Iron Bank
Volatility High
Min Bet 0.10
Max Bet 20
Max. Win 49,998x
Rating 9.3/10
Relax Gaming have teamed up with CasinoGrounds to bring us a slot packed full of features, potential and choice. At quick glance, players could be forgiven for thinking Iron Bank is a simple, easily made slot, but what lies beneath the surface is nothing of the sort. Set in Cuba, players are transported to the heart of a town, with the Jaguar on hand to try and hit big within the Iron Bank, located at the left of the screen.
CasinoGrounds CEO, Tobias Svenson, has stated “as slot enthusiasts, designing our very own casino game is a real dream come true […] If you’re looking for a slot that is as action-packed as it is fast-moving, then Iron Bank is the game for you” and this is clear to see when playing. This slot offers players a variety of stakes, a bonus buy option for players outside of the United Kingdom, 4096 ways to win, base game features, and a choice of 3 bonuses, each with their own levels of volatility.
Overall though, this slot is high volatility, with an RTP of 96.2%, and a maximum win of nearly 50,000x bet. Players will enjoy delving deeper into this slot, experiencing each bonus, and deciding for themselves which is their favourite, whilst also recognising the subtle homages to some of the most well known streamers of CasinoGrounds, such as Daskelelele and their “Printing!”
Considering Iron Bank is a slot themed around the Jaguar striking gold, symbols are not necessarily what players would expect, however when we think about Cuba the symbols begin to make a lot more sense. At the lowest end of the pay table, we have 10s, which pay 0.4x bet for 6 of a kind. Js and Qs follow, paying 0.5x bet and 0.6x bet respectively, each for 6 of a kind. Finally, the bottom end of the the pay table consists of Ks and As, paying 0.7x bet and 0.8x bet respectively, again for 6 of a kind. At the premium end of the pay table, cigars and rum bottles pay 2x bet and 3x bet respectively for 6 of a kind, and gold bananas and crystal vases pay 4x bet and 10x bet, again for 6 of a kind, respectively.
This is where we start to see the potential of this slot, and it continues as we explore the last 3 symbols available. The top symbol, which is the suited Bull, pays a whopping 50x bet for 6 of a kind, and the jaguar wild substitutes for all symbols except the scatter, appearing either as a regular sized symbol, or as a full reel wild, with a multiplier attached. Finally, the scatter symbol on this slot is a flash looking silver bank vault with the word bonus written across it, paying 20x bet for 4, although the minimum requirement to trigger the bonus is only 3. 5 scatter symbols pay 200x bet, and 6 scatter symbols pay an incredible 2000x bet – definitely something to grind for!
Iron Bank Base Features
There are 3 base game features available to players in Iron Bank, each with their own potential:
Random Bonus Symbols – adds 1-3 bonus symbols at the start of any spin, increasing the chance of triggering free spins. We have seen this feature before in games like Pink Elephants 2. However, this feature is so much more lucrative within Iron Bank, as 6 scatter symbols pay 2000x bet.
Random Mystery Symbols – adds mystery symbols to the reels at the start of any spin, transforming into the same symbol when the reels come to a stop.
Full Reel Wilds – these wilds are able to land on reels 2-5, covering the entire reel. There are multipliers attached, between x2 to x10, and multiply each other when more than one contributes to a win. Considering the top symbol on Iron Bank pays 50x bet for 6 of a kind, it is easy to see the potential of these base features, making this a slot that can pay out some huge wins no matter how long it takes to land the bonus.
Iron Bank Bonus
3 or more scatter symbols trigger the bonus on Iron Bank. For the feature, players have the option to choose between 3 different bonus games. Visually, landing the bonus and making your choice adds some fun to this slot; the corresponding part of the Iron Bank Blueprint is circled after the choice is made. Two of the bonuses on this slot seem like a new and interesting twist on some of the features we have witnessed on Big Time Gaming Slots before. This includes Danger High Voltage and Lil’ Devil. There are 3 bonus games, 2 of which are a 4/5 volatility level; Mystery Symbols and Multiplier Collect.
Mystery Symbols awards 8 free spins, with a symbol randomly chosen at the start of the feature, from within a folder, further adding to the theme and aesthetic throughout this slot. As with games such as Danger High Voltage, a lower symbol is desired, as there are more on the reels. Any time the chosen symbol lands on the reels, it is converted to a mystery symbol. These are marked with a question mark, and stick on the reels. Each spin thereafter, all mystery symbols reveal the same symbol. Mystery symbols can only land on reels 2-6, and filling an entire reel awards one extra free spin.
Multiplier Collect awards 12 free spins, and is perhaps the most confusing bonus game to understand at first. Across reels 2-5, coconut shooters sit at the top of the reels. These have a multiplier attached, which corresponds to any wilds that land on that reel. Coconut crates land across these reels, shooting 1-3 coconuts into the shooter at the top of the reel. Every 2 coconuts awarded increases the multiplier on the corresponding reel and wilds by 1. The current multiplier is visible both on any wilds that land, and at the top of the reel. Every time the coconut shooter at the top of the reel is filled, 3 additional free spins are awarded.
The most volatile bonus on offer is the Expanding Wilds bonus. This feature is reminiscent of Lil Devil, in an entirely different way. 10 free spins are awarded, where reels 3 and 4 are clearly marked. This is the area in which Expanding Wilds can land. Wilds can still land on other reels, but are not expanding. Any time a wild lands on reels 3 or 4, they expand and players are awarded a re-spin. These re-spins continue as long as wins continue, or a second wild lands within the marked area. Any win during re-spins increases the multiplier by 1 on each expanding wild. If both Expanding Wilds are in play they multiply together, offering the potential for huge wins.
First Impression
Relax Gaming CPO, Simon Hammon, commented on the fact that “working with CasinoGrounds […] has proven the value in listening to the wants of the player community. The result is a game that is one of the most feature-rich slots on the market, with high levels of suspense […] that will no doubt appeal to a wide range of player demographics” and we could not agree more. It’s hard to think of a slot that contains this many features whilst still packing this amount of potential. Of course, Blueprint are already famed for their slots packed full of features. However, this slot brings us a taste of that with the potential that we love from Relax Gaming.
Overall, this is a slot for any player. It does not denote that players must play on any particularly high stake to experience enjoyment; the potential for a huge win is there on any stake. We can’t wait to explore and see what our favourite bonus turns out to be.
*The screenshots taken of games reviewed on this site are taken from Demo Play, as reviews are often written before games are released for real play.