How does the Columbus slot machine work?

Next to Book of Ra, Lucky Lady Charm and Dolphins Pearl, the Columbus slot machine is also one of Novomatic’s classics. It is very popular and widespread in Europe. For some time now, you can also play the Columbus slot in online casinos or even on mobile devices via an app. With some online providers, it is even possible to try out the slot for free. This is especially recommended for people who have never played this game before to familiarise themselves with the gameplay. Today we would like to go into more detail about this popular classic. The Columbus slot, like most classics, features 5 reels that roll. It has 10 paylines on which the symbols are counted from left to right. Although you can reduce the number of lines played per spin, this is not recommended because of the possible scatter bonus. This classic slot machine from Novomatic impresses with its impressive graphics, the exciting gameplay and the flawless compatibility on many different devices, also via app. The highest bet per spin is € 100 and can lead to a maximum win of € 50,000 in the case of a so-called jackpot, if there is a wild symbol on each reel on a payline.

The symbols of the Columbus slot and their meaning

In the Columbus slot machine, there are different symbols with different valences. We will go through each symbol here and also explain the other bonus symbols. The smallest symbols in terms of value are the familiar symbols from card games (10, J, Q, K, A). Here, however, there are 2 levels of value. For a complete line of either Q, K or A, 15 times the stake is paid out as a win. For a complete line of J or 10, however, only 10 times the stake is paid. The next highest symbols in terms of value are the sextant and the necklace, where winnings can be achieved with just 2 symbols on a line from left to right. Both symbols award half the stake as a win in this combination. However, if you have a full line of these symbols, they differ in value. A full line of sextants pays 25 times the stake, while a full line of colliers pays 50 times the stake, which is a considerable difference for such a jackpot. The queen is the highest value symbol of the standard symbols. Here you get half the stake for 2, 5 times the stake for 3, 20 times the stake for 4 and in a jackpot with the queen, you get 100 times the stake as a win. Next, we need to talk about the Christopher Columbus symbol, the game’s namesake. This symbol is considered a so-called “WILD” or wild symbol and can thus replace the other standard symbols. However, if you show this symbol 5 times on your winning picture, you will get back 500 times your stake, a brilliant jackpot. Even with only 4 Columbus symbols you get 100 times your bet. The bonus symbol in the Columbus slot is the three ships. This symbol can only appear on reel 1, 3 or 5, has no value of its own and is not considered wild here, which is sometimes a bit of a hindrance. However, if you have these ships in the winning picture 3 times, the bonus game is triggered. In this bonus round, the three ships appear more often and are considered the “WILD” or wild symbol for the other symbols. If all this is confusing for you, we recommend that you try a few rounds in the free play mode to familiarise yourself better with the machine.

How to increase your chances of winning

In order to be as successful as possible with the Columbus slot in the online casino, we can definitely recommend that you play all 10 lines. This will give you significantly higher chances if you manage to trigger the bonus game. The many lines and the possible “WILD” symbols also increase the general chance of winning. It is also advisable to set a sensible budget for this slot and stick to it. Since the excitement and fun of playing Columbus slot online are very high, many players often forget to stick to their budget. Here it is really advisable to be strict with yourself and not to overdo it.