Big Bass Bonanza Slot Review
Co-developed by Pragmatic Play and Reel Kingdom, Big Bass Bonanza has been a Canadian online casino staple since its release in 2020. Featuring a 5×3 grid, 96.71% RTP and a bet range of $0.10 to $250, Big Bass Bonanza is a back-to-basics slot that appeals to budget bettors and high rollers alike.
The slot’s popularity has inspired multiple sequels, from holiday themes and Amazonian adventures to additional mechanics like Megaways and Hold & Spin. Despite these remakes offering higher maximum payouts and more ways to win, it’s the original game that reels players in time and time again.
Don’t be misled by the basic configuration and simple underwater gameplay. With medium-high volatility and only ten ways to win, the Big Bass Bonanza slot is more complex than its cartoonish animations suggest. During gameplay, you’ll quickly discover that patience is crucial to getting the most from this slot. So sit back, relax, and prepare to get hooked on this underwater adventure.
Slot Info
Provider | Pragmatic Play/Reel Kingdom |
Release Date | 2020 |
Reels | 5 |
Rows | 3 |
Paylines | 10 |
RTP | 96.71% |
Min Bet | $0.10 |
Max Bet | $250 |
Big Bass Bonanza’s Biggest Win
Community data gathered suggests Big Bass Bonanza has a 1/7.9 hit frequency, around one in every eight spins, which is decent for a medium-high volatility game. Similarly, the biggest multiplier win is 2,026x, almost the maximum payout. The biggest monetary win so far is €13,690.03, which is around $20,152.55.
How to Play Big Bass Bonanza
Playing Big Bass Bonanza is super simple – you won’t need to cast your net far to spin the reels and start reeling in payouts. The focus is on prolonged gameplay rather than flashy graphics and crazy bonus features, so the game’s rules are easy to grasp.
The game plays out on a five-reel, three-row configuration. There are ten ways to win, which will pay out when you land three or more matching symbols across the five reels. There is also one free spins bonus round, which you can trigger with Scatter symbols.
The Expert Tip
You can wager up to $250 per spin on Big Bass Bonanza, so the temptation to high roll is there. However, this is a very high variance slot, so it is important that you take care of your bankroll. If you are on a limited budget, play with smaller bets because you will need to be patient and wait for the free spins feature that has the biggest wins. Even when betting smaller amounts, you should still play across the maximum number of paylines to maximize your chances of hitting that big win.
Symbols and Payouts
A combination of low and high-paying symbols flood the reels of every Big Bass Bonanza spin. The playing card symbols (A, K, Q, J, and 10) represent the lower-value symbols. Each high-paying symbol plays into the fishing theme, including a tackle box, fishing line, dragonfly, float, and various-sized fish. The fish symbols also become Money symbols during the free spins round.
The titular big bass represents the Scatter. Land three or more Scatters to trigger the free spins bonus round. It’s only during this bonus round that Wild symbols, which feature the beardy fisherman holding his catch, appear. Reel Kingdom opted to keep this game simple. Besides the Money multiplier in the free spins round, you won’t find any additional features like jackpots or cascading reels.
Play Big Bass Bonanza on Mobile
Big Bass Bonanza is built on HTML5 technology, meaning you can take this slot to the streets using your smartphone or tablet. The technology allows the slot to seamlessly transition from desktops to the screens of iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices. The game’s simplicity is advantageous for mobile gambling, as there are fewer graphics and features to slow down the loading speed.
Big Bass Bonanza RTP, Payout, and Volatility
The slot has an RTP of 96.71%, which means that for every $100 wagered, the slot will theoretically pay back $96.71. Of course, every outcome is random, and there is no guarantee that this will be exact. Sometimes, the slot may pay out far more or far less.
The game has a medium-high volatility. The volatility refers to how often a game pays out and the relative size of its wins. High-volatility slots pay out less frequently than low-volatility games, but the value of the win is typically much higher. Canadian players should expect to play Big Bass Bonanza for a little longer than on other low-variance games before receiving a win.
Big Bass Bonanza Features
Big Bass Bonanza has a few exciting features to liven up the base game. Scatters trigger the free spins round and award 10, 15 or 20 spins. You can re-trigger the free spins round up to three times and earn a maximum of 50 free spins.
The Big Bass Bonanza bonus round also introduces multipliers where you can win up to 2,000x your bet. These bonus features enhance the gameplay, as you can boost your chances of landing a winning combination and increase the value of your wins.
Free Spins
Landing three or more Scatter symbols triggers the free spins bonus round. Three Scatters win you ten free spins, four Scatters get you 15, and five get you a generous 20 free spins. When two Scatters appear, the remaining reels slow down to add suspense to the spin.
Casino Canuck Top Tip: You can claim up to 20 free spins from the fish scatter symbol in Big Bass Bonanza. Here, the fisherman wild symbol becomes really important as it powers free spins by adding cash values each time it lands on the reels. Every time the fisherman hits, it builds the potential win in a collection meter. If you get 12 wilds, the game rewards 10 additional free spins and a 10x multiplier.
Multiplier
The fish pay symbols also double as Money symbols during the free spins round. They act as multipliers and take a random value on every free spin. Landing one in a payline will award 2x, 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 25x, or 2,000x your total bet.
Wild Retriggers
The fisherman Wild appears during the bonus round. In addition to substituting symbols on winning paylines, every fourth Wild that hits during the bonus round will re-trigger the free spins feature, awarding you a further ten spins. It also collects the value of all Money symbols that appear, offering the chance of a bigger payout.
Graphics & Sound
Big Bass Bonanza is essentially a new and improved version of the 2014 release Fishin’ Frenzy, whose peaceful simplicity won players around a decade ago. The graphics are pretty similar: where Frenzy has blue fish, Big Bass has green. And where Frenzy has a pelican and life ring as high-paying symbols, Big Bass has a float and a dragonfly. But while Fishin’ Frenzy’s graphics are a little outdated, Big Bass Bonanza offers higher-quality images and a more modern aesthetic.
The soundtrack of Big Bass Bonanza is as happy-go-lucky as the game itself. Each reel lands with a ‘glug’ sound effect, and the background music is a jolly little tune that matches the cartoonish graphics. Our Big Bass Bonanza review team found the sounds a little repetitive during their longer sessions, but you can easily turn them off with the mute button.
Gameplay and Overall Experience
While the tackle boxes and bass Scatters do a great job of capturing the fishy theme, the volatility and stripped-back simplicity are what make playing Big Bass Bonanza truly immersive. Much like waiting for a bass to bite, you need patience and perseverance to score a big win. Canadian players who prefer slow burner slots to fast-paced games with flashy features will likely find this simple slot a welcome break from games with feature-heavy gameplay and in-depth storylines.
The Big Bass Bonanza slot has an immersive theme and good winning potential for patient players. The slot is available for real-money gameplay at many Canadian casinos. It’s ideal for players with a more flexible bankroll who have the time (and patience) needed to play a medium-high volatility slot.
Play Big Bass Bonanza For Real Money in Canada
There are plenty of places to play Big Bass Bonanza for real money in Canada. We’ve recommended a few sites that offer the slot, which you can visit by following the link below. Register a new account, make a real money deposit, and you’ll be casting your line in no time.
The Expert Tip
Big Bass Bonanza is a common bonus slot for free spins at casinos that offer Pragmatic Play games. We have seen it on both free spin welcome bonuses and ongoing promos for existing players across multiple Canadian casino sites. Before claiming these free spin offers, remember to always read the bonus T&Cs, looking for details such as deposit limits, the wagering requirements, how much you can bet per spin, and the maximum potential bonus payout.
Pros and Cons
Big Bass Bonanza Pros | Big Bass Bonanza Cons |
Wide bet limits suit all budgetsEasy to understand the rulesGenerous $525,000 maximum winFree spins round can be re-triggered up to three times | Max win is lower than on later Big Bass Bonanza installmentsNo auto-spin feature |
Big Bass Bonanza: Summary
- Overall rating:
Ultimately, Big Bass Bonanza is an enjoyable, back-to-basics slot with a decent RTP and a fun theme. Though its simple base game and fun theme give it the impression of being beginner-friendly, it may not be the best game for bettors with a tight budget. Instead, it’s more suitable for players with a flexible bankroll who can afford a longer gaming session.
As the first in the Big Bass series, the game is a building block for later installments with more exciting features and better odds, such as Big Bass Bonanza Megaways. However, it remains one of the most popular online slots around, and it’s easy to see why.
FAQs
- Who created Big Bass Bonanza?
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Big Bass Bonanza is a joint venture from Pragmatic Play and Reel Kingdom. Pragmatic Play is one of the casino industry’s leading developers, famous for iconic slots like Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza Candyland. All of Reel Kingdom’s online slots are released in conjunction with Pragmatic Play. There are now over 15 games in the Big Bass franchise, with another set to release in 2024.
- What is the minimum and maximum bet on Big Bass Bonanza?
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The minimum wager per spin on Big Bass Bonanza is $0.10, while the maximum is $250 per spin. The maximum payout limit is 2,100x your stake, meaning you could win up to $525,000 if you wager the maximum bet.
- Does Big Bass Bonanza have free spins?
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The minimum wager per spin on Big Bass Bonanza is $0.10, while the maximum is $250 per spin. The maximum payout limit is 2,100x your stake, meaning you could win up to $525,000 if you wager the maximum bet.
- Does Big Bass Bonanza have free spins?
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Absolutely. Big Bass Bonanza has a bonus round where you can win up to 50 free spins. Landing three or more Scatters unlocks this bonus round and awards 10, 15 or 20 free spins. You can re-trigger the free spins bonus round up to three times in one go.
- What slots are similar to Big Bass Bonanza?
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Big Bass Bonanza is very similar in theme, graphics, configuration and betways to Fishin’ Frenzy, a 2014 release by Reel Time Gaming. It is essentially a remake with higher-quality graphics, a larger maximum payout and an additional bonus round. Other slots with a similar theme to Big Bass Bonanza include Big Fishing Fortune, 6 Wild Sharks, and Golden Catch.
Ziv (Steve) Chen
CEO at Major League Content
Ziv has been working in the iGaming industry for more than two decades, serving in senior roles in software developers like Playtech and Microgaming. He then followed his lifelong passion of writing and became a fulltime journalist, covering casinos, sports betting, legislation and other gambling topics and news with a specialty in North America.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ziv-steve-chen-94b01b5/