- The Lightning Link range High Stakes is one of the first games to start with. The game makes use of a Hold and Spin feature where you can put your mathematical skills to the test as you decide where the value lies when it comes to improving your board state.
- Each of the Lightning Link video slots comes packaged with two special features. The first is a free spins bonus game that comes complete with a “Mega Symbol.” Hit three scatter symbols, and you’ll earn six or more free spins, during which a large, 3x3 symbol may appear to cover the middle three reels in.
- With a pretty good average note of 4.4, Lightning Link Casino – Free Slots Games is THE application you need to have. And the 1,000,000 persons who have already install it will tell you the same.
This allows horse racing operators to have two ways to draw in players – those familiar with and comfortable with horse racing may like the ability to bet in a new way, while slot players can get a similar experience playing games, with the underlying horse racing systems allowing for wagering on machines that look and feel like slots. Flip the switch and get charged up for an electrifying new slots games journey with Lightning Link Casino slots. The most exciting new slot games from Aristocrat is now available in Google Play Store! The creators of Heart of Vegas and Cashman Casino casino games bring you a new thundering free slots casino games experience, straight to your device.
Most Popular Online Slot Games
All Aristocrat Slot Games
The Original Hold and Spin Bonus Features with Distinctive Themes
Go to any US casino and you’ll find multiple slots with variations of ‘hold and spin’ features. These involve symbols with cash awards instead of the regular ones. You’ll have 3 spins to continue hitting them – run out of spins and you win whatever is on the screen.
This idea was pioneered by slot maker Aristocrat. The first games to feature a ‘Hold and Spin’ bonus were the ‘Lightning Link’ and ‘Dragon Link’ titles – first released in 2015. There were also ‘Lightning Cash’ variations, which had stand-alone jackpots instead of shared ones.
Here are the most popular Lightning Link slot machine games:
- Wild Chuco (Wild West)
- Magic Pearl (Under Sea / Mermaid)
- High Stakes (Vegas / High-Roller)
- Happy Lantern (Asian)
- Tiki Fire (Hawaiian / Volcano)
- Sahara Gold (Desert / Oasis)
- Best Bet (Horse Racing)
Each has its own free spins bonus game in addition to the hold and spin. Each Lightning Link slot machine has a linked jackpot. You can win the biggest – or Grand Jackpot – by filling the entire screen with symbols during the hold and spin bonus feature.
This guide to Lightning Link slots shows you how the games work and where you can play them at legal casinos around the US.
Lightning Link Slots: Setup and Basics
These slots kick-started a new phase of innovation from many slot studios. You might be surprised to know that they did not use a crazy reel setup or other gimmick to do this. All the Lightning Link slots have a simple 5×3 reel setup.
Win-lines and the size of the coins you spin for are changeable. You can choose 25 or 50 win-lines (fewer at the high-roller level denominations), and coins from 1c to 10c are standard. You will notice the Mini and Minor jackpots change as you move up the coin sizes.
Each of the games has wild symbols in play to connect additional wins. There are stacked symbols on the reels, making it common to cover one or more reels with the same symbol. Your biggest wins will come from those times you cover the entire reels with one of the higher paying symbols.
How the Hold and Spin Bonus Feature Works?
The main attraction of the Lightning Link slot family of games is the Hold and Spin bonus. Each game has symbols which show either numbers or the words Mini, Minor or Major – which are the 3 smaller jackpots. The symbols containing the numbers are themed.
For example, pearl symbols in the Magic Pearl game and Horseshoes in ‘Best Bet’.
Sometimes, these will simply block the regular symbols, getting in the way of your wins. What you need is 6 or more to land on a single spin. This triggers a ‘Hold and Spin’ feature.
You now see the regular symbols fade away, so they are barely visible. You get 3 spins with your cash awards held in place to hit more of them. Each time you hit one or more new awards, the number of spins resets to 3. If you spin 3 times with no extra wins, then your bonus ends, and your winnings count up with lightning strike effects.
To win the big linked Grand jackpot you need to fill all 15 spots on the reels with these special symbols.
Free Spins Bonus Games on Lightning Link Slots
Aristocrat developed free spins bonuses which help keep these games varied. These variations are shared with the Dragon Link and Lightning Cash games. The amount of free spins you win varies by game, with a minimum of 3 bonus symbols needed to trigger.
These can be profitable bonuses, which is reflected in the lower level of free spins you get on some of the Lightning Link titles.
Here are some examples of Lightning Link slots free spins feature:
- Magic Pearl: You get 6 free spins with giant symbols. Here the middle 3 reels turn into one big one. You’ll get a 3×3 symbol – which always lands flush with the reels. This can be a wild (mermaid), a bonus symbol, or a pearl. Hitting a pearl will trigger a Hold and Spin bonus.
- Best Bet: This free spins bonus removes all the lower paying symbols from the reels. This not only give you a better shot at hitting bigger wins, it increases your chances of hitting 6 horseshoes for a hold and spin.
- Wild Chuco: This wild-west themed game features ‘reveal’ symbols in the bonus. While you spin, long lines of symbols with ‘Wanted’ posters will appear. They open to reveal matching symbols when the spinning stops. It is possible to reveal gold coins for the Hold and Spin.
- High Stakes: This free spins bonus is the same as for Magic Pearl. The symbols are all Las Vegas themed. If you get a giant chip, then you’ll start the Hold and Spin.
- Sahara Gold: You need to pick a chest to get this bonus started. You’ll find out how many free spins you won, and how many camel silhouette symbols are added to the reels. These are wilds, giving you plenty of potential for bigger wins.
There are expanding wild symbols during the base game in many of these titles too. Grand Jackpots are linked between the games in each casino. The ‘Major’ jackpots accumulate on individual machines.
Where to Play Lightning Link Slots in the USA?
You’ll find these slots in land-based and riverboat casinos from coast to coast. Many casinos Lightning Link slots in banks, where you’ll find all the titles in a group. You’ll find these in casinos in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa and, of course, in Las Vegas.
Lightning Link Horse Game Racing
Online these games can be found in the form of play-money only apps, though have not yet appeared in the regulated online casinos rolling out across the US. Many Aristocrat slot titles are appearing online in mobile casino apps and websites – so hopefully we will see Lightning Link slots games at legal US casinos in the near future.
Many Copies – Only One Original: Lightning Link Titles
This range of slots captured the imagination of players around the country. The Hold and Spin bonus and jackpots is the common theme. Each title then has a distinctive theme, and different take on how to run a free spin bonus round.
If you enjoy those Hold and Spin bonuses, you’ll have plenty of variations of game to enjoy while you wait for that full screen – and resulting Grand Jackpot.
Lightning Link pokies is popular pokies to enjoy at casinos where you will love the electrifying set of linked games developed by brand gaming developer Aristocrat. This is the first progressive range with player selectable multi-denomination that attracts players of all levels. The innovative Hold and Spin Feature will have players on the edge of their seats waiting for multiple bonuses and progressives to strike. With exciting Free Games Features, these games have something for everyone.
Games to play in Lightning pokies
There are over 40 pokies games to enjoy while playing Lightening link. Each of these games share key features which make up the lightning link system. While this includes a free spins game, the main attraction is the linked progressive jackpot. All of the games are played over either 25 or fifty lines and players can expect coin denominations that run from one to ten cents, with a couple of other options in between.
The whole point of the games being linked is of course so that a number of different players can all contribute to the same progressive jackpots as they play, while all standing a chance of winning them too. All Lightning Link cabinets offer four tiers of jackpots and, with the top one being seeded at $10,000, they are all well worth getting involved with. Few of the popular pokies you can play are as follows:
1. High stakes
The Lightning Link range High Stakes is one of the first games to start with. The game makes use of a Hold and Spin feature where you can put your mathematical skills to the test as you decide where the value lies when it comes to improving your board state.
There’s a free games bonus too, which comes complete with giant symbols on the central reels that can easily allow you to win particularly to the use of fifty win lines. The jackpots are symbol driven too, so you’ll definitely know when you’ve hit it big on this game.
2. Happy Lantern
Happy Lantern is another great Oriental themed game with some great animations, free spins and of course the top notch jackpot prizes on display, this 25-line game brings together classic Aristocrat action and the latest features for a unique, highly exciting gameplay experience.
3. Sahara Gold
Sahara Gold pokies is similar to High Stakes, with the Hold and Spin feature being in effect once again alongside free spins and fifty lines of action. The free spins bonus in particular is well worth checking out as the number of spins is assigned randomly, as is the number of bonus wilds that are all set to play a massive part in proceedings as players enjoy all of the action.
4. Magic Pearl
Magic Pearl shares plenty in common with Sahara Gold and High Stakes, with fifty lines of action in play and the highly popular Hold and Spin feature leading to big wins – covering both fixed prizes and the progressive jackpot amounts.
5. Moon Race
Moon Race retains the Hold and Spin feature to set up some big jackpot wins and is technically very similar to Best Bet pokies game. The theme is based on space and astronomical shuttles which you will like to enjoy spinning.
6. Best Bet
Best Bet is horse racing theme with the Hold and Spin feature action that can lead to multiple jackpots being won all within a single feature. There are fifty lines in play and the bonus free spins round is particularly enticing thanks to the fact that up to 25 spins can be won with all of the playing card icons being removed from the board in the process.
7. Heart Throb
In Heart throb you will let your heart go wild in this lightening pokies series as the game will be instantly accessible to take the volatility to the fact that wild wins in the feature round are instantly doubled compared to the base game.
8. Tiki Fire
Tiki Fire is another awesome pokies from Aristocrat in the lightening link series and is similar in function to the Heart Throb with increased volatility once again coming down to the use of a wild multiplier during free spins.
9. Bengal Treasure
Bengal Treasure is an Indian themed pokie in the lightening link series with great jackpot action and with some great animations backing up the rather traditional appearance of the board. Fifty lines ensure some fast paced action and this gets even bigger and better within the free spins round as players take advantage of stacked symbols that become increasingly available as the round plays out.
10. Wild Chuco
Wild Chuco pokies is similar with Bengal Treasure, with great visuals and animations with the combination of fifty lines and the increasing availability of stacked symbols ensures that you will have every chance of putting together some massive wins.
11. Raging Bull
Raging Bull is the new pokies in the Lightning Link pokies family. Raging Bull features the popular Hold & Spin feature, cash on reels and scalable bonus prizes. You can play this game at $1 and $2 denominations. During the free games feature reels 1 and 2 display the same symbols in adjacent positions. Similarly reels 4 and 5 display the same symbols in adjacent positions.
12. Mine Mine Mine
Mine Mine Mine pokies is another awesome pokies to play at Lightning Link series. This pokies features the familiar player selectable multi-denomination, cash on reels and the popular Hold & Spin mechanic. Mine Mine Mine also offers more choice to the players with the added $1 and $2 denominations. Like the above pokies here too during the free games feature reels 1 and 2 display the same symbols in adjacent positions and in reels 4 and 5 display the same symbols in adjacent positions.
13. Dragons Riches
Dragon’s Riches is also wonderful pokies to play now at Lightning Link main game. This pokies features the familiar player selectable multi-denomination, cash on reels and the popular Hold & Spin mechanic. You can play this game with added $1 and $2 denominations. During the free games features every X2 that substitutes in a win will double the pay for that win. This means players can win up to X16 their bet with multiple X2 on a winning line.
14. Fire Idol
Like Dragon’s Riches Fire Idol pokies is also available to play now at Lightning Link main game. With almost same features this pokies also comes with the familiar player selectable multi-denomination, cash on reels and the popular Hold & Spin mechanic. You can play this game with added $1 and $2 denominations. During the free games features every X2 that substitutes in a win will double the pay for that win. This means players can win up to X16 their bet with multiple X2 on a winning line.
15. Eyes of Fortune
Lightning Link Download
Eyes of fortune is the tiger themed pokies from Aristocrat that is now running in the reels of Lightning Link pokies cabinet. With almost same features like other pokies this game also comes with the familiar player selectable multi-denomination, cash on reels and the popular Hold & Spin mechanic. You can play this game with multiple denominations as said above. During the free games feature any Wilds that lands will expand to cover the whole reels. Remember that Wilds appear on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 only in this pokies game.
16. Magic Totem
If you love magic then Magic Totem is another best pokies to play at Lightning Link machine. Just like the above pokies Eyes of Fortune it has the same features and comes with the familiar player selectable multi-denomination, cash on reels and the popular Hold & Spin mechanic. You can play this game with multiple denominations as said above. During the free games feature any Wilds that lands will expand to cover the whole reels. Remember that Wilds appear on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5 only in this pokies game.
The other pokies that you can play are Sun Moon Deluxe, More Chilli, Whales of Cash, Wild Lepre Coins, Dollar Eagle, Indian Dreaming, King of Nile, Buffalo Deluxe, Moon Maidens, Golden Seas, Temple of the Tiger Deluxe, Jungle Rush, Queen of the Nile Deluxe, 5 Dragons Gold, Dolphin Treasure, 2Can, 50 Lions, Sky Rider, Sunset Ace, Pacific Princess, Twilight Tundra and many more.
The base game of any of the themes is much like any other, where you’ll need to land three or more consecutive symbols from left to right on a win line. These will obviously differ from game to game as you’ll find different symbols, however what is the same across all the games are the two bonus features.
Lightning Link offers a range of Grand Jackpot options to cater to different venues of all sizes. At land casinos of NZ it can be found at Helix Aristocrat gaming cabinets.
Free Spins Bonus Round
On each of the themes you’ll need to land three scatter symbols to activate the free spins bonus round. This round sees you given just 6 free spins, however you’ll notice one big difference. During each of the free spins you’ll see that reels 2, 3 and 4 will be completely taken up by just one giant symbol.
This means that should the same symbol appear on reel one, you are guaranteed a 50 or 25 four of a kind wins depending on what setup option you went for, while the same symbol appearing again on reel 5 should make for a very nice payout indeed.
Progressive Jackpot Bonus
During the base game you’ll find a number of coins appearing on the screen, these coins displaying either a credit value or one of the three smaller Jackpots Major, Minor or Mini. If you land three or more of these across any of the reels, you’ll immediately win the prizes on the coins, whether that is a Jackpot or not. At this point all of the coins will remain frozen, while the rest of the reels will spin again.
If you land another coin within the next three spins, this will join the sticky coins and you’ll win this amount too. Every time you land a coin, you’ll have three more attempts to land another one.
This will usually see the reels fill up pretty quickly and can land you a nice combination of the smaller Jackpots, as well as a number of cash amounts. However, if you can manage to fill the reels completely with coins, the Grand jackpot will be yours.
Wagering requirement
Originally launched with four player-selectable denominations, 1c, 2c, 5c and 10c, Lightning has now grown to incorporate high denoms like $1 and $2 in their latest games. Never before, has there been so much choice in what game experience you are after.
The great thing about Lightning series is that it is suitable for all venue sizes, with a range of link and standalone progressive Grand Jackpot options to cater to the smallest of hotels to the largest of clubs.
You can play any of the themed games at Lightning with either 50 lines or 25 lines, depending on the denominations you want to play for. For 1c and 2c games you’ll play the maximum 50 lines, while for 5c and 10c games you’ll play 25 lines. You’ll notice however, that the bonus amounts that appear on the reels will be proportional to the coin amount, although the Jackpot payouts remain the same whichever denomination you use. Each of the titles has a max bet amount of 500 credits if playing for 1c or 2c and 250 credits if playing for 5c and 10c.
The game is described as medium to high volatility range. This effectively means that you may have to wait a little longer than usual to land a win in comparison to other pokies, but when you do win the wins will be on the larger side. This is especially the case when it comes to the Jackpot round, where you’ll find yourself winning many of the prizes each time you enter.
Tips to play and win Lightening Pokies
If you want to make some wins on Lightning Link pokies then avoid playing these pokies at those limits that are not comfortable. This creates additional stress and you start making silly mistakes on your gameplay.
- Always set aside a budget to play these pokies, the bank which you can afford to lose.
- Also, try to play these pokies online.
- If you want to risk playing at the maximum bet, then you can immediately after receiving a large prize, reduce it. In the main game, you can get decent awards, but it is better to wait for free games.
- Also after the end of free games, try to wait for them to reactivate. Reduce the bet by 40-60 runs, and then return it to its previous size. In most cases, the pokies give out free games again. If you want to increase your winnings in the main round, then you run the game at risk.
- You can run free games with a high frequency especially when the game is played at low rates.
- You can use the game for chances after every successful spin. But it is better to increase only small winnings, which do not exceed two or three final bets in size. Also, you should not increase the awards more than three times in a row, because you can lose the earned one.
- Do not get carried away and continue the game, when more than 1/3 of the game account is lost. After all, further spins may be losing. It is better to stop and start playing later. But when you received a win that increased the balance on your gaming account by 30% or more, it is recommended to pause or reduce the stake rate on the spin.
Click here to know what other players advise to play this pokie and win the game.
Bonus rounds are certainly interesting, with the giant symbols making the free spins game potentially very rewarding, while the jackpot games are guaranteed to reward players with something, even if it’s not the main progressive prizes.
Today, Lightning Link has such a loyal fan base that many venues are now creating dedicated Lightning Link lounges. With such stunning signage and hardware options available, the Lightning Link games create a distinct and powerful presence in venues. The Hold & Spin feature in Lightning Link has carved out an entirely new product segment in the market. The combination of Hold & Spin, cash on reel prizes and scaling bonus jackpots was the formula for a truly entertaining player experience.
The game is available on the technologically advanced Helix cabinet where you’ll find the ten different themes pokies to play. The game certainly stands out in the casino, the Lightning Link emblem showing the Jackpot amounts taking center stage, while an LCD topper only enhances the overall presentation. You can enjoy these games at any New Zealand casino of your choice especially that entertains Aristocrat games.
If you want to avoid real money pokies, then you can play free pokies from lightning link on your mobile. You can download this free pokies app from your app stores: for iOS devices click here to download now; for android smartphones click here to download all free. To play free you are awarded 2000,000 free coins if you join with your Facebook account