Bait ‘N’ Bank

Bait 'N' Bank: Slot Overview

Software provider Push Gaming has added an underwater-themed title to its Reel Hot Games label, going by the name of Bait 'N' Bank. For those new to the concept, the studio has set up this sub-brand in order to focus it on classic slots, fruit slots, retro games, all that sort of thing, making a clear division between the Push Originals and Push Action categories in its portfolio. Bait 'N' Bank is a prime Reel Hot Games example, low on crazy innovation, low on volatility, and low on twisty complexity. Low on thrills as well? There's only one way to find out, fellow deep-sea divers, as we plunge in to take a look.

One of Push Gaming's reasons for making Bait 'N' Bank was to add to the Reel Hot Games brand 'with a theme crossover of Fishing and Classic slot look.' To achieve this, a slot machine has been sent to the bottom of the sea where it rests amongst the weeds, bubbles and murky lighting. Ironic, perhaps, since the sub-brand would appear to be in part inspired by land-based casino games? Anyway, Push Gaming is well acquainted with watery parts of the planet after developing the likes of Razor Shark and Razor Returns, but Bait 'N' Bank is nothing like them. The classic 3-reel setup, the jackpot prizes, and the nice but empty visuals did not inspire huge amounts of drooling anticipation.

Bait 'N' Bank is a 3x3, 5 payline machine which can only land winning combinations of 3 OAK. It's a money symbol and jackpot-focused event anyway, so line wins aren't the main event. Interested gamblers can stake $/€0.10 to $/€100 per spin in this low volatile slot, where the top RTP is 96.37%.

Pay symbols in Bait 'N' Bank are four shell low pays, worth 1x to 2x the stake, then two hook symbols, fishing rods, and lighthouses, awarding 5x to 50x the stake. The wild symbol only appears in the base game to replace any of the regular paying symbols. Hitting 3 wilds on a payline pays 50x the stake.

Bait 'N' Bank: Slot Features

Bait 'N' Bank is built around a prize-collecting mechanic, awarding Instant Prize and Jackpot values, which takes place in the base game and a focused bonus round.

Prize Collection

Instant Prize symbols land with values of 1x to 25x the bet on the two outermost reels. Jackpot symbols land on those two reels as well, where their Instant Prize values are the 15x Mini, 50x Minor, 100x Mega, and the 500x Grand. Instant Prize and Jackpot symbols may land in both phases of play. When Collector symbols land on the middle reel in the base game or bonus round, each one of them collects the values of all Instant Prize and Jackpot symbols in view.

Chest Collector Burst

Each Instant Prize, Jackpot, and Collector symbol in view zooms a trail up to the Chest Collector above the reels for a chance of triggering the Chest Collector Burst feature. When it triggers, the Instant Prize, Jackpot, and Collector symbols burst from the Chest Collector onto the grid to award the bonus round.

Bonus Game

When at least 1 Instant Prize or Jackpot symbol is on the two outer reels, along with a Collector on the middle reel, the bonus is triggered. Players get 3 spins, which reset back to 3 when an Instant Prize or Collector symbol lands. During the round, an Enhancer Reel appears above the main reels that may land these symbols:

• Multiplier symbol - Lands with a value of x2, x3, x5 on all Enhancer Reels, plus x10 on the two outer Enhancer Reels. When landing on the outer reels, it multiplies Instant Win symbols below it before they are added to the Collector symbols. It multiplies the values on all active Collector symbols when landing on the middle Enhancer Reel.
• Addition symbol - Lands with a value of 1x to 100x, which gets added to Instant Win symbols or Collector symbols beneath it, depending on which reel it appeared.

Bait 'N' Bank: Slot Verdict

It took a bit of scratching around to find much to say about Bait 'N' Bank. One reflection focused on Push Gaming's decision to divide its portfolio via the Reel Hot Games label as a masterstroke in brand management. By cordoning off titles like Bait 'N' Bank, Push Gaming is able to cater to the casual, land-based traditionalist without diluting the prestige of the studio's heavyweights, the sharks, jars, bamboos, etcetera, to an extent. As a result, though, players accustomed to Push Gaming's high-octane innovation may find Bait 'N' Bank less like a deep-sea adventure and more like a quick dip in a very shallow puddle.

For gamblers within Bait 'N' Bank's scope, okay, there's a tasty little snack here to devour. It's light, breezy, and takes little to no effort to watch it spin away and possibly land some Instant Prize values about the place. Maybe hit a Jackpot if you're lucky. And while the game looks small, it packs a fairly hefty 8,118x the bet max win, though since the Grand jackpot is worth 500x, those Enhancer Reel symbols are going to have to do some heavy lifting. Still, the game got pretty dull pretty fast. There's not much to it, almost nothing that is must-see, meaning the action speedily became stale.

The good news is ocean-going slots abound, so if gamblers are looking for one with pointier teeth, there are plenty of alternatives - Big Bass Bonanza 1000 or Golden Catch being two quick suggestions. So, while Bait 'N' Bank lacks wow factor, it arguably succeeds in its specific mission to provide a polished, accessible, and low-volatile retro experience. Like sitting in your spot on the couch until it's moulded to your butt cheeks, Push Gaming's Reel Hot Games has fallen into a comfortable jackpot groove of which Bait 'N' Bank is a placid, low-key example.