MegaJackpots Ocean Belles slot review
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles is a progressive jackpot slot game from IGT, a long-running name in iGaming. It features a low max win of only 300x, a max stake of $750, and the chance to win a massive progressive jackpot at any time. It also offers interesting features, including wilds that cover the whole reel and stick for 2 spins.
But is any of this really worth it, especially given that the RTP is only 92.50%? This comprehensive MegaJackpots Ocean Belles slot review will explore that and more, so keep reading to get your answer.
Highlights
RTP 92.5%
Stakes range 750
Max win 300x
Number of reels 5
Number of rows 4
Number of paylines 75-
Jackpots No -
Slot type Slots -
Slot theme Ocean -
Software provider IGT -
Launch date 03/06/2019
73/ 100
76% Playscore based on 4 critics
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles slot review summary
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles feels outdated in both its visuals and theme choice, which might be off-putting to some. But setting that aside, it does have a good deal to offer. The wilds and the fact that they appear when you collect two Kiss symbols (which stick), then cover the entire reel while sticking for two spins, are a nice touch and can lead to decent rewards.
The max win of 300x is quite low, but the max stake of $750 can still lead to significant wins, making the game appealing to a broad range of players.
The low to medium volatility is more reserved for casual players, but the existence of a progressive jackpot is a nice add-on for high-stakes players. However, all types of players will have to accept the very low RTP of 92.50%.
Pros
Up to 90 bonus free spins
Low to medium volatility
Wilds stick for 2 spins
Cons
Very low RTP of 92.50%
Somewhat outdated graphics
Dated pinup theme
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles comprehensive review
The quick MegaJackpots Ocean Belles review was just the warm-up, and now is the time to dig deeper into the slot’s RTP, volatility, bonus features, symbols, and the paytable. You’ll also learn how and where to play the game.
RTP and volatility
The MegaJackpots Ocean Belles RTP is 92.50%, which is significantly lower than the industry average of 96%, but not uncommon for slots with progressive jackpots. In simple terms, the game is designed to return $92.50 for every $100 wagered over the long term, though individual sessions can and will vary heavily.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 92.50% |
| Maximum win | 300x |
| Number of paylines | 75 |
| Volatility | Low to medium |
Volatility is low to medium, so you can expect more frequent wins than in high-volatility slots, but the prizes will usually be small, with occasional medium-sized hits.
I’m used to seeing low RTPs in jackpot slots, but everything below 93% is stretching it, especially since 3.5% goes toward the progressive jackpot pool. In other words, the base game’s RTP is only 89%, which is on the lower end for jackpot slots.
Moreover, progressive jackpot slots are often paired with higher volatility because their appeal usually centers on less frequent but larger prize potential. Here, that’s not the case, as the low-to-medium volatility makes Ocean Belles feel more casual than many jackpot slots.
It’s also why the max win is ridiculously low, though this is somewhat offset by the high max stake of $750. With a 300x non-jackpot max win and a $750 max stake, the top regular prize is $225,000. The progressive jackpot sits separately and starts at $500,000.
Overall, I’m on the fence about this. If you want a low-stress playing session, the game is still great, but if you’re in it for the big wins, high volatility jackpot slots are better solutions. For example, Temple Tumble 2 Dream Drop from Relax Gaming is a high-volatility jackpot game with an even higher RTP of 94.8%.
Paul Portanier
Bonus features
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles has a few bonus features and other special features you should know about, including a progressive jackpot, wilds that expand and stick, and a free spin bonus round.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Expanding and sticky wilds, free spins |
| Top features | Wilds |
| Jackpot | MegaJackpots progressive jackpot |
Golden Kiss symbols and MegaJackpots
The Golden Kiss is the special symbol that activates the MegaJackpots feature. Land 5 of them, one on each reel, to win the progressive jackpot. These symbols also sit below the reels like regular Kiss symbols and can help trigger expanding sticky wilds.
Every bet can win, but the bigger it is, the more chances you have because the MegaJackpots system scales odds proportionally, meaning a $7.50 bet has 10x greater jackpot odds than the minimum $0.75 bet.
As much as 3.5% of all amounts wagered across the network go towards the MegaJackpots pool. It’s shared between several IGT games and multiple casinos in an area that IGT groups for this purpose. Whenever someone lands the grand prize, the jackpot resets to $500,000. Most jackpot wins on this network exceed $1 million.
Expanding and sticky wilds
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles has a unique system behind its wilds. They are not regular symbols that appear on the grid.
You land a Kiss symbol (or Golden Kiss symbol), and it drops below the grid into one of the two spots for the reel on which the symbol landed. It stays in place, and once you land another Kiss symbol on that same reel, it populates the remaining spot and triggers a wild. In other words, you need two Kiss symbols under the same reel, or 1 Kiss and 1 Golden Kiss, to trigger a wild.
The wild covers the entire reel on which the Kiss symbols were and stays there for the next two spins, as the Kiss symbols disappear. During those two spins, they substitute for any other paying symbol to form a winning combination.
Free spins bonus round
The free spins bonus is triggered when you land 3, 4, or 5 scatters, i.e. Bonus symbols. They award corresponding free spins with random wild reels. A wild reel is the same as a regular wild, but it can randomly change positions on each spin.
You also get to choose how many free spins and wild reels you want to activate, depending on the number of Bonus symbols you land:
- 3 Bonus symbols:
- 5 free spins + 3 wild reels
- 15 free spins + 2 wild reels
- 30 free spins + 1 wild reel
- 4 Bonus symbols:
- 10 free spins + 3 wild reels
- 30 free spins + 2 wild reels
- 60 free spins + 1 wild reel
- 5 Bonus symbols:
- 15 free spins + 3 wild reels
- 45 free spins + 2 wild reels
- 90 free spins + 1 wild reel
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles has a great selection of bonus features. I say that not because of the progressive jackpot, which is always great for a risk taker, but because of the other two. Both are quite exciting and unique.
The wilds are great as they are not all that hard to get, thanks to the fact that the Kiss symbols stay beneath the grid. At the same time, the free spins round is exciting as you can get as many as 90 free spins, which is quite uncommon. Plus, the addition of wild reels increases the excitement and the chance to win bigger rewards.
The only thing I don’t like is that there are no multipliers or a gamble feature. With the low max win, there’s only so much you can win from these features. On top of that, the low RTP lowers the game’s expected return.
Paul Portanier
Symbols and paytable
The symbols and paytable in MegaJackpots Ocean Belles are very straightforward, akin to those of older video slots.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Pinup girls |
| Reel layout | 5×4 |
| Highest paying symbol | Ocean Belle in blue |
| Adjustable paylines | N/A |
| Visuals | Nautical-themed |
| Sound | Themed background music score |
| Mobile quality | Great |
There are five low-paying letter and number symbols (A, K, Q, J, 10), and they all pay the same. Then, as many as 7 picture symbols are high-paying. The most rewarding one is the Ocean Belle in blue that pays 5x on 2, 25x on 3, 75x on 4, and 300x on 5 symbols, which is also the game’s biggest prize per spin.
The two next-best symbols are the other two Belles, Betty and Vicky. They pay the same, and the rewards start at 3 symbols, not 2, as with the blue Ocean Belle. The wins start at 3 symbols for all others, too.
With the game featuring up to 12 regular and 3 special symbols, it’s not easy to land a winning combination on a 5×4 grid. However, the low RTP is the bigger issue here because it reduces the game’s long-term expected return.
The payout is easy to follow, and the low-to-medium volatility keeps the session from feeling too punishing. Still, the 300x top regular payout limits how exciting the highest-paying symbol can feel compared with modern jackpot slots, and the overall payout value is below average.
Paul Portanier
How to play MegaJackpots Ocean Belles
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles is a straightforward slot game. Once you open it, select your stake and you can start spinning the reels immediately.
The game also features a simple Autoplay feature, where you can select one of the predetermined numbers of spins for which you wish the game to operate independently.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.75 |
| Max bet | $750 |
| Autoplay | Available |
| Turbo mode | N/A |
| Game history | N/A |
Unfortunately, there’s no fast or turbo mode, and the reels spin for about three seconds, but there aren’t many animations altogether that would further slow down the game.
Casinos where you can play MegaJackpots Ocean Belles
IGT games are still found in most online casinos in the US, even though they seem dated compared to newer titles on the market. IGT may be old, but it’s still a giant. However, it doesn’t mean that MegaJackpots Ocean Belles is in every IGT casino, and it’s certainly very rare in sweepstakes casinos. To make it easier for you, I’ve listed the platforms that offer it below:
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
85/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
86%
Playscore
based on
|
100% up to $1,000 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
|
Play now |
|
|
2
|
83/100
Expert rating
by Sophie P.
73%
Playscore
based on
|
100% up to $1,000
|
Play now |
|
|
3
|
94/100
Expert rating
by Sophie P.
85%
Playscore
based on
|
Up to $1,000 Lossback in Casino Bonus + 500 free spins at Cash Eruption
|
Play now |
|
Offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital, LLC. All Rewards issued as non-withdrawable site credits. 24-hour Lossback period starts when player makes first cash wager on slots only. Up to $1,000 back in casino bonus if player has net loss on slots after first 24 hours. Casino Bonus credit has a 1x wager requirement and expires after 14 days. NJ Only. Bet with your head not over it. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER |
Expert verdict
MegaJackpots Ocean Belles offers exciting bonus features that more than compensate for the very low RTP, which is always a problem with progressive jackpots. However, it doesn’t make much sense to pair a progressive jackpot game with low to medium volatility. And the fact that the max win is only 300x makes this game more suited for casual players.
Jackpot seekers and risk takers can still find a way to appreciate the game if they want to wager higher stakes, and the game definitely allows that, with the max stake being $750. Plus, if you like a potential jackpot where the guaranteed prize is $500,000, you might even forget that the volatility isn’t as expected.
FAQs
Is MegaJackpots Ocean Belles a progressive jackpot game?
Yes, MegaJackpots Ocean Belles is a progressive jackpot slot game. It’s part of IGT’s MegaJackpots progressive network, which also includes games like MegaJackpots Cleopatra, MegaJackpots Elephant King, and MegaJackpots Siberian Storm.
What is the RTP in MegaJackpots Ocean Belles?
The RTP of MegaJackpots Ocean Belles is set at 92.50%, which is much lower than the industry average of 96%. However, it’s in line with what’s expected of jackpot games.
What is the volatility in MegaJackpots Ocean Belles?
The volatility of MegaJackpots Ocean Belles is low to medium, meaning the game combines these two risk levels. In essence, you’ll typically get frequent but small wins, with occasional medium-sized ones too.
Is there a free spin bonus round, and how do I trigger it?
Yes, MegaJackpots Ocean Belles does have a free spins round, and you trigger it by landing at least 3 Bonus symbols. If you land 4 or 5 Bonus symbols, you’ll get higher sets of free spins to choose from.
What’s the max win potential of MegaJackpots Ocean Belles?
The max non-jackpot win is 300x the stake; with a max stake of $750, that comes out to $225,000, which is substantial. As for the progressive jackpot, it starts at $500,000, but the wins from IGT’s MegaJackpots network are typically above $1 million.
