Grand Dragon Slots

Grand Dragon Payback Percentage

The payback percentage, also known as the RTP (or "return to player"), is the percentage of money paid back to gamers over the long term. In the case of Grand Dragon, the RTP is 94.01%, which means that a player who deposits $100 can expect to receive back $94.01. This percentage is based on millions of spins, however, so the short-term profits or losses can vary by a wide margin.

The similarly-themed Dragon Lines slot (also from Ainsworth) offers a payback percentage of 94.30%, so this game in comparable in terms of potential profit. This gives it a somewhat average RTP for a slot machine, although the designer still deserves a pat on the back for sharing such information in the first place.

Grand Dragon Game Symbols

While Grand Dragon isn't going to win any awards for originality, it does offer a number of exotic symbols related to Asian culture. This section examines the various icons, discussing both their function within the game and overall value.

• Kintaro

  This symbol looks like an Asian baby grappling with a giant fish. His actual name is Kintaro, and he's a popular character from Japanese folklore known for wrestling bears and chopping down trees with his bare hands. He's often depicted as trying to capture a giant black koi, and his likeness in this game pays 1,000 for five, 100 for four, 50 for three, and five for two.

• Yin Yang

  This symbol of duality acts as the scatter and pays in any position. It offers the following prizes: 100 for five, 20 for four, and two for three.

• Dragon

  This mythical creature is popular throughout a variety of Asian cultures, and it often serves as a symbol of strength and good fortune. It serves as the wild in this game, substituting for all symbols except the scatter.

• Jade Emblem

  The ornamental rock known as jade has long been associated with Asian culture, and in this game it pays 300 for five, 75 for four, 20 for three, and five for two.

• Golden Coin

  These ancient coins are still used today for arts such as fortune telling and Feng Shui. They pay 200 for five matches, 75 for four, 20 for three, and two for two.

• Chinese Lantern

  Still used as a novelty decoration and during certain Asian celebrations, this ancient form of illumination pays 150 for five matches, 50 for four, 15 for three, and two for two.

• Ace, King, Queen

  The highest playing card values, these symbols are used as filler in most slot machines. In Grand Dragon, they pay 100 for five, 25 for four, and five for three.

• Jack

  Most games pair the playing card symbols together, but for some reason this one sets the Jack symbol apart from the rest. It pays 50 for five matches, 15 for four, and five for three.

• Ten, Nine

  Even more playing card filler, these symbols pay 50 for five matches, 15 for four, five for three, and two for two.

Bonus Features

There are two bonus features in the Grand Dragon slot game. These are outlined for you below.

If you get three or more Yin Yang symbols during the regular phase of the game, you'll be awarded with 10 free spins. These complimentary spins take place immediately, and the number of paylines is increased from 25 to 50. Getting three additional scatter symbols awards an additional five free spins, and this can be achieved multiple times.

In addition to the usual game icons, a phoenix symbol is introduced during the free spins round. These appear on the first and fifth reels, and getting the symbol on both reels at the same time causes them to transform into expanding wilds and fill their respective reels. When this happens, the middle reel spins one additional time to give the player a chance at some truly impressive payouts.

Buttons on the Grand Dragon Slot

Online slots always provide players with a certain level of customization, and the same holds true with Grand Dragon. In this section, we'll discuss the most important buttons, as well as their individual functions.

• Lines Plus

  If you want to increase the number of active paylines, press this button. The maximum available amount is 25.

• Lines Minus

  For those who want to wager on fewer paylines, this button allows you to decrease the number down to a single line.

• Bet Per Line Plus

  If you're feeling lucky, you can increase the size of your wager by clicking on this option. The most that can be risked per line is $7, which results in a maximum overall wager of $175 per spin.

• Bet Per Line Minus

  If you're playing with U.S. currency, the lowest amount that can be wagered per line is a single penny (for a total bet of 25 cents if all paylines are active). By clicking this button, you'll be able to lower the amount of your overall wager.

• Spin & Stop

  By clicking this virtual button, the player causes the reels to begin spinning. Once they're in motion, the button changes to "stop" and allows the gamer to immediately halt the progress of the reels. Keep in mind, however, that suddenly stopping the reels doesn't have any bearing on the ultimate outcome (that was decided the moment you pressed the spin button).

• Auto

  Pressing the spin button repeatedly can become monotonous, so this feature is designed to give the player a break. You can choose from five to 25 spins, and then sit back and watch that number unfold automatically (with the same wager being risked each spin). If you decide that your fingers are suitably rested, you can cancel the auto feature at any time.

• Gamble

  This interesting feature is included on a number of Ainsworth slot machines, and it can be a real treat for those who like to gamble. After any win, you can choose this option and be taken to a separate screen with a deck of playing cards. In order to win, you must predict either the color or suit of the next revealed card. Correctly guessing the color doubles your money, while successfully predicting the suit quadruples the amount. This feature can be selected up to five straight times following a win, although a wrong guess immediately clears out your newfound winnings.

Conclusion

The Grand Dragon slot machine, like most titles from Ainsworth, is a simple slot that should appeal to those who enjoy an uncomplicated gaming experience. For those who've been spoiled by games with lots of extra rounds, the Free Spin and Phoenix bonuses should more than satisfy their craving.

I also noticed that five different symbols offer a payout if you get two matches. The amount isn't much, but most slots don't offer anything for a pair. This is just another example of Ainsworth adding in small details to please their players.

The payout percentage is about average for online games, but the presence of the two bonus rounds allows for high volatility gameplay that can increase a player's bank account within a matter of seconds. Add in some solid graphics and sound effects and you've got yourself a slot machine option that should be drawing in players for years to come.