There’s no question that online pokies are the most fun game you can play in online casinos. They come in so many shapes and sizes that there’s something for everyone in store. Sports-themed slots are a big hit with players, and in New Zealand, rugby gets whole lotta love. And that’s great because the industry has many rugby-themed online slots you can play for free or try for real money if you love the risk.
Of course, not all rugby-themed pokies are great. But, to make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top rugby-themed online slots that Kiwis will love to spin.
Rugby Star
Developed by Games Global—one of the top providers on the online casino market—Rugby Star is a real star in this niche. It’s the most realistic of the bunch and uses the studio’s famed 243 ways to win mechanic that gives you hundreds of ways to win. The specs are as impressive as the gameplay features. It’s a medium volatile slot with an RTP of 96.52% which is way above the average. But, the real touchdown are the features, first of which are the 243 ways to win. On top of that, the game has rolling reels – a special feature that can keep your wins going as new symbols drop to replace the winning ones. This feature can keep going forever if you’re lucky to land winning symbols only.
Unlike regular slots with 10 or more paylines, this slot pays for matching symbols on adjacent reels instead of lines. To make things more exciting, the slot has stacked wilds on reels 3, 4, or 5, with up to 40 hitting the reels if you get lucky. They substitute for all symbols except for the bonus symbols and activate the Wild Pass feature that turns whole reels wild.
And the surprises don’t stop there. Three or more scatters trigger the free spins round with rolling reels and multipliers. Each win gets the multiplier higher and higher up to x10, which means you’re in for some juicy rewards.
Rugby Riches
Ready to claim your rugby riches? The eponymous slot by 1×2 Gaming was released in 2016 and quickly grew into one of the most popular of its kind. Unlike other games on this list, this one’s not associated with any league or competition – it very well might be the Heartland League in question. That helps it connect to any rugby fan in New Zealand, and it’s the reason why the slot game is such a big hit.
Rugby Riches is a much simpler game to play than most. That’s because it’s a scratchcard rather than a slot, but the doesn’t diminish its value at all. It’s easy to play and perfect for beginners whose favorite sport is rugby. To hit a win, you need to score three matching symbols. Three footballs are on the lower-paying end, with the highest prizes coming for three trophies.
You can easily adjust your bet and set it high if you thrive under pressure as you scratch your screen (virtually) to reveal the prizes. It’s a game that relies completely on chance rather than strategy. But, if Lady Luck is on your side, you can hit a decent win, and that’s reason enough for us to recommend this scratchcard.
Gameday
It’s gameday! Are you ready? The Gameday slot won’t give you a lot of time to prepare, instead throwing you right in the middle of a fast-paced and tension-filled rugby derby. Developed by WGS, it’s a game that obviously shows a final, with plenty of fan paraphernalia, game logos, players, and beautiful cheerleaders gracing the reels.
You can cut the tension between the rivals in the air, and that’s something not many slots offer. The referee is the game’s wild symbol. He doesn’t just blow for tackles – any win he’s a part of is doubled, so you’ll be lucky to land it often. A highly volatile slot, you should be careful when you play it. Play responsibly with smaller bets and wait until you hit a few wins to risk more money. It might be worth it, of course, as the slot’s winning potential is set a whopping 15,000 coins.
Odd Shaped Balls
Yes, footballs are very much odd shaped balls, and that’s what this rugby-themed slot refers to. It’s one of the top rugby slots of all time, released in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It’s not a branded slot in any way, but it’s sure what the developed was aiming for.
One of the things we love about this slot is how light-hearted it is. One glance at the players and you’ll love the theme. You’ll love the gameplay features too once you start spinning. With 20 paylines to win across and up to 25 free spins in the bonus round, it’s a slot worth trying out.
The bonus round comes with a hefty multiplier that goes as high as x10, so there’s that and the trophy to play for.
Aussie Rules
Aussie rules football is a bit different, but that doesn’t mean it won’t get the love it deserves. The Aussie Rules slot by Rival Gaming is a perfect choice for fans of this type of football, and quite an easy game to play at that.
It has a familiar 5×3 setup without going overboard with the features. The slot features Aussie Rules symbols on the reels, so you’ll see jerseys, cleats, referee whistles, and a player too. The other symbols involve the specials including the wild and free spins symbol. You don’t need to be an expert to play this game. Simply set your bet and hit the Spin button, then hope to match three or more symbols on a line to win.
You should also cross your fingers to get to the bonus round. It comes with an always-on x3 multiplier, which means all the wins you hit will be tripled. If that sounds like a game you’d watch, fire up the pokie and enjoy.
