The Buffalo slot machine is one of the most popular and iconic casino games of all time. Developed by Aristocrat Gaming, the game features a wilderness theme with symbols of buffalo, eagles, wolves, and more across its 5 reels and 1024 ways to win. With great features like free spins, multipliers, and two jackpots, it’s no wonder the Buffalo slot has stood the test of time both in land-based casinos and now online.
While currently only available at one online casino, the launch of the Buffalo slot online marks a shift for one of the most-played Vegas slots machines ever. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to play the Buffalo slot machine online and win big!
How The Buffalo Slot Works
The Buffalo slot machine utilizes a ways-to-win format, offering 1024 ways to win on every spin. Rather than paylines, symbol combinations pay out when three or more identical symbols land adjacent to each other on consecutive reels, starting from the leftmost reel.
Buffalo Slot Features
● Sunset Wild Symbol: The Sunset Wild acts as a substitute for any regular symbol and helps create winning combinations.
● Bonus Scatter Symbol: Get 3 or more Bonus symbols anywhere on the reels to win a multiplier of up to 20x your total bet.
● Free Spins: Triggered by getting 3 or more Gold Coin symbols. Wilds that appear during free spins apply a 2x or 3x multiplier to any wins. Free spins can continue triggering during the feature.
● Fixed Jackpot: Awards the jackpot prize when five Sunset Wilds land on a spin. Current max jackpot is 300x your total bet.
● Progressive Jackpot:
Awarded randomly on any spin. Must place max bet to qualify for the life-changing top prize.
Along with its features, one of the main reasons the Buffalo slot machine is so popular are the high-paying symbol combinations on the reels:
● Buffalo – 300 coins
● Eagle – 300 coins
● Wolf – 150 coins
● Puma – 100 coins
● Elk – 100 coins
Ace through 9 card symbols make up the lower-paying regular symbols.
Buffalo Slot Volatility & RTP
When looking at any real money slot machine, two critical factors to consider are the volatility and the RTP (return to player percentage).
Buffalo Slot Volatility
The Buffalo slot is a high volatility
slot machine. This means you can expect to encounter fairly long dry spells in between hits. However, when it does pay out, the Buffalo slot is capable of awarding massive prizes, especially if you trigger the free games or one of the two jackpots.
Due to the high volatility though, it’s rare to land the Buffalo slot’s features. So while the progressive jackpot offers life-changing money, don’t expect to hit it very often.
Buffalo Slot RTP
The RTP tells you how much the Buffalo slot pays back over an extended period of play. The Buffalo slot RTP is 94.85%. This means that for every $100 wagered on the Buffalo slot, it pays out an average of $94.85 in winnings. This RTP is on the lower end for most online slots these days, which commonly offer 96% or more. However, land-based slots in Vegas and Atlantic City often feature RTPs between 92-96%.
Tips & Strategy To Win At Buffalo Slots
While the Buffalo slot progressive and fixed jackpots ultimately come down to luck, here are some strategy tips while playing that can help improve your overall experience and win rate:
1. Wager At The Highest Coin Value
Since the Buffalo slot offers 1024 ways to win and pays coins on wins, you always want to play at the highest coin value you can afford. If your total bet is $1 (because you’re playing 1c coins), even if you hit the 300 coin jackpot, you’ll only win $3. However, if your coin value is $4, a 300 coin win pays $1200!
2. Budget Your Bankroll For Maximum Playtime
High volatility slots like the Buffalo can abruptly end a session if you bet too big too fast. If you have a $100 budget, instead of playing $100 per spin, bet $1 per spin. This allows you to squeeze in 100 spins and gives the Buffalo slot more time to hit those big features and wins.
3. Use Bonus Cash To Play If Possible
Playing real money online slots with bonus cash is always advisable. Here’s a great offer for playing similar Buffalo-style games:
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4. Aim For Smaller Progressives First
It can be tempting to only play for that massive mega jackpot prize. However, your best odds come right after the progressive jackpot hits. So a reset jackpot of $25,000 for example has better chances of hitting versus a jackpot that hasn’t been won in ages.
5. Gamble Responsibly
Make sure to set a gambling budget and stick to it. Take frequent breaks, set stop losses, and play slots strictly for entertainment – not financial gain. Hitting jackpots can be life-changing but should never be expected. By following these responsible gaming practices, you get the most enjoyment out of your play.
About Buffalo Slot Machine Provider Aristocrat
The Australian-based Aristocrat Gaming is the slot provider behind the iconic Buffalo slot machine. Truly a pioneer in the land-based casino industry, Aristocrat Gaming has also recently started releasing their slot titles at regulated online casinos as well.
With over 60 years of history and hundreds of cutting-edge casino game inventions, Aristocrat rules the Las Vegas strip today as the undisputed king of physical casino slots. On any given night, you may see Buffalo slot machines with lines dozens deep as players try to get a shot at playing. Their games account for over 75% of all slots found in land-based casinos.
For Aristocrat Gaming, Buffalo in particular has been a crown jewel slot with record-setting popularity. As the first slot to offer over 1000 ways to win along with innovative features for its time, the game has remained a top performer for over a decade. Buffalo slot machines account for nearly 15% of all slot machines currently on casino floors!
After massive success in the land-based market, Aristocrat recently partnered with online slot producer Anaxi to start launching their slots at regulated online casinos as well in 2021. The fan-favorite Buffalo slot marks Aristocrat’s first-ever online launch of a land-based player favorite.
Other Games Like The Buffalo Slot
Thanks to the Buffalo slot’s immense fame, many software providers have made similar Buffalo-style games to cater to the game’s popularity. While no one can exactly copy Aristocratic intellectual property, several great alternatives exist:
Bison Fury Slot
Bison Fury is about as close a replica to the original Buffalo slot as possible without copying it directly. Available at online casinos like BetMGM in regulated states, the game substitutes American bison for the buffalo but keeps most of the core features intact.
However, one big advantage Bison Fury offers over the Buffalo slot is much bigger jackpot prizes. While Buffalo awards $120k at max bet, Bison Fury maxes out at $250k for the fixed jackpot prize. Plus you have chances at an ever-rising progressive jackpot.
More Slots Like Buffalo
Various land-based casinos also offer multiple types of Buffalo slot machines on top of the original. At casino resorts like Golden Nugget Atlantic City, you can try your luck at these Buffalo slot variants:
● Buffalo Gold Slot
● Buffalo Chief Slot
● Buffalo Link Slot
These derivative games keep the Buffalo theme alive but mix up bonuses, jackpots, and special features compared to the classic Buffalo slot formula.
So while the OG Buffalo will likely remain in a class of its own due to its innovative introduction to the slots market, thankfully many alternative Buffalo-inspired games have since taken up the mantle as well.
Ready To Play Buffalo Slots For Real Money?
As you can see, despite being over 10 years old now, the Buffalo slot game still appeals to audiences just as much as when it debuted. Offering a thrilling format and the chance at truly staggering riches, the Buffalo slot machine online and land-based versions remain a premier slot worth trying.
If ready to play the Buffalo slot machine online for real money, visit ChainWars Casino today and use promo code 50CHAIN to get $50 free with no deposit plus a 100% deposit match up to $400!