Bai Shi

Bai Shi not only provides traditional Chinese characters but also takes you deep into a zone where wild animals can cause havoc, like white lions. One of the game's highest paying symbols is a gold crown, and on top of that, you can play the slot in your browser, with no download required, whether you're on a mobile device or computer. You can even try it for free before deciding to deposit real money. In addition to offering that experience, Bai Shi also includes an extremely generous bonus game as part of the whole package. It's triggered by getting three scatter symbols on the middle three rows, and when that happens, you're given five free spins with a much higher chance of landing wild symbols.

Bets and paylines

Bai Shi resembles most modern slots in having five reels and three rows. There are 40 paylines, but these can be narrowed down if you would like to. However, it is recommended that you play with the maximum number to optimize your chances of winning. The 40 paylines are always counted from left to right, and you will see your winning pattern every time you spin a winning combination. However, there is an exception, and that is if you get the Big Red scatter symbol. This pays out profits both ways. If you look under the ''Info'' tab that you will find on the playing field, you also have a complete overview of the 40 different paylines. Otherwise, the theoretical payback percentage of this slot is at 95.95 %, which is in line with today's most popular slot machines.

In Bai Shi, you can wager as little as $1 or as much as a whopping $20,000 per spin! This gives players the spectrum, from the not-so-serious (who just want to play for pleasure) to the very serious high rollers, who seem to bet with intent (or purpose). If you're utilizing bonus funds for your play, those funds give you the opportunity to bet more, because if you lose, you have lost no more than the funds that were given to you (as part of a promotion, for example). But with your own money, you might lose the amount bet that is significant to you. Bai Shi also offers the player the decision of using 99 autospins, with a ''turbo mode'' for those who want their spins a bit faster.

Symbols

Playtech has achieved the tough task of merging two of the most potent themes found in slot machines—animals and China—into one game, Bai Shi. The game's set is like a castle out in the Savannah and it looks fantastic, even if the alternating day-and-night background is slightly distracting. You don't sit there and look around pondering things like that with the other hand holding your drink, though; at least not when you're actually playing. Most of the symbols you'll encounter in Bai Shi are various representations of the game's central animal species—white lions and their (presumably) extended family. Card suits serve as the lower-value symbols, which is what you get in most modern slot machines that score big on the art department. The highest paying symbol is a royal crown, which is supposed to represent the king (uh, make that queen) of white lions and whatever a white lion has dominion over. The Wild is represented by a mighty lion with the word 'wild' underneath.

The slot's least remunerative icons are the digits 9 and 10, which award 100 times the wager for a Payline that contains them across all five of the reels. The next set of symbols are the card icons—the remaining five that range from the J up to the K, which all pay 150x for a set of five. Next, we have the four premium symbols; two lions (lion families, really) and an eagle, which all pay 250x for five in a Payline. And then, we come to the second to last best symbol—the Gold Crown, which pays 400x. But the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the wild symbol, which pays an incredible 2,000x for a set of five in a row.

Bonus features

In Bai Shi, two symbols require your undivided attention, and the first of these is the wild symbol that you know as the White Lion with a green diamond on its forehead. There is also the text 'wild' on the symbol when it is included in a payline to make it stand out extra clearly. Its function is to replace all other symbols on the playing field, with the exception of the scatter symbol. This means it helps to create the best possible profit.

This slot has only one bonus game, and it goes by the name Free Spins. As mentioned with the rest of the games, it follows the same spirit of rendering the theme of the king of beasts. What you need to do to get this bonus mode is not entirely dissimilar from how you get some Free Spins on other titles. You need to get three red symbols; however, these symbols need to be located on reels two, three and four (not on just any three random reels). The triggers themselves are also fairly difficult to come across, so if you do decide to play this game, be prepared to hit the old patient button.

Summary

Bai Shi is a game that is relatively uncomplicated, with few special features; its graphics are nice. . . . It is an experience of relaxed gaming that has a wide appeal because of its animal and China theme. What we mainly like about Bai Shi is that you can win a large amount even in the base game, and you can win without being forced to wait to activate some "bonus" Brian help of the base game. What can bring the overall rating of the game down a bit is that it is something of a one-trick pony and really only offers a "bonus game" (which is simple, and we kind of like it). Also, you may have to play for a long time before you get that bonus. Some folks may find that the expression "win big or lose big" better characterizes Bai Shi.

Bai Shi allows for massive stake amounts and has a maximum bet that will make even the most seasoned slots players' jaws drop: a staggering $20,000 per spin. Minimum betting is fairly reasonable; you can start betting at $1 per spin if you're playing with only one Payline. However, if you want to play with all 40 Paylines, the minimum bet jumps to $40 per spin. Understanding Bai Shi is a walk in the park compared to some online slots. It has been stripped down to the essentials, and the gameplay is as straightforward as can be. Naturally, this is a good thing for beginners, but it's also a good thing for anyone who appreciates a no-nonsense, get-rich-or-try-again kind of slot.