Since online gaming started in the early 2000s, some truly spectacular pokies have been produced. Microgaming’s Mega Moolah was a groundbreaking game when it was released in 2006. Since then, it has consistently been in the top 10 most popular jackpot pokies.
Online casinos and game providers today work hard to think up new and exciting games to bring to their audience. The world of pokies is not only big business but also very creative and thrilling.
Several features make this game so successful. It has a vivid and engaging theme, fabulous music, and you cannot forget about the famous Mega Moolah jackpot bonus.
However, the biggest attraction of this online pokie is the astounding size of its progressive jackpot. Read on to find out more about this amazing game in our Mega Moolah review.
What is a progressive jackpot game?
These are very special types of online games, and Mega Moolah was among the first of these games to be created. Progressive Jackpot Slots have a very simple idea behind them.
Every time a player places a bet on the pokie, a small part of that wager is removed. This is then put towards a cumulative jackpot. The jackpot builds up until someone eventually wins it.
Some jackpot games build the total based on players wagering on that one pokie at just one site. However, games like Mega Moolah are linked across many sites.
Currently, Microgaming links Mega Moolah to over 160 casino sites. This means that the jackpot size can be immense.
Mega Moolah jackpots
Over the years, there have been some fantastic jackpots produced by this online casino game. Due to the number of big wins the game has produced, it’s known as the ‘Millionaire Maker’.
The most significant win to date was US$20 million in 2018. With a win like that, it’s no surprise that the Mega Moolah online slot attracts so much attention, not only in NZ. SkyCity Online Casino has also produced a couple of impressive Mega Moolah wins itself.
A day that one New Zealand player will never forget is December 30th, 2019. That was the day that they won a mega jackpot of NZ$4,966,561.64!
However, this is not the only SkyCity mega win. On 18th September 2021, another lucky winner claimed a massive NZ$5,160,432 prize.
Mega Moolah’s theme
If you enjoy jungle-themed games, Mega Moolah could be your game. Microgaming set it against the backdrop of the African Savannah. The artwork is friendly and cartoonlike, and the theme music is the gentle sounds of the savannah on a lazy afternoon.
Mega Moolah has a classic five reels, three rows grid, with an impressive 25 pay lines. The graphics are simple and do not have as many special effects as modern games. However, the characters are fun and engaging.
The standard low-paying pokie symbols, A, J, K, Q, and 10, are present. Mega Moolah’s higher-paying symbols are entertaining. There is a cheery elephant, jolly giraffe, grinning buffalo, merry antelope, colourful monkey, and a regal lion.
In addition, there are two special symbols. A roaring lion is the wild, and the mischievous monkey is the scatter.
How to play Mega Moolah
This online casino game offers many chances to win bonuses. Through those bonuses, you can win extra Mega Moolah Free Spins and cash, which can be used to get you closer to the mega jackpot.
As with all pokies, Mega Moolah’s gameplay is simple. You place your bet and spin the reels. You’ll land a win if three or more symbols line up along any one of the 25 pay lines.
On any spin, you can also, completely at random, trigger the bonus round. However, placing a larger bet is more likely to see the Mega Moolah bonus wheel appear, which could take you through to the jackpot.
Special symbols
If you land three or more of the monkey scatters on the reels, you will win 15 free spins. Any pay line wins landing during those free spins will have their value trebled!
Appropriately for a jungle-themed game, the Mega Moolah lion brings the most significant rewards. He is the wild and can substitute for all other symbols except the scatter to bring you those wins, which he also doubles.
Jackpot wheel
This is where things get interesting on the Mega Moolah pokie. The minimum wager is NZ$0.25, and the maximum is NZ$6.25 per spin.
However, the higher the wagering amount, the greater the chance of triggering the jackpot wheel. This Mega Moolah bonus wheel is triggered randomly. This means that you never know when you’ll get a chance to enter that bonus round.
Microgaming split the jackpot into four parts: mini, minor, major, and mega. Let’s take a look at each one.
Mini Jackpot
This Mega Moolah jackpot is the easiest to trigger and is the one most commonly seen. The winnings are slightly above what you would get from a good spin, above $10. So, it will not change anyone’s life, but it is a decent win.
Minor Jackpot
With this Mega Moolah jackpot, you already see satisfying returns. The wins are often around $100, so pretty good for a pokie.
Major Jackpot
This is where players begin to benefit from playing a progressive jackpot pokie like Mega Moolah. This jackpot can pay out in the region of hundreds of thousands of dollars, so it gives great returns on wagers.
Mega Jackpot
This hardly needs any introduction, as it’s the big one. With this Mega Moolah jackpot, the sky’s the limit. Players don’t often win, but when they do, it’s time to celebrate.
However, don’t forget that you have to play Mega Moolah with a higher wager to be in with a chance of winning this jackpot.
Wagering requirements
As mentioned above, although the minimum bet is just NZ$0.25 per spin, you need to wager at the higher end of the scale to have a chance of winning the Mega jackpot. However, it’s best to start betting with smaller amounts until you get a feel for the game.
Final verdict on Mega Moolah
This casino game is for you if you want to play a classic pokie with an excellent bonus. Players never know when the jackpot bonus round will be triggered, so there’s always an air of anticipation around Mega Moolah. It’s definitely worth giving this slot a go and hopefully this slot review gave you a bit of a taste of what playing Mega Moolah feels like.
Always remember to gamble responsibly. Set sensible limits and stick to them. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.
You do not have to go far to enjoy this progressive jackpot slot as SkyCity offers it as well. Just get to the Jackpots category. There you will find this extremely attractive online slot game.
