Manufacturer: Konami Gaming
Platform: K2V, Podium
Format: Five-reel, 20-50-line video slot
Denomination: .01, .02, .05
Max Bet: 150, 300, 600, 1,500
Top Award: 2,000 credits times line bet
Hit Frequency: Approximately 50%
Theoretical Hold: 11.84%

Konami is expanding its video library as the new "Podium" series begins next year to replace the legacy K2V video platform. Money Blast is the type of high-volatility video slot that has made Konami's video library popular around the world. The game is available in both the K2V and Podium platforms.

Money Blast, which carries a dynamite-mining theme, is a program clone of another proven performer, China Shores. This version of the program includes a new feature called "Action Stacked Symbols." Each reel contains a number of adjacent positions that are replaced on random spins with one of the 11 paying symbols, creating clusters of jackpot symbols that result in multiple wins.

There also is a wild symbol-the main miner character from the game-that substitutes for each of the 11 jackpot symbols.

The main bonus feature is a free-spin round, in which all jackpots are doubled. Three, four or five "TNT" symbols trigger eight, 10 or 15 free games, respectively. The free-spin round can be retriggered during the feature. The free-spin round occurs every 40 spins, on average.

The game is available in 20-line, 25-line or 30-line configuration, with available max bets of five, 10, 20 or 50 credits per line. It is available for progressive links as well as stand-alone placement.

By Frank Legato

Frank Legato is editor of Casino Connection and also editor of Global Gaming Business magazine. He has been writing on gaming topics since 1984, when he launched and served as editor of Casino Gaming magazine. Legato, a nationally recognized expert on slot machines, has served as editor and reporter for a variety of gaming publications, including Public Gaming, IGWB, Casino Journal, Casino Player, Strictly Slots and Atlantic City Insider. He has an B.A. in journalism and an M.A. in communications from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. He is the author of the recently published book on gaming, How To Win Millions Playing Slot Machines... Or Lose Trying.