Some slots attract a wide range of people, while others target a specific audience within a lesser-known niche. Either way, they provide fantastic entertainment for players and a chance to get their hands on an exciting windfall.
One of the most famous slots worldwide is Mega Moolah, a game that is singlehandedly responsible for creating multiple multi-millionaires. Although it is a simple slot sometimes outshone by more modern games, it still attracts millions of players daily.
But what exactly makes this game so popular and iconic? Read on as we find out!
Mega Moolah History
Mega Moolah was not the first game released by Microgaming that was a success. However, now that the game has been around for many years, it stands out in the developer’s portfolio.
The inspiration for the name of the 2006 game comes from the old American slang term for money, moolah (sometimes spelled moola). This term, combined with the mega jackpots that the slot offered, was the perfect way to refer to the game.
For the game’s theme, Microgaming decided to go with the tried and tested theme of the African safari. Many other games use this same theme and have repeatedly proven that it is widely appealing to a large demographic of players who want to experience the thrill of the African savannah.
Mega Moolah Specifications
As mentioned, there is nothing exceptional about how this slot works. The slot uses the standard 5×3 grid configuration with five reels holding three rows of symbols. These are paired with 25 pay lines that you can win on.
The 88.12% RTP (return to player) rate offered by the slot is nothing to get excited about. Considering that most online casino slots have RTPs between 94% and 96%, Mega Moolah’s is relatively low in comparison. In fact, it is lower than the RTP of many slots offered at physical casinos.
Despite this, the game offers wilds that substitute for all other symbols and can lead to fantastic prizes. It also has a free spin bonus that gives players 15 free spins and applies a 3X multiplier to all prizes won during these spins. The free spins are triggered when you get three scatter symbols on the screen.
Mega Moolah Theme
The African theme the Mega Moolah slot uses is one that many players who want to experience African undertones will enjoy. The game’s symbols, for starters, are represented by the various animals you’d expect to see on an African safari.
The higher-paying symbols include animals like the mighty elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and antelope. The king of the jungle, the lion, also appears and is used as the wild, while a special monkey is used as the scatter. The lower-paying symbols are represented by the standard ten, Jack, Queen, and King.
As with almost any popular game, there are numerous spin-offs of the game that present different themes. These include Egyptian, American, and summer versions of the game. At a point, there were even Lord of the Rings and Dark Knight versions available. These have since been discontinued.
Mega Moolah’s Popularity
Aside from the exotic theme and simple gameplay, there is one glaring reason that Mega Moolah is so popular—its progressive jackpot. This jackpot has four levels: Mini, Minor, Major, and Mega.
To gain a shot at winning one of these jackpots, you have to either land specific symbols or play long enough for the Mega Moolah jackpot wheel to appear on the screen.
The jackpot wheel isn’t dependent on how much you’ve spent or won or even what bet you’re playing with; instead, it appears entirely randomly. If you see it on your screen, it means you’re one of the lucky few that the game has chosen to win an astronomical amount of moolah, so enjoy!
Mega Moolah Jackpots
Netting the mega jackpot has resulted in numerous players becoming instant millionaires. More than this, the slot is responsible for some of the largest jackpots in gambling history. Its records are beaten only by the Megabucks progressive slot.
The first jackpot ever won on the game occurred almost two full years after the game was launched. The jackpot, which grew steadily from launch in December 2006, was finally won in April 2008 and paid out a cool $5.5 million.
This significant win drew considerable attention to the game and made many players want to get in on the action. Thankfully for many of them, the action helped them win jackpots like almost $20 million in 2015, $23.5 million in 2018, and $23.6 million in 2021.
Mega Moolah Accessibility
Any slot as popular as Mega Moolah relies on many players to build its progressive jackpot that, in turn, entices other players to play. Thankfully, the game is incredibly accessible and can be enjoyed by players worldwide without much effort.
Besides appearing in many locations, such as physical casinos and airport gaming areas, the slot is also readily available online. There is even a dedicated mobile version of the game that allows players to game while they are on the move.
