Zhao Cai Jin Bao Slot Machine
Playtech software has been all over the Chinese themed slot machines recently, and Zhao Cai Jin Bao is yet another addition to the game studio's Oriental repertoire. The game's title translates to English as “We wish you wealth and prosperity”, which is a commonly spoken idiom during Chinese New Year celebrations.
Players might hope to get some of that wealth for themselves in this generously paying slot machine which has 5 reels, 9 paylines which pay both ways, and a 500,000 credit maximum win. That said, the game doesn't offer up any extra gameplay elements other than a wild symbol and a scatter icon.
Celebrate New Year with a spin
Chinese New Year is the most important date in the Chinese calendar, a renowned celebration of fireworks, good food, and plenty of well wishing to usher in a new year of prosperity. As such, Zhao Cai Jin Bao is a slot machine which is focused on the pure beauty of Chinese culture with a set of spectacularly designed game symbols, depicting some of the traditional props of the festivities.
There are images showing the dragon costume used in the customary dragon dance performance as well as a Chinese guardian lion, presented in all of its golden glory. There is also a Phoenix symbol to represent renewal and a pair of Koi Carp in the yin and yang position to symbolise good fortune for the year to come. The game's wild symbol is presented as a man in traditional Oriental attire while the scatter icon is a golden hat.
Even the game's lower valued playing card symbols – 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A – are linked to items from the Chinese New year celebrations. The 9 icon, for example has an orange, which is one of the authentic gifts given to young children. Meanwhile, the A symbol is shown with a red envelope, which is often filled with money and given to children and single people as a token of luck and prosperity.
No bonus, no problem
Zhao Cai Jin Bao doesn't offer much in the way of bonus features. In fact, the only special gameplay elements that players can expect is a scatter icon that pays wins when appearing on consecutive reels and a wild icon that appears on reels 2, 3, and 4 to complete winning sequences for all symbols. That said, the wild icon will double the value of the player's wins when it replaces a symbol to complete a win. Other than that, there is nothing else to mention. No free spins, no stacked wilds, no special bonus side games.
However, this game is still very enjoyable to play, simply for the fact that it is magnificently designed. No are of the game screen has been overlooked, and each symbol is detailed with authentic Oriental patterns and vivid colours. Plus, while the reels are spinning, a Chinese theme tune will play to transport players deep into the heart of this most ancient and mysterious of cultures.
Both ways pay
Even though this game is advertised as having only 9 paylines set out across the 5 reels, it actually offers double the amount of winning opportunities. That is because each payline in the game pays wins in both directions, going from right to left as well as the conventional direction of left to right. These line wins come with prizes of varying sizes, from a 2x line bet multiplier to a whopping 5,000x line bet multiplier. You can see all of the different winning possibilities in the table below:
The wagering options in this slot machine range from as little as 0.01 credits per line to 100.00 credits per line, meaning that row of five lions could return as much as 500,000 credits.
Wealth, prosperity and stunning spins
Zhao Cai Jin Bao is yet another slot machine in a series of Playtech software games that celebrate Oriental culture. Admittedly, spinners who like their video slots packed with bonus features will find more exciting spins to be had in games like Silent Samurai and Fei Long Zai Tian. However, this video slot is more than pleasant to play thanks to some incredible design work which depicts the Chinese culture in all of its colourful glory.
