Big Bamboo Review
Big Bamboo is a 5-reel, 6-row Push Gaming slot with 50 lines. Mystery bamboo stalks open into symbols or golden bamboo, golden bamboo turns into prizes and multipliers, and the free spins remove the low symbols one by one. The win cap is 50,000× the bet.
About the game
The game is set in a bamboo forest with a panda as the top symbol. Its rules are longer than in most slots, but they build on one idea: the mystery bamboo symbol can land anywhere and decides what happens next.
The demo's rules give an RTP of 96.13%, or 96.52% if you use the optional Gamble feature, and a win cap of 50,000× the bet per round.
Big Bamboo Features
Mystery Bamboo
Mystery Bamboo symbols can land anywhere in the base game and the free spins. When the reels stop, they all open to show the same thing: a paying symbol, a wild, or golden bamboo.
Golden Bamboo feature
If the bamboo reveals Golden Bamboo, each golden position spins through prizes. It can land on instant prizes of 1× to 5,000× the bet, multipliers of 2×, 3×, 5× or 10×, scatters, gamble scatters or a collector.
A multiplier multiplies all prize and collector values on the reels and then disappears. A collector adds up all the other prize and collector values and stays. At the end you win the total of all prize and collector symbols.
Gamble scatter and free spins
Scatters only land on reels 2, 3 and 4. With scatters on reels 2 and 3, a gamble scatter can land on reel 4 and show a free-spins prize: nothing, 4 to 9 spins, 7 to 9 spins with 2 low symbols removed, or 8 to 10 spins with all 4 low symbols removed.
You can take the prize or gamble it on a wheel. The wheel has better prizes and empty segments, so you can also lose the round.
Free spins
During the free spins, scatters are collected on a meter for the 4 low card symbols. Every 4 scatters turn one low symbol into Mystery Bamboo. The first conversion adds 4 spins, the second and third add 3, the fourth adds 2.
Each conversion also adds a multiplier for the Golden Bamboo wins. In the free spins a gamble scatter inside a golden bamboo round can add 1, 2 or 3 more spins.
Symbols and payouts
The panda pays the same as the wild. The four card suits pay very little; their job is to be removed in the free spins.
| Symbol | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild, Panda | 150× | 10× | 2× | 0.5× |
| Orange animal | 20× | 2× | 0.5× | – |
| Monkey | 16× | 1.6× | 0.4× | – |
| Blue bird | 12× | 1.2× | 0.3× | – |
| Club, heart, spade, diamond | 0.4× | 0.2× | 0.1× | – |
Wins are paid left to right on 50 fixed lines. Only the highest win per line counts.
Bonus buy
Where the casino allows it, the star button lets you buy the free spins: 99× the bet for 7 to 9 spins, 179× with 2 low symbols already converted, 608× with all 4 converted, or 300× for a random one of these. The rules list an RTP of 96.13% to 96.94% for the buys, depending on the option and whether you gamble.
RTP and maximum win
96.13% without the Gamble feature and 96.52% with it. The win cap is 50,000× per round. The rules put the chance of reaching it at 1 in 21,000,000 without the gamble and 1 in 10,000,000 with it.
Who is it for?
Big Bamboo is a game for players who like long-shot bonus rounds. The base game pays small line wins most of the time, and almost all the value sits in Golden Bamboo and the free spins. The demo is a good way to see how often those actually come.
Big Bamboo Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Lots happens around the mystery bamboo
- Free spins get stronger as low symbols are removed
- 50,000× win cap
- RTP stated in the rules
Limitations
- Long rule set
- Most base-game wins are tiny
- Gamble wheel can lose the free spins
Our Verdict
Big Bamboo has a lot going on, but the core is easy: watch the bamboo. Golden Bamboo pays prizes, the gamble scatter decides the free spins, and the free spins get better with every converted symbol.
It's a high-risk game with a very high ceiling. Try a few hundred demo spins before deciding if the rhythm suits you.
Big Bamboo FAQs
What is the RTP of Big Bamboo?
96.13% without the Gamble feature, 96.52% with it, according to the game rules.
What is the maximum win?
50,000× the bet per game round.
How do the free spins start?
A gamble scatter on reel 4 has to show a free-spins prize. It can only land when scatters are on reels 2 and 3.
What does golden bamboo do?
Each golden bamboo spins into a prize, a multiplier, a scatter or a collector. You win the total of the prizes.
Can you buy the bonus?
Yes, where the casino allows it: 99×, 179×, 300× or 608× the bet.
How many lines are there?
50 fixed lines on 5 reels with 6 rows.
