96.07%
Pragmatic Play
High
N.A.
High
24-10-2022Following the success of the previous four titles in Pragmatic Play‘s Big Bass Bonanza series comes the equally fishy Keeping It Reel. After they’ve stopped reeling from the cheesy pun in the title, an experienced player will notice nothing very new about this slot, at least on the surface. However, there are a few new interesting features to keep things spicy, which will become apparent.
Specifications of the Keeping it Reel : Theme, RTP, Volatility, Max Win
Naturally, as part of the Big Bass Bonanza series, this new online slot continues the theme of its predecessors: the life aquatic. Just as in the original, plus its four previous sequels Big Bass Bonanza Megaways, Big Bass Splash, or Bigger Bass Bonanza, fishing imagery and iconography is everywhere. What’s more, the reassuring figure of the jolly bearded fishermen in his oilskin and souwester can be seen everywhere, cheering you on. There is certainly nothing new about the upbeat style, although this is surely a deliberate choice to encourage a sense of continuity.
However, there is some variation when it comes to the technical specifications of the online slot machine. Keeping it Reel has an RTP that is a little lower than previous iterations, with a maximum basic value of 96.07%, if online slots games operators don’t opt for the two alternative models with slightly lower RTPs. Despite this, there is a lot of potential for substantial wins in this slot, since Big Bass Boinanza : Keeping it Reel’s volatility is very high. Furthermore, stakes of up to €250 per spin are possible (€375 using Ante Bet), with the minimum allowable per spin being 10c, (or 15c using Ante Bet). All of this gives players enough of an incentive to keep on fishing, especially since Big Bonanza Keeping it Reel slot’s max win stands at 10,000 times their bet.
How to play to Big Bass Bonanza : Keeping it Reel slot
Keeping It Reel follows the standard model of a five-reel, three-row slot, featuring 10 fixed paylines upon which to scoop a win. These wins occur when three or more matching pay symbols land from left to right – although in the case of the most valuable symbols, only two matches are required. When a player secures a line win, they receive a payout, the value of which depends on the value of the symbols. Unsurprisingly, in this game all the highest value symbols are fishing related. In descending order of value they are the Fishing Float, Fishing Rod, Dragonfly and Tacklebox. Lower value symbols are represented by the typical royal cards in a standard deck.
When a player achieves a five-of-a-kind winning line, they will receive a bigger payout, worth five to 10 times the bet amount for the lowly royal cards, or between 20 and 200 times the bet for the high value fishing symbols. Players can not expect to encounter any wild or golden wild symbols at Big Bass Bonanza : Keeping it Reel Slot until they win some online slots free spins. At this point the wilds and golden wilds will begin appearing. They can substitute for any symbol save the scatter symbol. It is when landing these scatters – which naturally appear as fish – that the real fun begins and the game’s special features start to reveal themselves.
Features of Big Bass Bonanza : Keeping it Reel
Slot’s Free Spins
When the player lands three scatters, the bonus round begins and the game enables free spins. Landing three fish grants players 10 free spins, landing four grants 15 and landing five grants 20 of them. Furthermore, during basic gameplay, if two scatters land then there is a possibility that this will trigger an in-game animation of a third fish being hooked and dragged on to the reels. This will also kick off the free spins round.
During this round the game starts adding the wild and golden wild symbols to the reels, whose appearance grants more free spins. The fish scatters display a cash value when landed. If this takes place at the same time as a wild or golden wild symbol, then the player instantly receives that cash value. However, if the fish land with no wild symbol to accompany them, then their value goes straight to a prize kitty at the top of the screen, in the form of a fishing net. The sum is not entirely safe there. With each subsequent spin, one of the fish slips through the net, lowering the potential payout.
The best way to escape this frustrating situation is for a golden wild symbol to hit during this round. When this happens, the total remaining value of the fish in the net is realised, along with the values of any fish symbols remaining on the reels at this time. Additionally, there is the chance at the end of a free spin that fish may appear in random places, so long as there are fishermen symbols on screen. Equally, fishermen symbols may appear at random if there are only fish symbols present.
Slot’s Multipliers
Regarding value multipliers, collecting wilds and golden wilds boosts the free spins round significantly. Collecting four wilds or golden wilds scoops the player 10 free spins, which is further multiplied depending on the fish symbols also collected. In this way, players can multiply their free spins twice, three times or 10 times. This feature will not retrigger upon getting to the final round, however.
Keeping it Reel also has two extra features to give play a boost: The Ante Bet and Buy Free Spins functions.
Ante Bet and Buy Free Spins
Found on the left of the reels, activating the Ante Bet function allows players to add more scatters to the reels. In exchange for this, the players betting amount increases by 50%. When Buy Free Spins is enabled, free spins can be purchased in exchange for upping the bet by 100x. In both cases, the slot’s RTP remains unchanged at 96.07%.
Autoplay
Although frowned on by gaming regulators these days, the autoplay online slot feature remains popular among many gaming enthusiasts. Simply put, this allows players to keep one or more reels constantly spinning, in much the way that players can enable auto-fire in shoot-em-up games. Some find this convenient and time-saving, while others warn that it is a blunt instrument that doesn’t account for changing odds and tactical play. Whatever your views on this, Keeping it Reel offers the option.
Advices and tips to play Keeping It Reel
1. Try out Demo mode on Bonus Tiime
Like most online slots, Keeping It Reel comes with the option of playing free in demo mode. This opens up the game to potential players who wish to see what it is all about without having to risk any actual money. Demo mode is not just for the curious newbie, though. It gives any player an opportunity to discover the game mechanics and its special features for themselves. In this way, before a single cent is bet, a player can be familiar with Keeping It Reel‘s scatters and wild cards – and how these have an impact on the overall game. This leads us to the next pre-game tip for canny players: take a look at the pay table.
2. Relax and Entertain yourself
Trying first the free slot demo is the perfect way to unwind, relax, and simply enjoy playing Big Bass Bonanza : Keeping it Reel – without losing money or the stress to catch chasing wins.
3. Always study the ‘price list’ of the slot
The pay table is the slot’s equivalent of a price list. You will find here a complete list of all the symbols in the game, along with their value. You will also be able to discover the properties of all the wilds and golden wilds. Combined with spending a little time in demo mode, this preparation will allow players to place their first bet with confidence when beginning the proper game.
4. Plan a betting budget and stick to it
Anybody concerned with promoting Responsible Gambling will offer one piece of advice first and foremost: don’t bet more than you are prepared to lose. When it comes to play online slots for real money, then this manifests itself through sticking to a pre-agreed budget. If a player reaches their betting ceiling without a big win then it is time to call it a day. Stop playing as soon as you reach the budget limit.
5. Don’t be dazzled by huge jackpots
Some expert gamblers spend their time online chasing those mega-jackpots. While there is nothing wrong with that, it is a fact that slots offering huge progressive jackpots normally have higher odds and less chance of paying out. Keeping it Reel faces some criticism for its lack of a big jackpot, but this actually makes it ideal for players who want more chance and ways to win.
Review of the online slot Big Bass Bonanza : Keeping it Reel by Bonus Tiime
Undoubtedly, Big Bass Bonanza: Keeping it Reel could never be accused of pushing the boundaries of online slots. However, it is clear that it doesn’t set out to. This game is the natural next stage of a highly popular series of games stemming from the original Big Bass Bonanza, which arrived in online casinos at the end of 2020. Since then, its sequels have continued the theme of a fun day out fishing. Evidently, Pragmatic Games sees no need to tinker with this winning formular. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Nevertheless, there are new and interesting features in this online slot game that make it well worth a look, especially by fans of the original. It still offers excellent potential for a win, and an impressive maximum win at that.
