Laughing Buddha

Laughing Buddha Slot Review

Laughing Buddha is an Asian themed slot that has 5 reels and 3 rows with 28 active paylines. This high variance slot offers players some very interesting features that include win multipliers, expanding symbols and a progressive jackpot race.

Laughing Buddha has an RTP of 96.61% which is relatively high, the max win for this slot is an impressive 56,043x your bet.

If you’re a regular slot player who enjoys games like Funky Buddha or just looking for something with a bit more risk and reward, then you’ll want to check out Laughing Buddha.

Theme and Visual Design

In the Laughing Buddha slot, you’ll find many different elements relating to Asian culture and wealth, including golden statues, dragons, and the Laughing Buddha. Expect plenty of golden artifacts, dragons, and of course, the titular Laughing Buddha grinning warmly across your screen. The game’s production values are commendably high, featuring crisp animations and elegant artwork that lend a premium feel to the experience.

Everything about this game is polished, from the reels themselves to the animations that trigger when you get a bonus. Even the sound is good because there’s a soft Asian-style soundtrack that adds to the atmosphere without being distracting or annoying.

Game Layout and Paytable

The Laughing Buddha slot has 5 reels, each with 3 rows, and there are 28 paylines that are fixed in place. Any winning combinations will pay out from left to right, and they all have to start on the first reel for the player to receive their prize.

The game offers a total of 9 standard symbols, split into two tiers:

• Low-paying symbols (Tens to Aces)
• High-paying symbols:
  • Golden Amulet
  • Green Trinket
  • Golden Dragon
  • Golden Buddha, which is the top symbol, pays up to 35.7x your stake.

In addition to the standard reel symbols, you’ll also encounter Wilds and Scatters. These not only provide additional ways to win but also activate special features that can help you land even bigger prizes.

Gameplay Mechanics

Laughing Buddha includes bonus multipliers, expanding symbols, and buy-in options to enhance gameplay.

Symbols drop rapidly, and each spin features animated visuals that respond to your input. The result is a fast-paced game that manages to balance constant action with explosive moments of unpredictability, particularly when you trigger the bonus features.

Special Features and Bonuses

Wild Symbol

As with most slots, Wild symbols are included. Here, the Laughing Buddha will substitute for any of the regular symbols. Each Wild symbol also has a secret which is revealed when it forms part of a winning combination; attached to it is a multiplier worth either 2 or 3 times your stake which will then be applied to that particular win. Unfortunately, these are not cumulative, so if more than one appears on a winning line, only the highest value will apply.

Scatter Symbol and Free Spins

When 3 Scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels, the Free Spins feature is activated, awarding 8 free spins. At the start of free spins, one symbol will be chosen to become an expanding symbol. During free spins, this special symbol will expand to fill the entire reel whenever it appears, paying out prizes even when the expanded symbols don't appear on adjacent reels.

Better yet, the Free Spins can be retriggered, offering more opportunities for high-value wins, particularly when the Golden Buddha becomes the expanding symbol.

Jackpot Race Feature

A Jackpot Race is not your traditional jackpot feature, where you can get a Grand, Minor, Major, or Mini jackpot, like in Happy Buddha: Bonus Combo by NetGame. Instead, Jackpot Races are timed events that run on specific slots (including Laughing Buddha) that players can opt-in to during set promotional periods.

Bonus Buy Option

If you don’t want to wait around for the Scatter symbols to trigger the Free Spins round, then you can skip right to it using the Buy Feature. This option in the Laughing Buddha slot costs 46.4x your current bet but lets you dive straight into the action.

Betting Options and RTP

Laughing Buddha is accessible to a wide range of players thanks to its modest betting range and competitive RTP.

This combination of high RTP and high volatility means players can expect longer dry spells interspersed with potentially massive wins. However, if you’re looking for something with higher bet limits, you can check out Buddha Fortune by 3 Oaks and place up to $25.

How to Play Laughing Buddha Online

Getting started with Laughing Buddha is simple. Follow these steps to begin your golden journey:

1. Decide whether you want to play Laughing Buddha demo mode or with real money.
2. Load the slot and set your preferred bet amount (from $0.28 to $1.40).
3. Click Spin to start playing.
4. Look out for Wilds and Scatters to unlock bonus features.
5. Use the Buy Feature if you wish to jump straight to the Free Spins round.
6. Track any available Jackpot Race events to boost your potential winnings.

Final Verdict

Habanero continues to grow its extensive portfolio with the addition of Laughing Buddha, a stunning video slot that boasts impressive graphics, fast-paced gameplay and exciting features. Multiplier Wilds and expanding symbols will keep players engaged in their pursuit of big wins with this title, and you can also play Big Buddha Bags by Skywind if you want a similarly themed experience.

Although the price you pay for free spins is quite steep and the range of betting options is somewhat restricted, this game manages to be both accessible and rewarding. If you're looking for a slot with an Asian theme that also offers something a little different or a high-variance game that works well for high rollers and penny slot players alike, then give at least the Laughing Buddha demo mode a try.