Panda Bonanza Slot - Features, Demo, RTP, Free Spins & Bonuses

Theme & Design

Pandas have developed into an en vogue choice among slot creators and it's easily understandable why. They're adorable animals; they lend themselves well to Asian-themed designs; and they evoke feelings of comfort with minimal effort. China has sent pandas to zoos worldwide for years as a symbol of goodwill; therefore, we know how much charm one black and white bear can bring. Northern Lights Gaming chooses to emphasize that charm. The reels sit amidst a soft green background with tall bamboo stalks behind them. The grid is slightly transparent, allowing the environment surrounding the reels to be visible at all times.

Above the reels sits a happy-looking panda holding a bowl. That bowl isn't merely decorative; it displays your active coin multiplier which becomes increasingly important during periods of piggy bank collector activity. When free spins occur, the sunlight transitions to twilight and the panda puts on a pair of party glasses. This is a tiny detail; however, it adds a distinct atmosphere to the free spins round. The lower-paying Symbols include wooden-carved card royals, while the upper-paying Symbols represent the panda's friends from the forest: bird, mouse, snake and fox. The music is lighthearted and entertaining, while the animation is smooth and non-distracting.

As expected on mobile devices, both portrait and landscape orientations scale perfectly. On desktop computers, the control buttons sit adjacent to the reels on the right side of the screen; whereas, on mobile devices, they slide under.

To begin play takes approximately 10 seconds. Determine your wager amount with the bet selector tool; wagers can range from €0.20 per spin up to €40 per spin depending on the casino platform or country restrictions. Press spin when ready. Payouts are awarded via combinations of matching Symbols appearing consecutively on either of the 10 predetermined payline locations beginning from left-to-right. Many casinos support autoplay; however, certain jurisdictions restrict or eliminate auto-play entirely. Prior to placing real-money bets, access the information menu screen to view your payout table and determine which RTP version is utilized by your casino platform. I'll address this later.

Pay table & symbol details

The four card royals (aces through kings) serve as the lower-pays and yield payouts ranging between 0.5x your bet for 5-of-a-kind to 2x your bet for 5-of-a-kind. The animal Symbols produce larger payouts; specifically, the highest-paying animal symbol (fox) yields up to 8x your bet for 5 consecutive occurrences. The wild serves as the largest single-payout symbol outside of jackpots producing up to 10x your bet for 5 consecutive occurrences. The wild substitutes for any standard symbol except for Coins, +1 Coins, free-spins scatter Symbols and yin/yang Symbols which activate jackpots. The wild can appear on any reel during base play and assumes a significant role in the respin bonus feature.

Alongside these standard Symbols you will find several special Symbols including: jumbo panda Symbols used during the respin bonus feature and also used in conjunction with wilds to create larger payouts; gold Coins yielding cash amounts ranging from 0.2x your bet up to 10x your bet; purple +1 Coins increasing your coin multiplier; a piggy bank collect symbol (reel 5 only); free-spins scatter Symbols activating free-spins rounds; and yin and yang pairs serving as jackpot-activating Symbols. Each symbol corresponds with an independent feature resulting in multiple items occurring simultaneously during base play.

Bonus feature details – Panda Bonanza

Jumbo panda & respin bonus

During base play, Jumbo Panda Symbols are displayed on the reels as blocks measuring 1x3, 2x3 or 3x3 units high. When smaller versions are displayed on-screen they can grow to fill the entire space occupied by a 3x3 unit-high block; additionally, animated sequences accompany this action. After becoming visible for an extended period of time, the Pandamonium Bonus commences when a jumbo panda fills an entire block. The Pandamonium Bonus can only be activated from base play.

Pandamonium Bonus

This is essentially an adaptation of the traditional hold-and-win respin format commonly found in slots. The reels transform into a specialized reel-set displaying only pandas, wilds and empty spaces. Players receive three respins initially. For each occurrence of either a panda or a wild landing, players' number of respins returns to three thereby providing opportunities for extended respins periods when things go well for players.

Locked-in-place wilds carry multipliers ranging from 1x to 5x. However, pandas behave differently than wilds; instead of creating multipliers for players, each panda that lands removes one symbol from the Bamboo Splat Bar displayed directly beneath the reels; starting with the lowest paying symbol and proceeding upwards.

Pandamonium spin

After all respins have been completed, players receive one final spin known as the Pandamonium Spin. All locked-in-place wilds continue to reside in place during this spin along with only those Symbols present on the Bamboo Splat Bar capable of landing. This represents where strategy related to this feature applies. The greater number of pandas removed from the Bamboo Splat Bar results in fewer low-paying Symbols; thusly increasing chances for connecting larger-value Symbols with existing wilds.

Furthermore, when multiple multiplier-bearing wilds exist on a winning combination, their respective multipliers multiply together resulting in larger-than-average winnings. Upon observing for myself how quickly a player can strip away all Symbols from the Bamboo Splat Bar leaving only high-value Symbols behind (e.g., removing all but two Symbols), i began to appreciate how effective this feature truly is in regards to building towards that final spin rather than accumulating small wins throughout respins rounds; hence creating tension leading toward conclusion.

Piggy bank collector & winnings

Gold Coins can randomly fall onto reels during both base game and free-spins rounds. Gold Coins display cash values ranging from 0.2x up to 10x your bet when falling on-screen alone; they do not generate any type of win until paired with piggy bank collectors on reel 5.

+1 Coins & panda coin multiplier

Purple-colored +1 Coins can also fall onto reels in both base game and free-spins rounds. Each purple coin contains "+1" and falls into the panda's bowl raising your coin multiplier by one unit up to a maximum x10 multiplier value (each coin added resets to x1). This provides creative possibilities for small groups of gold Coins earning pocket-change-size payouts potentially transforming into substantial hits if players have successfully grown their bowl's multiplier to x6 or x7 before encountering gold Coins.

Jackpot activation – pot bonus

Above the reels lies four containers labeled Mini, Minor, Major and Grand jackpot. Players earn entry into pot bonus by landing both yin on reel #1 and yang on reel #5 on the same spin. One container is selected at random, resulting in activation of one of four jackpots at random (Mini = 20x; Minor = 50x; Major = 500x; Grand = full 5,000x). Unlike progressive jackpot systems, these are fixed-jackpot systems and their values correspond to players' wagers rather than across networks. Players are rewarded instantaneously with no secondary Mini-game involved.

Free-spins round

Players earn 8 free-spins when landing three temple scatters on reels #1, #3 and #5 respectively. Free-spins rounds are played with three vertically stacked reels representing a 3x3 square section comprised solely of regular Symbols (i.e., any of six animal Symbols plus four card royals). Anytime a jumbo symbol lands during free-spins rounds it splits into individual Symbols generating payouts; thusly a fox occupying an entire vertical stack of three reels can form multiple winning combinations concurrently. As in base game play; jumbo Coins (+1 Coins) can also appear during free-spins rounds, keeping the piggy bank collector active throughout.

Playing Panda Bonanza — RTP, volatility & max Win

Games Global's Panda Bonanza RTP sits at 96.01%, very close to the industry standard. However, Games Global provides operators with the option of using two alternative versions (the RTP options are 94.03% and 92.03%) to create what amounts to slightly worse games over a long period of spinning. To see which version you're currently playing, simply open the game menu and go into "info" or "rules". Once inside click down until you find the RTP. If it is less than 96.01%, you'd be wise to move on to another casino.

In terms of volatility, Panda Bonanza is a mid-volatility game. This means that Panda Bonanza doesn't experience long periods of dryness and wins occur relatively frequently; however, it also means that larger winning combinations happen far less often. When we say a mid-volatility game here we mean a hit frequency of approximately 30%. In other words, approximately every third to fourth spin you'll receive some sort of reward.

Most rewards will be smaller than your wager, and this is perfectly normal for this style of game. The maximum possible win on Panda Bonanza is capped at 5000x your stake. This equates to €200,000 at the top stakes level of €40. One of the easiest ways to achieve the top prize is via the grand pot. A highly rewarding Pandamonium Spin featuring stacked wild multipliers can generate significant wins.

Other similar slots you may enjoy

As previously mentioned, if you enjoyed the panda theme there are plenty of other similar themed slots. For example, Fat Panda from Pragmatic Play is a much simpler game based upon a coin collecting free spins round. Panda Money Megaways from Big Time Gaming switches traditional pay lines for tens of thousands of different ways to win and has a significantly higher volatility.

Cash Pandas from Slotmill offers a smarter approach with a much more mechanical feel, whereas eye of the Panda from Hacksaw Gaming is for the high roller looking for a significantly greater maximum win potential. Lastly, both Pandastic Adventure from Play'n GO and Shaolin Panda Chaos Reels from Octoplay offer unique twists on this theme.

From the same developer as Panda Bonanza, Monkey Bonanza is likely to be the next slot you'll want to play, whilst Treasure Ireland could be worth checking out if you liked the Northern Lights Gaming style with a new theme.

Where can I play Panda Bonanza online for real money?

Panda Bonanza is currently available at most online casinos that carry Games Global slots. Prior to signing up for an account, please ensure the casino holds proper licensing in your region, confirms they run the 96.01% version of the game, and read through all aspects of the promotional terms and conditions. Some welcome bonuses may restrict the amount of money you can wager per spin, while others may exclude bonus buys altogether. Also consider how quickly your winnings are paid back and whether they allow for mobile gaming.

Play Panda Bonanza for free — learn how the game works

Although there isn't too much complexity involved with the gameplay mechanics of Panda Bonanza, there are still several things you need to learn prior to betting money. Therefore, it would be advisable to spend some time with the free demo version first. This version allows you to test how regularly the Bamboo Splat Bar removes symbols from your reel set, and how often you can expect to land big wins on the gamble wheel. After playing through hundreds of spins on the demo version, you should have a decent idea of how regularly each element appears and whether or not you enjoy the overall rhythm of the game.

General tips — help make your experience more rewarding

While there is no strategy that alters the math behind any slot machine, incorporating certain behaviors into your playstyle will increase your chances of success on Panda Bonanza. Always choose the highest RTP version. Be aware of how often your panda collects coins in his bowl, as these multipliers make some spins significantly more valuable than others, although you have absolutely no control over when he lands. Think of the gamble wheel as an affordable way to attempt entering the Pandamonium Bonus rather than a guarantee that you will enter it cheaply.

Lastly, due to the medium volatility nature of the game, having a bankroll of between 100 and 200 times your wager will give you enough room to view all the various elements. Finally, always have a budget and a time frame prior to starting to play, and adhere to them. If the game starts becoming boring or unenjoyable; don't hesitate to take a break.

Verdict: should you play Panda Bonanza?

Panda bonanza is a pleasant, visually appealing slot machine that provides players with ample opportunities for interaction. The Pandamonium Bonus is certainly the greatest aspect of Panda Bonanza. Not only is the build-up to getting into this bonus truly engaging thanks to the Bamboo Splat Bar and sticky multiplier wilds; however, it also maintains base game interest thanks to the piggy Bank feature. Although neither are innovative concepts, the inclusion of fixed jackpots and coin multipliers are appreciated addition to the Monkey Bonanza formula. Where Panda Bonanza fails is in ambition. The 5,000x win limit severely limits its appeal for high-rollers; furthermore, at times it feels as though the individual features operate independently rather than collectively as part of a cohesive whole.

FAQs: Regarding Panda Bonanza

Who develops/produces Panda Bonanza?

Panda Bonanza was produced by Northern Lights Gaming and distributed throughout Games Global's extensive library of well-known online slots.

What is Panda Bonanza RTP?

The highest RTP setting offered by Games Global is 96.01%. There are two additional RTP settings provided by Games Global: 94.03% and 92.03%. Please refer to the game information section before you begin playing.

How volatile is Panda Bonanza?

Medium volatility is where panda bonanza operates; resulting in approximately 30% of all spins returning a reward. While this results in frequent rewards arriving, it also means that fewer rewards will result in bigger payouts.

What is the maximum win on Panda Bonanza?

The top payout on Panda Bonanza is 5,000x your stake or €200,000 at the maximum stake level.

How do I trigger free spins?

Three temple scatter icons landing on reels 1, 3 and 5 award eight free spins during which three centre reels display oversized jumbo symbols.

How does pandamonium bonus operate?

When a completely visible Jumbo Panda icon is awarded three respin symbols are shown. Any wild symbols displayed remain in place with multipliers up to five times; pandas remove low symbol positions from your bamboo splat bar; and after all respins have been completed your final spin will award your total winnings, including all remaining wilds and symbols.

Can I purchase access to the Pandamonium bonus?

Yes. Players can purchase access to either eight free spins or potentially gain access via the gamble wheel at a reduced cost (depending on jurisdiction).