The online gambling market in New Zealand continues to grow, despite the fact that natives aren’t allowed to wager with domestic operators. This is because they’re perfectly free to bet their hard-earned money at licensed overseas casinos, where online slots, table games and video poker iterations can be accessed in their thousands!
Slots (or online pokies if you’re from NZ) are particularly commonplace and popular, with titles such as ‘Enchanted Palace’ combining exceptional graphics and immersive themes with thrilling gameplay. Such games appeal to both casual and serious gamblers, while they’re highly accessible and require no real skill to play successfully.
Below, I’ll take a closer look at the Enchanted Palace title, while providing a comprehensive online slot review and asking whether or not it’s right for you!
A Brief History of the Slot
The Enchanted Palace came onto the online pokies market after being launched in August 2020. The brains behind this slot game is CT Gaming, which has developed a library of more than 460 slots in total and is active in 44 countries across the globe.
It also supplies software and games to more than eight online casinos, while Enchanted Palace is undoubtedly one of its flagship titles.
One of the most striking aspects of this game is its bright and immersive theme, which borrows heavily from classic fairy tales and narratives.
To this end, the traditional 5x3 reel grid is framed by striking golds and brightly coloured jewels, while the game’s symbols are depicted by icons such as a towering castle, a unicorn and a fierce dragon (in addition to standard playing card symbols).
Enchanted Palace Gameplay
These symbols are capable of forming 20 paylines and winning combinations across the five-reel grid, while you can spin these reels for anywhere between $0.20 and $100 per spin. This creates a broad and appealing betting range, and one that should entice both casual players and those who prefer to gamble for higher stakes.
The base game is steady and interestingly, while it delivers medium to high volatility and relatively regular wins. This has much to do with the game’s enchanted wild symbol, which can be substituted for every other icon (apart from the scatter) and may contribute to additional lucrative winning combinations.
Wilds also play a critical role in the game’s main bonus of ‘free spins’ round, which is triggered when you land three of the game’s scatter symbols anywhere across the slot’s five reels. This will also deliver a decent multiplier on your stake, before a new screen appears and the bonus round commences.
You’ll immediately earn 15 free spins when the bonus commences, at which stage additional reels will appear on screen. Wilds can appear stacked on these reels, as different symbols pile up and more lucrative winning combinations are forged.
At the same time, all bonus and free spin wins are immediately multiplied by two, creating some hefty wins across the board. We’re sure you’ll agree, this all makes for a truly magical slot game, and one that’s as visually engaging as it can be rewarding!
Returns and Maximum Wins with Enchanted Palace
Across the game, this mid-to-high variance slot boasts an RTP rate of 96.5%, which means that you can expect to recoup $96.50 for every $100 wagered on average online. This is highly competitive, with the typical slot RTP range varying between 89% and 97% depending on the underlying level of variance.
However, only progressive jackpot slots have an RTP rate as low as 89%, so Enchanted Palace is at the higher end when it comes to returns and how much of your starting bankroll you can expect to recoup over time.
In terms of the slot’s maximum win, you can earn as much as 10,000x your stake during a single spin. However, this prize is only available during the bonus round and when 2x multipliers are in play, while you’ll also need to stack high-paying symbols across the reels to bank this bumper payout.
Once again, a max payout of 10,000x your stake is more than competitive, especially for a game of medium to high variance that typically delivers regular (but modest) base game returns.
Can You Play Enchanted Palace on Mobile?
The latest version of CT Gaming’s ‘Enchanted Palace’ slot has been developed using contemporary HTML5 technology, with this common among the best pokies games in New Zealand and around the world.
Previous versions were developed using Flash technology, which lacks the support for SEO and mobile optimisation and means that games are only really accessible of desktop devices. Flash is also incompatible with iOS and halves the battery life of mobile devices, restricting players in terms of how and when they access slots.
HTML5 slots are completely different, as they’re optimised for mobile gameplay and can be accessed seamlessly through both desktop and handheld devices. What’s more, HTML5 slots are compatible with multiple operating systems, meaning that you can play them both as an Android or Apple user.
With these points in mind, the Enchanted Palace slot is ideal if you’re an avid mobile gambler, especially if you like to access slots during the daily commute to and from work.
Our Verdict on the Enchanted Palace Slot
We live in a time of constant online gambling news stories and game releases, with a particular emphasis on virtual pokies. This can make it hard to choose the right slot for you, but there’s no doubt that Enchanted Palace offers value to both casual and serious gamblers alike.
The broad betting range and maximum wager limit of $100 per spin is certainly attractive, as is the bonus gameplay and competitive RTP rate. Casual players can also bask in a bright and engaging theme, while still pursuing a maximum prize that’s worth a whopping 10,000x your stake!
While there’s plenty to recommend the slot, however, I’d recommend that you play a demo version of the game before staking your hard-earned cash. This way, you can get to grips with the gameplay and experiment with different bet levels and stake amounts.