Monopoly-themed online casino pokies are among the most successful in the WMS Gaming range, and it’s easy to see why. Based, of course, on the classic board game, the Monopoly Once Around Deluxe video pokie is just one in a whole series and brings a couple of extra twists to the standard gameplay, such as a mini game where players collect rent on their properties, and an optional bonus bet that makes this round potentially more lucrative.
This is a traditionally-styled 5-reel game, where symbols are over 3 rows and there’s 15 paylines running across it. Basic winning combinations are formed from 3, 4 or 5 of the same type of symbols stopping across one of these lines, on connected reels starting from the left side. Most casinos offer free Monopoly Once Around Deluxe pokies, which is a good idea for anyone who likes to see how a game works before playing for real cash.
Once they are ready, the minimum amount that can be staked on a spin is just 0.01, although this only activates a single line, so getting all of the game in play will mean a wager of at least 0.15, while the top bet is set at 105.00.
The background image is a city at night, which is a fairly simple design that doesn’t distract from the action on the reels. All symbols are related to the theme and will be familiar to anyone who has played the board game. Presented in subtle 3D graphics, they include the playing pieces like a dog, car, shoe and gold ring, plus the electricity and water utilities symbols like a light bulb and tap, plus there’s the railway station symbol and a free parking sign.
A smug-looking Mr Monopoly is a wild symbol, so any time there’s a gap in a line of symbols and the wild is in the right place, it can complete the line and players get paid a prize. It won’t be able to act as the bonus symbol, which is Mr Monopoly rolling some dice, the Community Chest and the Chance question mark.
Any 3 or more bonus symbols will take players to the main feature of the Monopoly Once Around Deluxe video pokie game. It takes place on a Monopoly board and as the name of the game suggests, players get to go around it, with the number of moves determined by rolls of the dice. Players get to pick a token to go around for them, collecting rent from any properties that they land on, but the bonus bet lets them build houses and hotels in various positions before starting the game, meaning that they collect higher prizes from each one that their token stops.
Once players get all the way around the board, the round is over, unless they roll a dice that takes them to the GO position, which gives them another journey around it. Other ways to get a second circuit of the board are by landing on the Chance or Community Chest sections, when a card will be revealed. If it’s an Advance to GO card, players move right around and begin the game again, keeping any rent collected so far.
The cards can also pay out multiplier wins, so even if a second trip around the board isn’t on them, players still get a nice payout that can reach as much as 100x the triggering bet.
WMS Gaming have a proven record in delivering high-quality, reliable online casino pokies themed around Monopoly, and this title enhances the range by adding sharp graphics and the exciting bonus rounds to the mix. Most people have played Monopoly, and even those who haven’t will know the basics about how it all works, so there’s an instant familiarity that’s going to appeal to many punters.
While standard gameplay is fairly conventional, once the bonus game has been triggered, it all gets a lot more interesting. Although there’s no free spins, which are by far the most popular bonus feature across online pokie machines, the trip around the board more than makes up for it, especially if the bonus bet is active, as this enhances the potential number of coins awarded considerably.
Even without this optional bet, players should still get some good returns on their wagers, and enjoy taking a journey around that familiar board again.