The scatter jackpot genre has been going strong since Gameburger’s somewhat unlikely smash hit 9 Masks of Fire . Pragmatic Play’s Smugglers Cove is a buccaneer-themed entry that features above-average 10,000x potential and a somewhat innovative twist that makes this top prize available in the base game as well.
However, the soundtrack is perhaps the most exciting thing about the pirate theme, as the characters and overall visual presentation lacks swashbuckling bravado and punch. The standard grand prize of 1,000x isn’t that exciting, but the supercoin can land on Reel 5 to make things much more interesting at any time. Of course, the 10,000x top prize can land on any given bonus round, and it will be interesting to see if that effort is enough to dethrone 8 Golden Skulls of Holly Roger.
Bonus Features at Smugglers Cove Slot
The Gold Coin Wild can land anywhere to substitute for all regular payout symbols as well as coin symbols to complete winning combinations and trigger scatter prizes. The wild pays the same as the top tier premium symbol. Speaking of which, the 4 premium pirate/character symbols pay between 10 and 100 times your bet for 5 matches, but bigger payouts tend to come from the scatter prizes.
You need at least 5 coins in view to trigger the Treasure Bonus feature. This awards an instant scatter prize according to the prize ladder on the left. More specifically, you win 1x, 2x, 5x, 20x, 50x, 100x, 100x, 500x, 500x or 1,000x of your bet if you land 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 coin scatters anywhere on the same spin, respectively.
In addition to regular coins, you can also land Super Wild coins and Super coins on Reel 5 only. The Super Wild coin serves as a wild and comes with a multiplier of x2, x3, x5 or x10 . The same goes for the Super Coin (although it is not wild) and both symbols increase the prizes in the Treasure Bonus for up to 10,000x instant payouts.
The Smuggler’s Cove bonus round is triggered when you land 3 skull scatters on reels 2, 3 and 4. A wheel spins to award 8, 10, 12, 15 or 20 free spins , and all Treasure Bonus scatter prizes are significantly increased during the bonus round. So, if you land 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 coin scatters, you get 1x, 2x, 5x, 20x, 50x, 100x, 500x, 1,000x, 1,000x, 2,500x, 2,500x and 10,000x of your bet respectively .
You win +8 additional free spins if you land 3 skull scatters during the feature, and the Ante Bet option doubles your chances of triggering the bonus round. However, this will cost you 25% more per spin, which seems reasonable enough.
The 200 Spins Smugglers Cove Slot Experience
We won a few minor scatter prizes in the base game, but it was mostly an uneventful grind. Therefore, if you want, you can safely jump to the bonus round, and the feature is triggered at 1:25 in the 2:47 minute highlights video. We won’t reveal in advance what kind of scatter jackpot we hit (if any), so you’ll have to click the play button to see for yourself.
Rating Conclusion
The pirate theme is far from original, but it’s decently done and works mostly thanks to the excellent soundtrack. However, the characters lack personality and depth, and a generic atmosphere hangs over this Pragmatic Play production. That being said, there are some interesting twists on the otherwise scatter-jackpot concept, and this might be enough to attract a certain audience.
On rare occasions, the Super Coin Wild (or Super Coin) can increase your scatter prize win by up to x10, meaning that the solid 10,000x potential can be cracked at any time. However, this is even more likely in the bonus round, as the maxed out top prize is always available. Technically, Smugglers Cove is a pretty decent installment in the popular genre, but it’s a bit too shallow to leave a lasting impression.
Pros
Treasure Bonus Instant Scatter Prizes
Super coin increases prizes by up to x10
FS with 10,000 times the top prize
Cons
Watch out for adjustable RTP ranges
Smugglers Cove Slot FAQs
What is the RTP of Smugglers Cove?
The highest RTP of 96.5% is well above average, but keep in mind that this version comes with adjustable RTP ranges.
How volatile is Smugglers Cove?
This is a medium to high volatility release from Pragmatic Play, scoring 3.5 out of 5 on the in-game volatility scale.
What is the biggest possible win?
You can win up to 10,000 times your bet at all stages of the game, and big wins are most likely to come from the scatter prizes.
How can I win the Treasure Bonus scatter prizes in Smugglers Cove?
You win instant scatter jackpots by landing 5 to 15 coin scatters anywhere in view, and this will bring the corresponding prize up to a maximum of 10,000x. However, the regular top prize of the base game is 1,000x, but a special 5th reel super coin can increase all prizes by up to x10.
Is there a free spins mode in Smugglers Cove?
Yes, you get up to 20 free spins to start with, and 3 to 15 coin scatters award enhanced prizes up to 10,000x your bet.
Can I play Smugglers Cove slot for free?
Yes, you can check out the Smugglers Cove free demo game at the very top of this page (UK players must confirm their age first).
