Bonanza Gold: a free run at the gold rush

Gold fever, Pragmatic style

Mining and gold-rush themes crop up again and again in Pragmatic Play's catalogue, and Bonanza Gold leans straight into the genre: glinting nuggets, rock faces and the bright, chunky art the studio is known for. It's a game that looks at home on a phone screen, with large symbols that are easy to read at a glance.

Don't confuse it with the other "Bonanza" titles in the catalogue. Pragmatic uses the word on several unrelated games, from sweets to fishing, and they don't share mechanics just because they share a name.

Learn the rules from the source

We'd rather not describe features we can't confirm in detail for this title. The demo has a full paytable and rules screen, and it's worth reading before your first spin: it shows how wins are formed, which symbol starts the bonus and what happens once you're in it. Two minutes there will save you a lot of guessing.

A test plan for the Bonanza Gold demo

The free play version gives you 1,000 virtual credits, no download and no sign-up. Here's a straightforward routine:

• Choose a stake equivalent to £0.20 or £0.50 and keep it fixed.
• Play 200 spins and note when, or if, the bonus feature turns up.
• Look at the balance curve: steady trickle of small wins, or long dips followed by jumps?

That curve is the best indicator of whether the game fits the way you like to play. If you prefer steadier sessions and it swings hard, it might not be for you, and the demo is the right place to find out.

There's no bonus buy in this version. If Bonanza Gold earns its place, the same game is available for real money at the casinos listed below.