Dragon Riches Slot

Dragon-themed slots are a staple in the industry. They come in all shapes and sizes, some sticking to a classic model, others packing an innovative punch. In all cases, they bring a feeling of nostalgia associated with Asian slots from back in the day, while some of them, like Tom Horn’s Dragon Riches, aim for the higher bars.

This gold dragon bonanza has 243 winning ways and a medium volatile math model. It falls into the category of dragons and Asian slots, which you can’t miss from the moment you load the slot up. It’s all red and gold, with symbols that include lanterns, a Buddha statue, and Chinese coins. Gold coins are activated per reel for a small cost, and the more you have in play, the better the possible returns.

There’s a catch – activating all five gold symbols costs a pretty penny. The minimum bet is higher than the usual if you want all five gold symbols in play. Most of the special symbols and the premiums have a golden version, which pays much better returns. Give the slot a try at the top online casinos, and you’ll see how this works. Also, read my Dragon Riches review to learn more about its other features.

Dragon Riches has a classic, almost vintage slot design. The reels are placed in a highly decorated ornamental reel with red and gold accents. Dragons can be seen in the top right and left corners high atop the pillars, which show that the slot has 243 winning ways. 

Beneath each reel, there’s a switch for the golden symbols. These include the premiums and specials such as the dragon wild, the scatter, a Buddha figurine, a ring, triple coins, and another figurine. They pay standard sums for three or more, but pay extra with the golden versions, but only if you’re willing to pay some more.

The sharp graphics and animations are paired with excellent soundtrack and audio effects. It creates a perfect atmosphere suitable for a slot of its kind.

Playing the Dragon Riches by Tom Horn Gaming slot is easy. You need to place a bet first, and the standard minimum bet with no golden symbols included is 40c. However, if you add golden symbols per reel, the minimum is $4.4, which is high for beginners. The maximum is $88 per spin, which is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture.

You have the option to play without golden symbols or activate as many as you want per reel. Keep in mind that having no golden symbols in play – or playing with just one – disables the jackpot prizes.

The golden symbols change the returns but not the gameplay, which remains straightforward. You need three or more matching symbols in adjacent positions, and you have 243 ways to win. The Buddha statue pays the most – it’s either 2.50x for five for the silver symbol or 50x for the golden version. That’s why you should consider activating the golden symbols.

A lucky dragon is wild, substituting for other symbols in winning combinations. The scatter triggers the bonus round and pays 2x, 4x, and 20x for three, four, or five instances. Aside from the higher golden symbol payouts, there are no other specials in the base game. The jackpots above the reels are directly linked to the golden symbols and can be won in the bonus round.

You need three or more scatters to get to the bonus round. The number of gold symbols in play determines your bonus wins. You’ll see a new symbol in the bonus – dragon heads in color. Their color corresponds to the jackpots above the reels. Match three to win the corresponding jackpot.

To play for all four jackpots, you’ll need to have all five golden symbols active. Here’s what they pay with all the gold symbols activated:

• Mini: 18x
• Minor: 68x
• Major: 218x
• Grand: 888x

You can’t retrigger or buy the bonus round. If you’d like to take a crack at it again, the only way forward is to trigger it from the base game once again.

Dragon Riches was a fun slot, although it mostly sticks to the basics in gameplay terms. The golden symbols are a nice touch, and just to see how they work and if they’re worth it, I started playing with all five active. That pushed my bet to $4.4 per spin, which isn’t cheap.

After a few losses, I hit a 30x win, followed by a few losses again. After that, I hit 10x and 15x wins, so during my first 20 spins or so, I managed to stay even. Getting to the bonus round was a huge challenge, and it took more than 50 spins. I won the Mini jackpot, which was a tiny consolation prize considering what I spent getting there.

Dragon Riches is a medium volatile slot with an RTP of 96.50% and 243 ways to win. Its maximum payout is 1,000x the bet.

Dragon Riches aims for a specific audience – those who like Chinese slots and dragons. It doesn’t do a lot in terms of special features, instead choosing jackpots and golden symbols as the big guns. 

The golden symbols can pay decent prizes, but they also cost a lot. It’s a tradeoff – activate fewer golden symbols, and you get lower chances of winning the jackpots. Consider your options carefully, and look at the golden symbols as an investment.

As an alternative, I suggest trying slots such as Temple of Prosperity by Play’n GO, which is a modern take on Chinese culture. You can also try Pragmatic Play’s Floating Dragon line of slots at the top casino sites.