Mega Moolah slot review
Originally produced by Microgaming in 2006 before its eventual takeover by Games Global in 2022, Mega Moolah is a safari-themed jackpot slot that packs some serious potential.
Featuring its iconic wheel with four progressive jackpot prizes, the game is played on a 5×3 grid layout with 25 paylines. With an RTP of 88.12%, the slot comes with low volatility and includes a Free Spins round. To learn more about what this game has to offer, check out my full review below.
Highlights
RTP 94%
Volatility Low
Stakes range 100
Max win 11250X
Number of reels 5
Number of rows 3-
Number of paylines 25 -
Jackpots Yes -
Slot type Progressive Slots -
Slot theme Animals, Adventure -
Software provider Games Global -
Launch date 28/11/2006
64/ 100
75% Playscore based on 4 critics
Mega Moolah slot review summary
Thanks to its iconic jackpot wheel, Mega Moolah is a true classic that has stood the test of time. The name itself has become synonymous with progressive jackpots and has since spawned many variants. This includes popular original titles that have had the jackpot mechanic added in, like Immortal Romance Mega Moolah.
All this is a testament to just how much the original game has influenced online slot games over the years. The very slim but real chance to win life-changing money is enough for many people to overlook the game’s simple design and basic bonus features.
That’s not to say that the game has nothing else going on, but compared to more modern slots, including other Mega Moolah titles, it’s definitely a lot more stripped back. However, for players who prefer simpler, classic formats that can still prove potentially very lucrative, then Mega Moolah is the perfect fit.
Pros
4 progressive jackpots
2x Wild multipliers in base game
Wins multiplied by 3x in Free Spins round
Cons
Very low 88.12% RTP
Bonus features feel limited
Jackpot wheel favors lower prizes
Mega Moolah comprehensive review
In this Mega Moolah slot review, I’ll be uncovering the mechanics behind its iconic jackpot wheel. In doing so, I’ll also be inspecting its other bonus features and game elements, including its RTP, volatility, paylines, and symbols.
RTP and volatility
The Mega Moolah RTP sits at 88.12%, while an additional 5.30% is reserved for its jackpot contributions. With low volatility, the jackpot slot is home to 25 paylines on a 5×3 grid format.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 88.12% |
| Maximum win | 12,000x |
| Number of paylines | 25 |
| Volatility | Low |
Wins are formed from left to right and require a minimum of three matching symbols to appear on fixed paylines. Excluding its jackpots, the maximum win potential for Mega Moolah stands at 12,000x your stake and can theoretically be achieved during the Free Spins round.
There’s no other way around it, the Mega Moolah RTP is very poor and sits well below the industry average of 96%. However, this is generally the trade-off you make when playing jackpot games, sacrificing RTP for that remote chance to win life-changing prizes.
For reference, the RTP on Wolf Gold Power Jackpot by Pragmatic Play is even lower, resting at 83.83%. As for volatility, I wouldn’t quite call it low. In fact, it felt more like low-to-medium variance with some good runs and steady wins followed by some drier patches.
Elsewhere, I thought the 12,000x maximum win potential (excluding its jackpots) was actually very good and is higher than a lot of non-jackpot games, including popular titles like Sugar Rush by Pragmatic Play.
Alexander Teoli
Bonus features
The slot’s defining feature is undoubtedly its Mega Moolah Progressive Jackpot Bonus game. The mechanic is triggered randomly and is not dependent on landing a winning combination or a specific set of symbols. However, a higher bet per spin may increase your chances of activating it.
Once triggered, a spinning wheel will appear, guaranteeing you one of four jackpot prizes: Mega, Major, Minor, and Mini. The value of these jackpot prizes varies in real time and are displayed above the reels.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Wilds, multipliers, scatters |
| Top features | Free spins round |
| Jackpot | Mega, Major, Minor, Mini |
The jackpot prizes also form part of a shared network that include Mega Moolah and many other slots with Mega Moolah in the title. This also means that each jackpot prize is in part funded by a percentage of player wagers on these games.
Once someone wins one of the jackpot prizes from a Mega Moolah game, that specific jackpot resets to the following rates shown below. It’s important to note that the wheel is heavily weighted toward the ‘lower’ jackpot prizes.
- Mega Jackpot: Resets at $2 million
- Major Jackpot: Resets at $10,000
- Minor Jackpot: Resets at $100
- Mini Jackpot: Resets at $10
Aside from the jackpots, a Wild multiplier is also available during the base game and Free Spins round. Shown as a grinning lion, the Wilds boost payouts by 2x and substitute for all other symbols except the purple monkey Scatter symbols.
To trigger the Free Spins round, you’ll need to land a minimum of three or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels at once. This will award you with the maximum of 15 free spins. During the Free Spins round, all wins come with a 3x multiplier.
The shared jackpot system with values that increase in real time is both appealing and exciting. It creates a scenario where even the so-called low jackpot prizes can grow exponentially.
The inclusion of Wild multipliers in the base game and Free Spins round help to keep things moving. And to be fair, at the time of its release in 2006, this would have been ahead of the curve.
However, let’s be real, by today’s standards of slots, the bonus features in Mega Moolah are basic at best. There are also plenty of other Mega Moolah variants that have better value.
In Mega Moolah Goddess, for instance, five Scatters unlock 30 free spins and during the bonus round, wins are multiplied by 6x. However, for nostalgic purposes, and if you only care about the jackpot, then the original is perfectly fine.
Alexander Teoli
Symbols and paytable
Mega Moolah consists of twelve symbols. These are divided between five low-paying card icons (A, K, Q, J, and 10) and seven high-paying picture symbols inspired by African wildlife.
High-paying symbols also include Wilds and Scatters, which are in fact the game’s top-paying images. The lion Wild awards 600x your wager for five matches on fixed paylines. Four, three, and two lion Wilds earn you 60x, 5x, and 0.60x respectively.
Unlike all other pay symbols, Scatters do not need to land on fixed paylines to award payouts. Landing five-of-a-kind anywhere on the reels earns you 100x your wager. Four, three, or two Scatters pay 20x, 3x and, 2x respectively.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Jungle |
| Reel layout | 5×3 |
| Highest paying symbol | Lion |
| Adjustable paylines | N/A |
| Visuals | Dated |
| Sound | Good |
| Mobile quality | Excellent |
Next up in terms of value, the elephant and wildebeest consist of four payout tiers, with each one earning 30x and 24x your wager respectively for five matches. The remaining high-paying images (giraffe, zebra, and antelope) carry three payout tiers each, ranging from 0.40x up to 20x.
Card icons also carry three payout tiers, requiring you to land either three, four, or five matching symbols on designated paylines. Depending on the icon and number of matches, the payouts for these low-paying icons range from 0.08x up to 6x your wager.
Considering its dated look and basic features, I was pleasantly surprised by how decent the payouts are in the game. For comparison, Immortal Romance Mega Moolah caps out at 200x your wager for its top paying symbol, while Mega Moolah taps out at 600x.
However, Mega Moolah’s top paying symbol also sees a super steep drop-off, going from 600x for five matches down to 60x for four matches, ten times lower. That said, I’m not mad at it. The rest of the pay symbols are fairly consistent, with no steep drop-off or duplicate payout tiers.
Aside from the usual roles associated with them, I also liked the fact that Wilds and Scatters act as payout symbols. With the Wilds, for example, even if they don’t form on a payline, they can still contribute to complete winning combinations with other symbols.
Alexander Teoli
How to play Mega Moolah
To spin the reels, select the big spin button identified by the circular arrow chasing its tail. Next to it, the coins icon will open up a sidebar where you can adjust your bet per spin. You can either use the slider or choose from six preset betting options. The bet ranges from a minimum of $0.25 up to $6.25 per spin.
The autoplay button will open up three predetermined autospin options ranging from 10, 25, and 50. Alternatively, you can select the + icon and use the slider to push autospins up to 100. Once ready, simply click the ‘Start AutoPlay’ button for automatic spins. You can cancel them anytime by pressing the spin button.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.25 |
| Max bet | $6.25 |
| Autoplay | Available |
| Turbo mode | N/A |
| Game history | N/A |
The hamburger icon opens up a small menu bar. From here, ‘i’ icon will provide you with information on how the jackpots work as well as allow you to view paylines and symbols. Meanwhile, the gear icon allows you to toggle sound and choose whether you want to view the mini paytables or not.
For a more detailed breakdown on how the game works, select the three dots on the top left-hand corner of the screen and click ‘Help’.
Casinos where to play Mega Moolah
Mega Moolah is a classic game that can be found on most gambling sites that offer jackpot slots. It’s generally listed under Games Global, although some online casinos may still show it under Microgaming.
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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89/100
Expert rating
by Paul P.
91%
Playscore
based on
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100% up to $1,000 + $25 On The House
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Play now |
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Visit BetMGM.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ years of age or older to wager. MI, NJ, PA or WV only. Excludes Michigan Disassociated Persons. All promotions are subject to qualification and eligibility requirements. Rewards issued as non-withdrawable site credit, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Terms. Please Gamble Responsibly. Gambling Problem? 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, PA & WV). |
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81/100
Expert rating
by Jack B.
86%
Playscore
based on
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200% up to $100 + 25 free spins
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Play now |
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Expert verdict
I can totally understand why Mega Moolah would have been very popular at the time of its release, but I can also see why it continues to remain relevant today. Seeing those jackpot values go up in real time is exciting, and the thought of triggering the wheel is thrilling.
However, there are now plenty of better value Mega Moolah games in my opinion.
Titles like Immortal Romance Mega Moolah and Atlantean Treasures Mega Moolah have sharper graphics and stronger bonus features. Although to its credit, I thought the payouts in the original Mega Moolah were very strong.
Going back to the jackpot side of things, I feel it is important to point out that the wheel gives the false impression that you have a 1-in-4 chance of landing the Mega jackpot, the game’s biggest prize.
In reality, the wheel is heavily weighted toward the smaller jackpot prizes which takes a bit of the shine off for me. It’s not a dealbreaker, but definitely something worth noting, so keep your expectations firmly on the ground before heading in.
FAQs
What is the RTP of Mega Moolah?
Mega Moolah’s RTP sits at 88.12%. An additional 5.30% is tied to its progressive jackpots.
What is the maximum win potential of Mega Moolah?
Excluding the jackpots, the maximum win potential of Mega Moolah is 12,000x your stake. This can be achieved during the Free Spins round.
Does Mega Moolah have jackpots?
Mega Moolah has four progressive jackpots of varying value that change and grow in real time. The Progressive Jackpot Bonus game is triggered randomly during the base game.
How do I trigger free spins?
Landing three or more purple monkey Scatter symbols will trigger the bonus game and award you with a maximum of 15 free spins.
What is the volatility of Mega Moolah?
Mega Moolah is generally considered a low volatility slot, although actual gameplay can feel more like low-to-medium volatility.
