Slingo Fortunes
Slingo goes East in the Slingo Fortunes game, where players open lucky red envelopes over the course of 10 spins in this increasingly popular fusion of slots and bingo. By launching a game with a Chinese theme, Slingo is sure to attract even more players to the fast gameplay and winning potential of a game. Here, the aim is to match the numbers on a set of 5 reels with the 5x5 grid above them, winning prizes when you complete rows, columns or diagonals across it.
If you are new to the concept of Slingo, here’s a little background story. It was invented in 1994 by Sal Falciglia, a real estate developer from New Jersey who sold the company to the RealNetworks operator. The rights to Slingo are now owned by UK-based Gaming Realms and it’s become especially popular in Britain, with a number of online and mobile-optimized casinos featuring the games. It’s a great concept and a new, exciting twist on slots and bingo which is only going to become more popular with the release of Slingo Fortunes.
The game matrix is set against a patterned background with traditional Asian-style designs on it, although the fairly busy mix of numbers, reels, prize values and control buttons pretty much hides it from view. A nice soundtrack that fits the theme plays along with the action, interrupted by a variety of whistles, bells, bleeps and bongs as different events occur in each spin. These can get a bit much after a while, but there’s always the option to disable the sounds.
Slots and Bingo Equals Slingo!
At the start of each round, you are shown 26 traditional Chinese red envelopes which, according to the local custom, are signs of good fortune. Hidden within each envelope is a prize value which is awarded if you get a Full House by the end of the game. You then have 10 spins of the reels below the 5x5 grid of numbered envelopes. In each spin, any matching numbers that appear on the 5 single-row reels will see any corresponding envelopes in the column above replaced by star symbols.
As each envelope opens, it will also reveal a cash amount that will correspond to the values on the yellow and green boards to either side of the grid, eliminating the matching amount. The aim is to complete a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line of stars, called a Slingo, before the 10 spins are over. but there are special modifier symbols that can appear, either helping or hindering your progress.
Jokers and Devils
A smiling cartoon Joker in a red hat is a wild symbol. He can open any envelope in the column above his reel position if it helps complete a row of stars. A green Super Joker is even more useful as he will be able to open an envelope in any position on the grid, not just those above him. But look out for the Devil symbol, as this guy will be able to block any potential matches on the reels.
There’s one other symbol that can appear, and that’s the Free Spin icon. This simply adds one more spin to the original 10, although several can turn up in the course of these games, which means you could have a number of extra chances to complete rows of stars.
Prize Boosts
To the left of the grid, there’s a Prize Boost Ladder. As you complete more Slingos, you move up the ladder, earning multipliers on any remaining lines. You’ll need to complete 4 lines to trigger the first reward, which sees a traditional Chinese fortune bowl appearing on the screen. This symbol gives you the choice to either accept the offer shown along with the bowl, decline the pick and open the envelope that you originally chose, or continue with the spins.
If you opt for the latter, the next win will be multiplied by 2x, followed by 3x and so on. This continues until you reach all the way up the ladder to a Full House, and your prizes will be multiplied by a huge 20x. At the end of the spins, unless you have a Full House, you will be offered extra spins at a cost which is displayed on the screen, along with any potential wins if the reels land numbers or Jokers in your favor.
A Useful Strategy
The best practice to complete as many Slingos as possible is to play the full 10 spins and any free spins before opening the envelope originally chosen. If possible, you should also try to open envelopes in the grid’s central positions as soon as possible, as these will be included in horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.
Betting Options
Simple Plus and Minus buttons are what is needed to set your bet levels, with the options ranging from a low limit of 1.00 to a maximum stake of 100.00. For any wager, you get the full 10 spins. You can place further bets as offered by the game when the spins are done, with the cost of the extra games determined by how likely it is that you will collect a prize from them.
Free Slingo Fortunes games are available, which give newcomers to the concept a chance to practice the game. Once you start playing, though, it’s pretty easy to grasp. You can then go on to make real cash wagers and collect some of the great prizes on offer.
Other Slingo Successes
There are Slingo games based on hit TV shows such as Deal or No Deal, The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, plus versions themed around successful slots such as Rainbow Riches. The basic gameplay is the same, but adding the excitement of a theme will attract players looking to see their favorite gameshows in a unique format.
Slingo Extreme sees the same Jokers and Devil characters, but you now have 11 spins plus more free spins to complete winning lines. Meanwhile, a stack of coins appearing on the reels will award you an instant cash prize. Landing 3 of any Joker on the 5 reels will also lead to an instant win in this fast-paced version of the game, which we highly recommend. It’s a little easier to follow the action here than in Slingo Fortunes. It can also prove to be the ideal way to learn the basics while still playing for real cash, as there’s less stuff to work out before having a go.
The Slingo Bingo Verdict
Let’s take a closer look at the game mechanics. This is largely 75-ball bingo with a few extra twists added on. However, it is these little twists that transform it into an exciting game that may be somewhat complicated to learn. However, once you’ve grasped the basics, it’s a fun and potentially rewarding way to gamble. Like all Slingo games, Slingo Fortunes is compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android and Windows devices, plus desktop PCs, and has been certified for fair play by independent testing labs.
