88 Fortunes (Shuffle Master) – Review & Demo Play

88 Fortunes - Slot Overview

88 Fortunes is a Chinese themed 5x3 slot from Light & Wonder with 243 ways to win. It launched online in 2016 and mirrors the cabinet favourite, complete with Fu symbols, red and gold colours, and four progressive jackpots. Stakes run from 8p to £88, and the RTP sits at 96% with high volatility. The gameplay hangs on Gold Symbols via the All Up mechanic, a Fu Bat Wild that can spring jackpots, and a free spins round where only premium icons remain on the reels.

88 Fortunes Slot Information

The layout is busy yet tidy. Core controls sit to the right, with bet and Gold Symbols selection on the left. A jar collects coins above the reels and the four jackpot meters sit alongside it. Wins land on adjacent reels from the leftmost, so no lines to track, and the reels settle with a satisfying thump. The colour palette pops, the soundtrack is upbeat, and the whole package runs smoothly across desktop, tablet, and phone with the same feature set.

Bet picking is straightforward. I tap plus or minus to set credits, then choose one to five Gold Symbols. Each step adds cost but upgrades premium icons and opens higher jackpot tiers. The paytable updates live with your chosen level, so values always match how you are playing. I keep an eye on the footnote too, as you need at least 88p a spin and all five golds active if you want a shot at the Grand.

Symbols and Paytable in 88 Fortunes

The low-value set is the classic royals from 9 through Ace. They turn up often and keep things ticking, but the real pay comes from the golden premiums. During free games those royals vanish, which makes a massive difference to hit quality. On the premium side you’ll see a coin, sycee ingots, a turtle, a ship, and an emblem with a bird motif, all styled in gold. Five of a kind pays scale neatly with your Gold Symbols level.

The Golden Eagle tops older paytables at 1,000 coins for five, with the ship, turtle, vase, and mandala following behind. The Fu Bat is wild, substituting for regular symbols, and it can also be the trigger for the jackpot bonus. The gong on green acts as the scatter. Land three or more starting from reel one to start free games, with five gongs paying a chunky 50x on top. All values reflect the credits and gold level you’ve selected.

88 Fortunes Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x11.3
	4	x2.2
	3	x1.1
	5	x5.6
	4	x1.1
	3	x0.5
	5	x4.5
	4	x0.9
	3	x0.4
	5	x2.8
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.2
	5	x1.1
	4	x0.2
	3	x0.1
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.1
	3	x0.05
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.1
	3	x0.05
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.1
	3	x0.05
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.1
	3	x0.05
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.1
	3	x0.05
	5	x0.5
	4	x0.1
	3	x0.05
	Collect
	5	x50
	4	x10
	3	x5
	Scatter

Bonus Features in 88 Fortunes

Gold Symbols under the All Up feature are the spine of 88 Fortunes. I can activate two, three, four, or all five, each step adding a set number of credits to the base bet. In return, premium icons take on upgraded gold versions and, more importantly, extra jackpot tiers become available. One gold gives you no jackpots, two opens Mini, three adds Minor, four adds Major, and five gives access to the Grand. I usually play max golds when I’m hunting progressives.

Free games arrive when three or more gong scatters land on adjacent reels from the left. You receive 10 spins, and every low-paying royal is removed for the duration, leaving only premiums and specials in view. That shift alone can send average hit values up sharply. The feature can retrigger by landing fresh gongs, and five at once pays 50x. Your chosen Gold Symbols level is locked in from the triggering spin, so I set my level before chasing it.

The Fu Bat Jackpot can trigger when a Fu Bat wild appears. Sometimes it pays a jackpot outright, otherwise you enter a pick-and-click with 12 gold coins. Flip coins until three matching Fu Baby symbols appear and you take the linked Mini, Minor, Major, or Grand. Eligibility scales with your active golds and overall stake, and the top prize needs the full five gold symbols and at least 88p a spin. It’s simple, quick, and delivers genuine spikes.

RTP, Volatility and Max Win in 88 Fortunes

88 Fortunes runs at a very standard 96% RTP and plays with high volatility, so expect longer dry patches punctuated by heavier hits. The base game has a stated max of 2,761x your stake, while the Grand jackpot clocks in around 2,272x at top configuration, with an overall per-spin cap near 250,000. Bets span 8p to £88 across devices. In practice, the free spins round with royals removed is where most of my better sessions have pushed ahead.

My 88 Fortunes Spins Experience

I mirrored my cabinet habits online and went with five golds at 88p. Within the first dozen spins the Fu Bat feature popped and I picked my way to the Minor, which was fine rather than thrilling. The base game ticked over with small hits and a couple around eight times stake. Near the two hundred spin mark the gongs finally lined up and the bonus paid 96x, helped by stacked premiums, yet I still sat a touch down overall.

That run sums the slot up. It can feel dry, then drop a burst through the bonus or a jackpot pick. I pace my bankroll with high volatility in mind and I always test the demo first to get familiar with timing and All Up costs. If you want a longer grind, trim the golds to two or three and let the session breathe, but if you are chasing the Grand, you’ll need the full setup.

88 Fortunes Slot Verdict

88 Fortunes blends that familiar red and gold look with a neat mix of features that still hold up. The All Up system lets me tune risk and jackpot access, the Fu Bat pick keeps things lively, and the free games with no royals remain the highlight. The bigger jackpots are not easy to snag and the variance bites, yet the package feels balanced and well made. If you like classic 243-ways play with progressives, this one still earns time.