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Boat Bonanza Down Under Slot Review

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I have to take a deep breath because I don’t know whether to rant or just go with the flow for this one.

Pros & Cons
Bet from a minimum of €0.10
Different RTP configurations
Alluring sounds and visual quality
No ante bet or bonus buy features
Plenty of captivating features
Potential to win up to 6,000x bet
Desktop & mobile compatibility

The Boat Bonanza Down Under Slot Game

This fishing trip planned by Play’n GO isn’t precisely similar to its predecessors. While the original and 2nd editions happened near a busy harbor, this new online slot release takes players to a stunning Australian coast. It means more fishing, considering it’s home to the Great Barrier Reef!

The blue waters appear calm under the sunny sky, with empty beaches confining the water between them. But don’t be cheated by Boat Bonanza Down Under’s laid-back ocean: it hosts a thriving aquatic life underneath.   

It’s funny how the slot’s title mentions a boat, yet our fisherman chap sits on a floating rubber ring, sleeping most of the time. He’s presumably unaware of the chopped-up surfboard, clearly signaling the danger lurking beneath. The transparent 5x4 reels and ambient sounds make the design more immersive.

Symbols and Payouts

We’re now starting to enter the juicier parts of this game. And as this chapter’s segment suggests, this is where I’ll uncover all the paytable details!

First, Boat Bonanza Down Under has nine regular symbols, which should help you complete winning combinations. The payout rules dictate that you aim for left-to-right adjacent paying symbols along the 12 valid win lines from the leftmost reel.

While most pay for 3+ of the same, some pay for 2+ OAK. Consult the paytable to distinguish which is which alongside their potential wins. 

The 10, J, Q, K, and A symbols pay the low-priced wins worth 1x, 3x, and 10x the bet for 3 or more of a kind.

Then, the high-paying category has the Diving Goggles and Sandals worth 3x, 10x, and 50x and the Octopus Tentacle in a Can worth 4x, 15, and 100x the bet for 3-plus. Meanwhile, the Seagull on a Floater awards the most valuable wins worth 1x, 5x, 20x, and 200x the stake for 2+ of its kind.

Several multi-colored and multi-sized Fish act as Catch symbols. Their collectable prizes (1x-50x) are displayed as cash prizes on every symbol, and they can also pay 1x-40x regular wins when 3 to 5 appear on a line.

While there’s no wild, the game has a non-paying Shark scatter, which can trigger the free spins bonus!

Boat Bonanza Down Under Slot Bonus Features

While spinning the reels, you should also hope the sleeping fisherman awakens and triggers a bonus feature. Also, aim for the free spins-triggering scatters!

Catch Feature

A snoozing fisherman floats above the reels, triggering one of three actions when he awakens:

  • Vertical Fish - collects all the prizes directly below him.
  • Surf n Catch - the fisherman surfs along the top of the reels, beginning from the leftmost position, collecting all prizes on the grid. A multiplier equal to the number of reels containing catch prizes is applied to the total win.
  • Under Reel Collection - A mystery catch prize is reeled from below the reels. It can be cash, a non-paying Dud symbol, or, in bonus games, a special scatter that charges the Free Spins trail.

The Under Reel Collection and Vertical Fish can be triggered simultaneously, and the possible catch prizes range between 1x and 50x the current bet!       

Free Spins

Managing 3 scatters on any reels triggers 10 free spins. However, the scatters that land during the feature progress the 12-position trail instead of retriggering more spins. The 2nd, 6th, and 10th trail positions award extra picks, while the 4th, 8th, and 12th positions retrigger +10 free spins.

Each retrigger’s win multiplier is 2x, 3x, and 10x. Also, scatters in the same column as the Fisherman may be collected as part of the Under Reel Collection or the Surf n Catch.

The maximum number of free spins possible is 50, and no additional free spins are awarded after reaching the final trail position. Also, the multipliers are applied only to catch wins. 

Pick & Click Bonus

Boat Bonanza Down Under has a pick bonus, awarding you one of eight modifiers at the beginning of the free spins. Each modifier has regular and upgraded versions, and you can win more from the trail progression. 

The regular modifiers include:

  • 5 extra free spins.
  • More Catch triggers.
  • More Surf n Catch triggers.
  • More Catch symbols.
  • Removed lowest-paying symbol.
  • At least one Catch symbol per spin (without a guaranteed win).
  • Increased Catch multiplier to x2
  • A random sticky Catch symbol for one spin.

Meanwhile, the upgraded modifiers are as follows:

  • 10 more free spins.
  • More Catch triggers at x2 multiplier.
  • More Surf & Catch triggers ate x2 multiplier.
  • More Catch symbols and ejected least-valued Catch symbols.
  • 3 lowest-priced symbols are removed.
  • 3+ Catch symbols per spin (no win guaranteed).
  • Catch multiplier boosted to x5.
  • 2 random sticky Catch symbols for a spin.

For the record, you can only activate 4 modifiers throughout the free spins. Also, only one of each modifier can be active through the pick bonus rounds.

How to win at Boat Bonanza Down Under Slot

Usually, playing and winning Play’n GO slots is straightforward. Still, the Swedish game provider continued that legacy by making this slot a laid-back experience.

Its configuration includes 5 reels, 4 rows, and 12 paylines. Winning combinations happen randomly in any successful spin, as the Symbols and Payouts segment explains. So, you cannot influence your winning probability.

Boat Bonanza Down Under has bets starting from €0.10 and ending at €50. You play every round manually using the Spin button. Or automatically for many rounds with the Autoplay functionality.

Meanwhile, the “i” and “?” buttons open the paytable and help pages, and the Flash sign speeds up the reel spins.

Boat Bonanza Down Under Slot RTP & Volatility

As is the standard with Play’n GO releases, this game also has different RTP configurations, ranging from 84.25% to 96.25%. On the other hand, the slot’s volatility is a high of 7 out of 10, and the top reward is a possible 6,000x the stake!

The Final Thoughts

Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s uncommon to find sequels from Play’n GO. But it seems the veteran game developer also wants to make it big in the fish market. Hence, Boat Bonanza was created, with the potential to compete against giants like Pragmatic Play’s Big Bass series.

Boat Bonanza Down Under certainly takes the sequel’s potential a notch higher, thanks to its many features. Unlike most fish-themed slots, the angler in this game napped most of the time, making me question whether he was lazy or tired. It could get annoying, especially during the base game, where he just reels in prizes from the reels. 

However, he becomes more active in the free spins, where you could help him hook one of many modifiers and enhance the payouts! Because of that, you could secure lucrative wins of up to 6,000x your stake!

Having said that, I wish there was an ante bet or feature buy option to hasten the bonus trigger since the base game was less active. But fishing in these Australian waters was luring, thanks to the max win and in-bonus modifiers!

Slot type
Video Slots
Slot bonus features
Multipliers
Free Spins
Pick & Click
Slot details
Theme:
Animals · Nature
Provider: 
Play'n GO
RTP: 
96.25%
Volatility: 
High
Paylines: 
12
Release date:
2024-04-18
Nerijus Grenda
Nerijus Grenda
Last Update: 23 May 2024
Nerijus Grenda is a prolific contributor to the GoodLuckMate site. With a deep understanding of the online casino industry, gained from his own experience as an avid player, he offers valuable insights on what sets the best casinos apart from the rest. As a writer, Nerijus shares his expertise through expert analysis and thoughtful commentary on various topics related to online gambling, including casino reviews, game guides and industry trends.
Emma Sjökvist This article has been Quality Assured by Emma Sjökvist
Q: 

Can I play Boat Bonanza Down Under for free?

A: Yes, many online casinos offer the Boat Bonanza Down Under slot in demo mode, allowing players to try it out for free before wagering real money.
Q: 

Can I win real money playing the Boat Bonanza Down Under slot?

A: Yes, it is possible to win real money from the Boat Bonanza Down Under slot. As long as you're playing for real money that is, of course. It's important to note that the amount of money that can be won from the Boat Bonanza Down Under slot, or any other slot game, is based on chance and there is no guarantee of winning.
Q: 

Can I play Boat Bonanza Down Under with bonus money?

A: Yes, in most cases. Whether or not you can play Boat Bonanza Down Under with bonus money depends on the specific terms and conditions of the online casino offering the bonus. Some online casinos may restrict certain games, including Boat Bonanza Down Under, from being played with bonus money, while others may allow it.
Q: 

Is the Boat Bonanza Down Under slot available on mobile devices?

A: Yes, the Boat Bonanza Down Under slot is available on both desktop and mobile devices.

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