Popular slot game 'Buffalo' begins online roll out in several US regions
In the early part of 2022, Aristocrat's management established its online Real Money Gaming (RMG) division
Both retail and online casinos all over the world can offer access to hundreds if not thousands of video slot games. With so much slot availability, it's quite an accomplishment when a particular slot can grab the headlines. That is exactly what has happened with the "Buffalo" slot from Aristocrat Gaming and Anaxi.
The Software Developer and Game History
For seven decades, the Australia-based Aristocrat Leisure Limited has been manufacturing gaming machines for retail casinos all over the world. In the last 12 or so years, the company has been developing its online casino game portfolio through the acquisition of established software developers like Big Fish Gaming (acquired in 2017).
In the early part of 2022, Aristocrat's management established its online Real Money Gaming (RMG) division. Later that year, they branded the division under the name "Anaxi."
If there is one land-based slot machine for which Aristocrat would be known, it would have to the the company's "Buffalo" slot. The game was introduced in land-based casinos in 2021, only to go on to be named "Slot of the Year" at the Global Gaming Awards in Las Vegas.
It was just a matter of time before Aristocrat would introduce Buffalo to online slot players. That time has finally arrived as Aristocrat handed the digital baton off to Anaxi, and the online version has now been released worldwide.
Buffalo Roll Out in The U.S.
In recent years, Aristocrat has been pushing its small but growing online slot portfolio. The portfolio is currently available in several U.S. states where Aristocrat and now Anaxi games are being integrated into operators' online casino gaming platforms.
On September 5, U.S.-based BetMGM announced that Buffalo would be rolling out in states like New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Other Aristocrat/Anaxi slots that are available via some U.S. online casino sites include:
- Timberwolf
- Wicked Winnings II
- Sun & Moon
- Wild Lepre’coins
- Wild Wild Samurai
- Miss Kitty
There are sure to be other video slot roll outs coming from Aristocrat and Anaxi in the very near future. However, gamblers who are looking to boost their bankroll should check out nodepositbonuses.com for online casinos with amazing promotional offers.
About the Buffalo Online Slot
Given all of the wonderful press and anticipation related to the roll-out of the online version of Buffalo, a look under the hood of the inner workings of the game seems in order. Let's take a peek at the slot's game-play details and special bonus features.
Game-Play Details
Anaxi's Buffalo slot fits neatly into the "Western prairie" genre. The slot is built around a gaming matrix that includes 5 reels, 4 rows, and 1,024 different ways a player can win money. The betting starts at a minimum of $.01 per spin and goes up to a maximum bet of $2.00 per spin. With a "return to player" percentage of 94.85%, the game falls within the parameters of a decent-paying slot.
The game's lower-paying standard symbols are represented by playing card numbers 9 through the Ace. The higher-paying standard symbols are represented by prairie animals like an eagle, a cougar, and of course, the buffalo, which serves as the game’s highest highest-paying standard symbol.
Other key symbols include the "sunset" symbol, which serves as the game's only wild symbol. It is used to substitute for all other symbols (creating more winning combinations) with the exception of the scatter symbol, which is represented by a gold coin. Note: The wild symbol will only pop up on reels 2, 3, and 4.
Special Bonus Features
For fun, the Buffalo symbol can come stacked across the game matrix. When one of the symbols appears, there is an audio feature of a man's voice that yells "Buffalo."
The slot has but one special bonus feature, that being free spins. A new free spins round is initiated when a player lands three or more gold coin scatter symbols during a basic spin.
Free spins are awarded as follows:
- Landing three (3) scatter symbols earn 8 free spins
- Landing four (4) scatter symbols earn 15 free spins
- Landing five (5) scatter symbols earn 20 free spins
During free spins, multipliers can be earned when a wild symbol appears during a free spin. Multipliers can build up to as high as 27x the winning spin amount. This is where players get the opportunity to win big money. There is a retriggering mechanism that awards 5 more free spins every time 3 or more scatter symbols appear during a free spin.
On the surface, Buffalo doesn't have much to offer. With that said, slots don't earn "Slot of the Year" awards unless they have some substance. The game is visually attractive and the audio features bring it to life. For certain, this Anaxi slot is suitable for online casino players at all levels.