Smoking Pistols

The top prize is capped at 5,000x your stake. On a $1 spin that is $5,000; on $0.20 it is $1,000. When the cap is reached the round usually ends immediately.

Multipliers are applied to wins as they land; in many games several multipliers add together or multiply each other, which is where the largest wins come from.

Because winning symbols tumble away and are replaced, one paid spin can produce a chain of wins. All of them count towards that spin's total.

RTP is a long-run average across millions of spins. Any single session can finish far above or below it, especially on a medium–high volatility game.

The published hit frequency is 27%, meaning roughly one spin in 3.7 returns something — though many of those wins are smaller than the stake.

Free spins

A bonus round of spins played at no cost to your balance, usually triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols. Wins during the round are added to your balance, and many games let you retrigger extra spins.

Tumbling reels

After a win, the winning symbols are removed and new ones fall into their place. This can create several consecutive wins from a single paid spin. Also called cascades or avalanches.

Bonus buy

Lets you pay a fixed multiple of your stake to enter the bonus feature straight away instead of waiting for it to trigger. It raises variance considerably and is not available in every country (it is banned in the UK).

Wild symbols

Wilds substitute for regular paying symbols to help complete winning combinations. They do not normally replace scatter or bonus symbols.

Multipliers

Multipliers increase a win by a set factor, such as 2x or 10x. They can be attached to symbols, applied to a whole spin, or grow during a feature, and are a main driver of the biggest wins.

• Treat bonus buys as high-risk. Buying the feature concentrates your budget into a few large-variance rounds. Many results return less than the price paid. Read our bonus buy guide first.
• Bonus wagering: at 95.6% RTP, clearing $1,000 of wagering costs about $44.00 on average. Check the bonus terms, as some casinos exclude specific games. Run your numbers in the wagering calculator.
• Set limits before you spin. Decide your loss limit and session time in advance and stop when you reach either. No pattern or betting system changes the outcome of a spin.

More on this in slot RTP and volatility explained and bankroll management.

For medium–high volatility we suggest a budget of at least 250 spins. This is what that means for Smoking Pistols (bets from $0.20 up to a maximum bet of $100).

Averages only: a short session can end far above or below them. Set a loss limit before you play.

Slots with the same mechanic (ways to win) and volatility (medium–high) as Smoking Pistols, with a higher published RTP. Casinos can still run lower versions of any of them.

Hot Shots97.15% RTP · +1.55 ptsShaolin Spin97.15% RTP · +1.55 ptsMystery Heist97.12% RTP · +1.52 ptsGolden Avalon Hold and Win97.1% RTP · +1.5 pts