In 1996, IGT (International Gaming Technology) “hit the front page” of the iGaming industry with its “newest” slot – Wheel of Fortune. Based on the US game show of the same name, this licensed game quickly became popular among players and operators for its many features and innovative look. The game became such a success that it prompted IGT to create a series of many Wheel of Fortune slots; today, there are more than 30 versions of the game! On the other hand, this review will showcase the first and original title, and will also make a parallel with the 2018 re-issue of the slot – “Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme! Spin”.
Theme and Story – Play the Wheel of Fortune Slot Show
Everything from the way the slot looks to the artwork of the symbols puts the player in “game show mode”. Although it isn’t confirmed, the first and original version was made on a platform that didn’t allow the game’s accommodation on mobile devices. The re-invented version of the Wheel of Fortune slot, however, features HD graphics and looks absolutely stunning on smartphones and tablets. Although the game doesn’t feature a specific story, the objective is clear – to spin the wheels of fortune and rake as many benefits as you can!
In Game Features – Symbol Characteristics and Additional Functions
The game has five low paying and four high paying symbols. If you manage to land at least three scatter symbols, the mini-wheel bonus will activate, granting an instant reward that can reach up to x3,850 times the coin bet. Another bonus game comes from the special “triple wheel” symbol, that enables the special “triple extreme spin bonus.” Once initiated, a window with envelopes will appear, allowing the player to choose three of them. When chosen, they will reveal differently colored gems; each gem will activate an arrow on one of the wheels. The red and blue wheels will have fixed prize amounts, while the yellow wheel will provide a multiplier.
The gaming layout of this particular Wheel of Fortune slot features five reels; however, the row pattern goes 3x4x5x4x3. The first edition of the slot had five pay lines, but the new one features 720 winnings ways instead! Due to the fact that the first version of the game was deemed obsolete and it was discontinued, there is no way to play that Wheel of Fortune for free. On the other hand, this is not the case for the “redesigned” version of the slot. Thanks to IGT, you can try the demo version of Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin.
How to Play the Wheel of Fortune Slot
Once the game loads, the first thing you should do is choose your “coin size”. The 720 winning ways will require 50 coins per spin, and the minimum value that can be set is going to be 1.00. On the right of the value selector, the “total bet” field will actually show the amount of money that is about to be wagered per spin. It should also be said that the “coin value” not only shows a specific value but also designates the win multiplier of the mini wheel bonus. A player can choose a maximum coin value size of 500 points, which will translate to 25,000 units of currency!
With such a large betting margin, it doesn’t surprise us that this slot is preferred by both occasional players as well as by seasoned high rollers. Due to the game’s special reel layout and presence of numerous bonus features, the RTP of this slot is calculated to be between 92% and 96.08%. While there is no data to specifically describe the volatility factor of this game, our bet assumption is that it will be medium, due to the presence of so many extra gameplay features!
There Are Many Wheel of Fortune Slots
With more than 30 different Wheel of Fortune slots, you can imagine that there will be something for everyone. Some of them will be exclusive only to VLT machines placed on the floor of land-based casinos, while others will be available for computers and mobile devices. Platform compatibility isn’t the only thing that separates all of the different versions of the slot. In fact, the majority of them have different reel layouts, bonus features, symbols, etc… What is present in all of them is the iconic wheel from the brand itself, which is incorporated as the most important bonus feature in all slot variants.
Regardless of what Wheel of Fortune version a person would play, IGT has made sure that it appears uniform on any type of platform!
Conclusion – а Slot for “Fortunate” Players
Wheel of Fortune is not only a slot that looks colorful – some players have reported that the mere anticipation of a “wheel bonus feature” is much more exciting than the game show the slot was based on! Present in both land-based and online casinos, this slot continues to be a fan-favorite. The chance alone of seeing how you might win big is a reason enough to play Wheel of Fortune for free – you might just like it!