The online casino industry is extremely competitive and you have to be different in order to stand out. Every software provider to online casinos has unique concepts in the games its offers. This article looks at one such concept from Playtech, which is online pokies with 8 paylines.
These online pokies are not in the standard five reels with paylines zigzagging across them from left to right. The reels consist of a 3×3 grid with each of the nine positions spinning independently. So you have in effect 9 reels. The 8 paylines are also contrary to the usual. Three of them run horizontally across the reels, three of them run vertically and two of them run diagonally. Normally you will have to get the same symbol in all three positions on a payline to receive a payout. There are a fair number of pokies with this structure in the Playtech portfolio that can be played at online casinos like Omni Casino and Mansion Casino. Some of the more popular ones are Gold Rally, Chinese Kitchen, Ultimate Fighters and Vacation Station. The themes are different and there are different gaming features as well. But the reels structure is the same.
Two of the most popular 8 paylines Playtech pokies are briefly reviewed. Gold Rally has a gold mining theme with symbols like horse shoe, pickaxe, lantern, pistol, cart, gold and dynamite. The dynamite symbol on each corner of the grid triggers a bonus feature. You will directly be awarded bonus credits or a number of free spins. The scale is the scatter symbol and like scatter symbols in normal pokies it awards payouts multiplied by the total bet when five or more appear anywhere on the reels. Gold Rally has a progressive jackpot that is hit when all nine symbols on the reels are scales.
Chinese Kitchen is another of the Playtech 8 paylines pokies that is popular. The Chinese cuisine theme is much liked. The reels are set in a kitchen and you can almost smell the aroma. The symbols are the items used in Chinese food and include starfish, duck, octopus, frog, caterpillar, fish, snail and turtle. These are portrayed in a comic manner with some amusing win animations. The largest line payout is awarded by the turtle symbol. The crab is a special symbol that also pays out when it appears in one or two spots on a payline.