this is a lucky number in many Asian countries. Shufflemaster offer an auto-play option. This lets you select between 10 and 200 automatic spins. It will stop after you hit either of the two bonus games.
While it is tempting to believe that a full pot above the reels is ‘ready to close’ and trigger the jackpot feature, this is for illustration only. The pot will close randomly with the number of gold coins inside having no effect.
Return to Player Percentage
This game has an average return to player score in comparison with other online pokies. This is 96% over the long run. It is slightly lower if you select only one gold symbol.
Volatility is medium to low for 88 Fortunes. While the jackpots (especially the grand) introduce variance in your returns, there are plenty of small wins with the all-ways system to keep your casino bankroll ticking over.
88 Fortunes Pokie Bonuses
Three or more gong symbols will trigger the free spins bonus games. You can’t miss them, as they hit the reels with a loud crashing sound. You get 10 free spins, each of which can be significantly more profitable than the base game.
During your free spins, the lower paying playing card symbols are removed. You now have a better opportunity to line up the high paying symbols, hit re-triggers and connect wins with the wilds. You can trigger the jackpot picks bonus from within the free spins – or re-trigger for extra free spins.
Jackpots are awarded in a picks game when the pot above the reels closes. This can happen on any spin when a fu bat wild symbol lands. There are four jackpots. They are mini, minor, major, and grand. You will see 12 gold coins and keep on picking until you match three fu babies. Distinctive colours are associated with each jackpot.
88 Fortunes Pokie Symbols
88 Fortunes goes all-in on the Asian theme. This includes the red and gold background, bets in 88¢ units, and the themed winning symbols.
The highest paying symbol shows a coiled golden dragon with a red background. This is worth 20x your bet for five of a kind. Next comes a classic ship with square sails, a golden turtle, and a golden ingot. The classic gold coin with a square centre completes the unique symbols. Playing cards ace down to nine provide your smaller wins.
Wild symbols show an elaborate gold and red design. They substitute for all the other symbol – in this case including the gong bonus symbols. Fu Bat wilds only appear on reels 2, 3, and 4.
88 Fortunes: Mobile Play
Shufflemaster are part of Scientific Games who pride themselves on their mobile casino experience. Their online casino games work perfectly on mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. 88 Fortunes has a mobile friendly layout. The spin button and main options are on the right of the reels, instead of underneath them. This makes it easy to play on the go on an iPhone or Android smartphone in landscape mode.
Can You Play 88 Fortunes Pokies for Free?
This game is available in demo / free play mode at all leading Australian online casinos. Trying it out without risking your own money will quickly show you why 88 Fortunes became a classic in the crowded field of Asian themed pokies. You can check out the different bonuses and experiment with playing various numbers of gold symbols. Finally, a quick trial of 88 Fortunes for free will ensure it works with your specific mobile devices.
88 Fortunes from Shufflemaster: Pros & Cons
88 Fortunes Pros
- A classic video slot which has stood the test of time
- Option to play up to 5 gold coins to boost your winning chances
- Free spins bonus removes all the low-paying symbols
- Close the ornate pot to trigger a jackpot picks game
- Win one of four jackpots by matching coloured symbols
88 Fortunes Cons
- Graphics are starting to look dated compared to newer Asian slots
- A full pot does not increase the chances of it closing
Wrapping Up: How Does 88 Fortunes from Shufflemaster Compare?
88 Fortunes was one of the original smash-hit Asian pokies. This game is popular in brick and mortar casinos around the world – as well as at real money online casinos. While it has been copied many times, the original game is certainly worth taking for a spin. You get a solid base game which uses an all-ways winning system. You also get two bonus features – both of which have the potential for giant wins.
