Slots based on the famous board game Monopoly have been a familiar sight in brick and mortar casinos throughout the US for several decades. This was one of the first big licensing deals from International Game Technology (IGT). Games range from 3 reel electro-mechanical devices through to some very advanced video slots with animated bonus games.
Several IGT Monopoly slots are now available online. You will also find Monopoly games from rival software houses WMS and Barcrest. One of the IGT Games (Monopoly MegaJackpot) is linked to the big progressive online jackpot at casinos that host IGT games. This regularly pays out sums of $1,000,000 or more to the lucky winners. Another famous slot in this range is the Ancient Egypt themed Cleopatra.
This page gives you an overview of the different Monopoly slots from IGT that you can find online as well as at brick and mortar casinos. These are Monopoly Here and Now, Monopoly Mega Jackpot, Monopoly Dream Life and Monopoly Plus.
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IGT Monopoly Slot Games
#1 Monopoly Plus
This is the most recent release in the IGT Monopoly slots franchise. On first view this game appears less complex than some of its predecessors – though once you start to play you will find the features are excellent. The main attraction is the board bonus, where you will ‘roll dice’ to jump around the board, picking up bonuses from the properties and utilities and trying to avoid jail and the tax squares.
An interesting addition is the progressive levels concept. You start at level 1 (entrepreneur) and move up the longer you play. As you move up your player can move further around the board during the bonus game.
You will get the occasional random appearance from Uncle Pennybags (the official name of the Mr. Monopoly character). He can turn entire reels wild – sometimes more than one – creating a lot of wins out of nowhere.
The basis of Monopoly Plus is a 5 reel, 3 row grid with 30 win lines – making the minimum spin amount just 30c.
#2 Monopoly Here and Now
This is the most complex of the IGT Monopoly slot games. This one also includes a bonus feature where you will move around a board (hosted by a 3D Uncle Pennybags). Some extras include a progressive ‘free parking’ total. As you hit free parking symbols on the reels, the total goes up through 3 levels. You will benefit from this when you hit the board bonus game – if you are lucky enough to land on the free parking square then you will win this progressive total.
One thing to keep in mind is that there is a direct link between the number of coins you play per line and the bonuses you will receive during the board round. These are based on the houses and hotels concept from the original board game. One coin = 1 house, 2 coins 2 houses and so on, up to a Hotel for 5 coins.
The basis of this game is a 5×3 grid with 20 win lines – with 1c coins you can play all 5 and maximize the bonus round for just $1 per spin.
#3 Monopoly Dream Life
This variation does not include a board type bonus – though there are some unique features which will keep you entertained.
Monopoly Dream Life uses the ‘Tumbling Reels’ system which was first introduced in the DaVinci Diamonds slot game. This causes wins to disappear (don’t worry, the win amount is collected first) and the remaining symbols to fall down into the gaps left on the reels. New symbols appear at the top to fill the gaps there. This will cause small runs of wins when the symbols line up well.
This game has an animate feature where you’ll go to Mr. Monopoly’s office and get to choose property cards from a selection that you are offered. Based on your choices you will win a number of free spins back in the main game. These spins combined with the tumbling reels is where the larger windfalls will come from in this game.
#4 Monopoly MegaJackpot
The big draw is the pooled IGT Mega Jackpot – though the game itself is not as entertaining as some of the Monopoly slots already listed. This is a 5 reel slot, with 9 win lines. You need to keep in mind that you need to play the maximum 5 coins to be in with a shot at the jackpot amount. The good news is that when the jackpot (which is pooled with other games like Cleopatra and Siberian Storm.
There is a board based bonus round once again, your wins will be doubled in this if you pass go. There is also a separate ‘Chance’ bonus which lets you pick a card, which is followed by a free spins bonus.
For me this is a solid slot, though the graphics and effects are not as good as some of those covered above.
#5 Monopoly Pass Go
Finally ‘Pass Go’ which is another solid enough Monopoly based slot, though for me it is not as good as either Here and Now or Monopoly Plus (and lacks the jackpot element of the Monopoly MegaJackpot game).
Again the key feature is a board based bonus round. You’ll need to pick one of the 3 scatter symbols which trigger this bonus, which then show how many rolls you get in the separate board game. There is also a community chest card bonus game – which awards you coins.