Why Buffalo Slots Are So Popular

The buffalo slot theme is a landmark in modern-day casinos with almost every gambler having come across a pokie of the kind at some point. The theme first was introduced in 2008 with the Buffalo Slot by Aristocrat to American land-based casinos.

The game was among the first released to explore the video slot feature in place of electromechanical reels. It was also among the first titles to work with lineless five-reel playing grids. When it was first released, the game was not as popular as it is today. Instead, it lay in the shadows of IGT’s Wheel of Fortune online slot.

More than a decade after the initial release, the Buffalo Slot and its growing onslaught of spin-offs boast sheer popularity that makes the theme a cult status. Its rise to become a staple in the slots’ realm is propelled by various reasons, some of which are touched on below:

Simple Yet Interesting Theme

The buffalo theme mainly focuses on the bison as a part of the Native American culture. The connection between the tribes and these glorious beasts was sacred and a way of life.

Since resources were scarce in the Great Plains during the early days, native Americans put as much use to the buffalo as possible. The heart and skull were used for religious rituals, bones were curved into arrows, jewellery, and knives, fat was used for cooking and soap, and the rawhide made belts, bags, and shields.

Such deep-rooted practices of an ancient culture displayed on slot machines make them interesting enough to draw in the numbers. In most cases, the American buffalo is presented alongside other animals that were sacred to these tribes as well, including wolves, falcons, wild cats, and owls. Usually, the theme does not have too much action going on and instead offers a relaxing way to kick back and spin the reels.

Straightforward Gameplay

buffalo slots have nothing complicated about their gameplay procedure. A similar playing process applies to all of them with only a few changes to the bet selection process. In nearly all cases, the procedure unfolds as follows:

•  Choose the bet lines to remain active during spins
•  Adjust the stake used per line
•  Confirm the total stake placed, which is achieved by multiplying the involved fields
•  Spin the grid using either the manual or autoplay options

The gameplay in Buffalo slots does not require the use of any skills. Although it restricts gamblers from influencing their odds of winning, this simplicity makes them welcoming to any player, whether it’s an inexperienced or seasoned player.

Numerous Options

The buffalo slot theme started with the Buffalo Slot by Aristocrat that was developed for brick-and-mortar casinos. Ever since then, numerous spin-offs have been created that pay homage to the original release, similar to how the “Book of” slots honour the Book of Ra pokie by Novomatic. Nearly all successive versions have features that date back to the original Buffalo Slot including;

•  A sunset or rock cliff wild card that can replace other symbols and sometimes offer win multiplier
•  A gold coin for a scatter that activates free spins and can pop up as they play to award even more freebies
•  Multiplier bonuses that offer up to three times the paytable win
•  Bonus rounds that award random credits, multipliers, and other unique features

Although these features are mostly similar in all buffalo slots, their presentation differs from one title to another. More modern titles use striking visuals that are easy on the eyes while the classics allow players to revisit traditional days that are long gone. Some popular slots in this theme category include;

Wide Betting Limit

Lovers of buffalo slots can explore different bet options to suit their budgets. Aristocrat’s Buffalo Slot was created to serve penny staking players by accepting wagers as low as a penny and only going as high as 1.25 credits per round. The theme category has since grown accommodating to both low and high rollers by expanding the bet range much wider than the original limits.

White Buffalo by Amaya Gaming caters to high rollers with stakes that start as low as 50 credits and go up to 250 for each round. Buffalo Powe: Hold and Win by Playson, on the other hand, is more rounded and accepts stakes of 0.20 to 100 credits.

Impressive Payouts

The collection of winnings in buffalo slot machines remains up to luck, but they still offer the chance to walk away with impressive winnings. Buffalo Rising Megaways Jackpot King provides the largest win of the buffalo slots. The pokie is not only fitted with the Megaways feature by Big Time Gaming, but it also runs the Jackpot King engine. This bonus allows players to land one of three progressive jackpots. Others with fixed payouts offer a chance at big wins as well, such as Buffalo King by Pragmatic Play, which awards up to 93750 times the placed bet.

Bonus Features

Buffalo slots make their mark in online casinos with bonus features that span across all of them with unique additions to each title. Some of the features found in the pokie machines include;

•  Wilds – usually appears as rock cliffs, a sunset, or both, and it can replace other characters. The icon can be restricted to specific reels.
•  Scatter – appears as a gold coin that can be modified to suit the slot’s theme and triggers free spins. In most cases, the number of scatters determines the size of the freebies package.
•  Free spins – as many as 100 free spins can be collected depending on the buffalo slot, and they often contain multiplier or wild bonuses.

In Brief

Online gaming software developers continue to churn out different renditions of the buffalo theme, which is sure to keep the theme as attractive as ever. Some of the games in this category, like the Buffalo Slot, are available to enjoy in online and offline casinos.