Laughing Buddha (Habanero) – Review & Demo Play

Laughing Buddha - Slot Overview

I’ve spun plenty of Habanero titles, and Laughing Buddha hits that classy Asian note with a tidy 5x3 layout and 28 paylines. Stakes run from £0.28 up to £1,400, which suits testing and high-roller play alike. The draw here is clean mechanics done well. You get Multiplier Wilds, a Free Spins Bonus with Expanding Symbols, and a Jackpot Race on selected sites. Under the hood it’s high volatility with a max win of 56,043x, so the ceiling is serious.

I rate the production highly. Red and gold visuals, sharp animations, and a calm score keep the reels lively without fuss. On the numbers side, the RTP sits at 96.64%, with a 96.57% figure when using Bonus Buy. Anyone who likes the 'Book Of' style will spot the expanding symbol twist in the bonus. It isn’t trying to reinvent anything, but the maths, multipliers, and top-end potential make the package feel well balanced for patient sessions.

How To Play Laughing Buddha

I keep it simple here. Pick your total stake, with 28 paylines fixed, then spin. Wins land when three or more matching symbols connect from reel one along any payline. The Pearl Wild can replace standard symbols and may flip to show a 2x or 3x multiplier that applies to the win. Scatters pay anywhere but are mainly about getting you into the bonus. If your market offers it, Bonus Buy jumps straight to free spins.

Paytable & Symbols in Laughing Buddha

Low-paying icons run from 10 to A, styled with an Oriental touch. Five-of-a-kind pays are as follows over the total bet. 10 pays 1.07x, J pays 2.14x, Q pays 3.21x, K pays 5.71x, and A pays 8.92x. Lines still need at least three from the left, with middling returns for three and four, but the set scales neatly and anchors the base game well. They combine cleanly with Wild substitutions when the Pearl appears.

Premiums lift the mood and can carry sessions. Jade Mirror pays 10.7x for five, Sycee pays 14.2x, Dragon pays 17.8x, and the Buddha tops the lot at 35.7x for a full line. The Wild symbol mirrors those Buddha pays for three, four, and five. Golden Urn Scatters only appear on reels one, three, and five, and three in view award a small 1x payout on top of their main job of triggering the feature.

The Pearl Wild can land on any reel and substitute across the board. When it lands, it may reveal a 2x or 3x multiplier. If more than one Multiplier Wild sits on the same winning line, only the highest value applies to that line. You don’t stack multipliers here, so the aim is clean connections with a single upgraded Wild or lining premiums that can make the most of expanding action in the bonus.

Laughing Buddha Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Wild
	5	x35.7
	4	x8.92
	3	x1.78
	Scatter
	3	x0.03
	5	x35.7
	4	x8.92
	3	x1.78
	5	x17.8
	4	x7.14
	3	x1.07
	5	x14.2
	4	x4.46
	3	x0.53
	5	x10.7
	4	x3.57
	3	x0.53
	5	x8.92
	4	x2.67
	3	x0.35
	5	x5.71
	4	x2.14
	3	x0.35
	5	x3.21
	4	x1.42
	3	x0.17
	5	x2.14
	4	x1.07
	3	x0.17
	5	x1.07
	4	x0.53
	3	x0.17

Laughing Buddha Slot Features

The base game stays tidy. Pearl Wilds substitute for all standard symbols and can upgrade wins via 2x or 3x multipliers, adding punch to otherwise modest lines. Golden Urn Scatters show only on reels one, three, and five. Three in view both set up the Free Spins Bonus and deliver a 1x payout. There’s no clutter of side mechanics, so most value sits in timed Wild upgrades and lining premiums on the 28 paylines.

Habanero’s Jackpot Race can be active, with a ticker above the reels showing current totals and the next race window. The race runs for a defined period, guaranteeing a drop during that time. Payouts are split by how close you are to the trigger. Closest takes 50%, second 20%, third 10%, and places four to seven each take 5%. It’s a neat layer that can top a session without changing the slot’s maths.

Bonus Features in Laughing Buddha

Free Spins arrive when three Golden Urns land. You start with eight spins. Before the round, each urn reveals a standard symbol. You pick one, and all instances of that symbol expand to fill their reel during the bonus, paying on all active lines when enough land. It’s a familiar 'Book Of' style twist, and it works well with the 28-line grid. Hit three more urns during the round to add eight extra spins, keeping your chosen symbol.

If your region allows it, Bonus Buy is available at 46.4x the total bet and takes you straight into the feature. The RTP via this route sits at 96.57%. UK players won’t see the purchase option, so it’s back to spinning for natural entries. Either way, the round’s strength comes from pairing expanding symbols with any timely multiplier from a Pearly Wild dropping in the right place on the same spin.

Laughing Buddha RTP, Volatility and Max Win

I rate the maths profile. Fixed RTP is 96.64%, sitting above the common 96% mark. Variance is high, so sessions can swing, but the upside is clear with a max win of 56,043x. Lines are fixed at 28 on a 5x3 layout, and stakes span £0.28 to £1,400. Bonus Buy trims the RTP slightly to 96.57% when available. I play with a measured stake, chasing the bonus while letting Multiplier Wilds carry base hits when they line up.

Graphics, Audio and Mobile for Laughing Buddha

The art leans on a classic red and gold palette, crisp icons, and smooth animation. Special symbols don’t spin in; they drop onto the reels, adding a nice sense of impact. The soundtrack mixes pan pipes, plucked strings, chimes, and soft drums, with reel effects that sit neatly on top. On mobile, it’s well optimised for iOS and Android, keeping all mechanics, interface touches, and win potential intact on smaller screens without squeezing legibility.