This new video slot features beautiful artwork depicting the Chinese New Year theme, also reflected in the game’s name Gong Xi Fa Cai, which means “Happy New Year” in Mandarin.
The five-reel, 50-line base game features an optional bonus. The minimum bet to cover the paylines is 75 credits, but if a 25-credit side bet is added, a multiplier feature is activated for both primary-game spins and free games. Some of the regular winning symbols are marked with a multiplier from 2X to 5X. With the side bet made, that multiplier is applied to any wins involving those symbols. The manufacturer says the side bet also causes the bonus features to occur more frequently.
The primary game also features a mystery bonus event that leads to one of four progressive jackpots. When the mystery trigger occurs on a random spin, the screen depicts a field of jewel-filled envelopes. The player selects envelopes until three of the same jewel are revealed, triggering the progressive jackpot displayed on the corresponding color.
According to the manufacturer, the reset values for the progressives are determined by the casino, but the pictured example suggests resets of $10 for the Mini, $50 for the Minor, $1,000 for the Major and $5,000 for the Maxi jackpot.
Finally, a free-spin bonus features only major winning symbols, which are frequently stacked to generate large wins—particularly with the side bet adding multipliers into the mix.
Manufacturer: International Game Technology
Platform: AVP
Format: Five-reel, 50-line video slot
Denomination: All
Max Bet: 500
Top Award: Progressive; Varies by Casino
Hit Frequency: Approximately 50%
Theoretical Hold: 3.99%-14.91%
