Pragmatic Play has brought the festive cheer to the Megaways series with Christmas Carol Megaways, a reskin of their earlier hit, Great Rhino Megaways. This holiday-themed slot brings the classic Charles Dickens’ tale to life with a variety of features that will keep players entertained during the holiday season. If you’re a resident of New Zealand, whether you’re in Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch, and you’re looking for a Christmas slot with big win potential and exciting features, this game could be just what you need to brighten up your festive season.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| Release Date | November 26, 2020 |
| Reels | 6 |
| Rows | 8 |
| Paylines | 200,704 |
| RTP | 96.47% – 96.58% (varies depending on Ante Bet) |
| Max Win | 20,000x |
| Volatility | High (5/5) |
| Min Bet | €0.20 / $0.20 |
| Max Bet | €100 / $100 |
| Winning Ways | Up to 200,704 ways to win |
| Symbols | 10-A royals, Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Scrooge (wild) |
| Wild Symbol | Scrooge (replaces pay symbols to form wins) |
| Scatter Symbol | Scrooge’s pocket watch (4+ triggers Free Spins) |
| Free Spins | 15, 10, or 5 spins with multipliers x1, x5, or x10, plus Mystery Option (5-15 spins) |
| Free Spins Multiplier | Increases by +1 with each cascading win during Free Spins |
| Ante Bet Option | Increases bet by 25%, doubles the chance to trigger Free Spins |
| Bonus Buy Option | 100x bet to guarantee 4 scatters and trigger Free Spins (available to non-UK players) |
| Cascading Wins | Winning symbols disappear and are replaced by new ones, continuing until no more wins occur |
| Additional Scatters in Free Spins | 3 more scatters = +5 extra spins (no limit to the number of spins) |
| Hit Frequency | Not specified |
| Max Win per Spin | 20,000x |
| Theme | Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”, with Christmas and Victorian elements |
Overview of Christmas Carol Megaways
Released on November 26, 2020, Christmas Carol Megaways is a 6-reel, 8-row video slot that offers players up to 200,704 ways to win. It takes the classic Great Rhino Megaways mechanics and adds a charming Christmas twist. The game is based on the beloved story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the three ghosts of Christmas, with high volatility and potential wins of up to 20,000x your stake. Whether you’re playing in a bustling city like Auckland or a quieter town like Queenstown, you can experience the Christmas spirit wherever you are.
Theme and Graphics
The theme of Christmas Carol Megaways revolves around the classic Dickens novella, bringing characters like Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and the Three Ghosts of Christmas to life on the reels. The graphics are full of Christmas cheer, with snow falling gently around the reels, creating a festive atmosphere. The symbols on the reels are designed to look like scenes from the story, with the familiar Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and the Ghosts, while the background is set against the snowy streets of Victorian London. For fans of Dickens’ tale and Christmas slots, this is sure to be a visually appealing game.
RTP, Volatility, and Max Win
- RTP: The return to player (RTP) of Christmas Carol Megaways is between 96.47% – 96.58%, depending on whether the Ante Bet option is active.
- Volatility: As a high volatility slot with a 5/5 rating, this game is designed for players who enjoy the thrill of big wins but are willing to accept some risk along the way.
- Max Win: The maximum possible win is a staggering 20,000x your stake, which could bring a huge payout for lucky players.
How to Play
The gameplay of Christmas Carol Megaways revolves around landing winning combinations of symbols across up to 6 reels. The number of symbols per reel can range from 2 to 7, and when you factor in the extra reel at the top of the screen, the total number of ways to win can reach up to 200,704.
- Min/Max Bet: Players can choose to bet anywhere from $0.20 to $100 per spin, catering to a wide range of budgets. Whether you’re a casual player in Wellington or a high roller in Auckland, this slot can fit your style.
- Symbols and Payouts: The symbols include classic 10-A royals, the Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future, Bob Cratchit, and Tiny Tim, all of whom offer payouts for combinations of 6 symbols. The game’s wild symbol is Ebenezer Scrooge, who can substitute for any pay symbol to create winning combinations.
Bonus Features
- Ante Bet: If you want to increase your chances of triggering the bonus features, you can opt to use the Ante Bet. This increases your bet by 25%, adding more scatters to the reels and boosting the likelihood of landing free spins.
- Free Spins: The scatter symbol in this game is Scrooge’s pocket watch. Landing 4 or more scatters triggers the free spins feature, and the number of scatters determines how many spins you receive and the starting win multiplier. You’ll have the option to choose from 4 different bonus rounds:
- 15 free spins with a starting multiplier of x1.
- 10 free spins with a starting multiplier of x5.
- 5 free spins with a starting multiplier of x10.
- A random choice, giving you between 5 and 15 spins with multipliers ranging from x1 to x10.
During the free spins, the multiplier increases with each cascade, and additional scatters on the bonus reel can award extra spins, with no cap on how many spins you can accumulate.
- Cascading Wins: Each time a winning combination lands, the symbols disappear, and new symbols fall into place, potentially creating new winning combinations. Each cascade also increases the win multiplier, giving you the chance to rack up bigger wins.
- Bonus Buy: For players outside the UK, there’s a Bonus Buy feature that allows you to pay 100x your bet to guarantee that you’ll trigger the free spins round immediately.
Strategy and Tips
While Christmas Carol Megaways is largely a game of chance, there are a few things you can do to maximize your experience:
- Use the Ante Bet Option: By increasing your bet by 25%, you boost the chances of triggering the free spins, which is where the biggest wins lie.
- Play the Free Spins: With the potential for cascading wins and increasing multipliers, the free spins round is where the game’s maximum potential shines. Be sure to choose a bonus that matches your risk tolerance.
- Consider the Bonus Buy: If you don’t have the patience to wait for the free spins to trigger naturally, the Bonus Buy feature is a great way to speed things up, especially if you’re feeling lucky.
Final Verdict
Christmas Carol Megaways is a solid offering from Pragmatic Play, especially for players who enjoy the Megaways mechanics. While it’s essentially a reskin of Great Rhino Megaways, the addition of the Christmas theme and the iconic characters from Dickens’ novella makes it a fun choice for the festive season. For New Zealand players, this slot offers a lot of potential with its high volatility and big win potential, especially during the free spins feature with its increasing multipliers.
Whether you’re playing on your phone in Christchurch or at home in Auckland, Christmas Carol Megaways is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit while chasing 20,000x your stake. The game’s combination of features, including free spins, cascading wins, and a high RTP, will keep you entertained as you spin your way through the snow-covered streets of 19th-century London.
