The Champions (Pragmatic Play) – Review & Demo Play

3/5
Play for fun!
96.51%RTP
MediumVolatility
5Reels
2018Year
The Champions

The Champions from Pragmatic Play play free demo version ▶ Casino Slot Review The Champions ✔ Return (RTP) of online slots on July 2026 and play for real money✔

96.51%RTP
MediumVolatility
5Reels
2018Year
Provider Pragmatic Play
Rating
3/5
Release Date 2018-05-16
Type Video Slots
RTP 96.51%
Max Win x1364
Volatility Average
Bet Range ($,€,£) 0.25 - 125
Number of Reels 5
Betways 25
Features Football, Increasing Multiplier, Scatter Pays, Sports

The Champions Slot Overview

The Champions is a casino slot from Pragmatic Play where I play for my favourite team to win the cup. The game is based on football and arrived in 2018 alongside the tournament vibe. I can pick my team from 32 countries, and changing teams alters the symbol graphics in the game. The aim here is to score as many goals as possible, either through the base game or in the Penalty Shots Bonus Game. It feels like a match day loop that rewards good patches.

The Champions uses 5 reels, 3 rows, and 25 paylines. The Min.bet is 0.25, and the Max.bet is 125. The default RTP is 96.51%, with another version at 95.51%. Volatility sits in the medium range and the max win reaches 1,364x the bet. The feature line-up is clear: Wild Symbol, Momentum Progressive Game, and Penalty Shots Bonus Game. These interactive and innovative features for its time made me play for longer than usual without feeling stretched.

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Bonus Features in The Champions

In the base game I manually select spots on the reels with a marker. Landing football symbols in those markers activates the Momentum Progressive Game. Each hit levels me up and adds a winning multiplier to all winning combinations. The level stays active for the next 10 spins, giving time for the effect to work. If the ball lands in the marker again during that period, the level rises and the spin counter resets, keeping the pressure on the defence.

The ladder is easy to read. It starts at x1, then x2 and x4, moves through x6, x8 and x10, then x12, x14 and x16, before x18 and finally x20 at level 11. That multiplier applies to all wins while the level is live. I can move the target anywhere on the grid before each spin, which keeps the feature flexible and brings some real football flavour as I try to line up the next strike.

The Penalty Shots Bonus Game triggers when the Bonus symbol appears on reels 2, 3, and 4. I get 5 shots at goal, each awarding a money prize based on the bet if I score. One goal pays 5x, two pay 10x, three pay 15x, four pay 25x, and hitting all five lands 100x the total bet. It plays out like a shootout and gives a break from the reels while still tying rewards to clear football moments.

The Champions Symbols and Paytable

The theme runs through the symbols. Gloves, cleats, a T-shirt, and a ball are high pay symbols, while the standard playing cards and the referee's whistle sit at the low end. The Wild is a champion's cup that substitutes for regulars and carries line wins of its own, paying x40 for five, x20 for four, and x3.2 for three of a kind. A separate Bonus symbol triggers the penalty game. Colours change with the team I pick.

The Champions Symbols and Paytable

SymbolQuantityPayout
icon 1 Wild
5x40
4x20
3x3.2
icon 2 5x20
4x8
3x2
icon 3 5x10
4x4
3x1.2
icon 4 5x8
4x2
3x1
icon 5 5x6
4x1.6
3x1
icon 6 5x5
4x1
3x0.6
icon 7 5x4
4x1
3x0.2
icon 8 5x4
4x0.8
3x0.2
icon 9 5x4
4x0.8
3x0.2
icon 10Scatter

RTP and Volatility in The Champions

By default, The Champions runs at an RTP of 96.51%, with another version at 95.51%. The Min.bet is 0.25, and the Max.bet is 125. It is played at medium volatility and has a max win of 1,364x the bet. In my play the Momentum Progressive Game can swing sessions when the marker keeps hitting, while the shootout offers fixed returns tied to the stake. It's a setup that rewards steady play more than single-spin fireworks.

Theme and Presentation of The Champions

The Champions is dedicated to football from top to bottom. The reels sit against a football stadium backdrop and every key element matches the sport. I can pick one of the 32 teams from 2018, and the symbol graphics change colour to match. The Wild looks like a champion's cup and the ball is central to the main feature. All of this points back to scoring goals and levelling up through the Momentum Progressive Game.

What stood out to me was how interactive it felt for its time. Selecting a target before each spin adds a small decision without slowing the pace, and the penalty round has clear bet-based prizes. It adds another football slot to a small list yet keeps a distinct identity through the marker system and team choice. That mix kept me engaged, as I chased levels and multipliers that turn regular line wins into handsome totals during hot spells.

Useful guides

Gallery of video and screenshots of the game

Provider Pragmatic Play
Rating
3/5
Release Date 2018-05-16
Type Video Slots
RTP 96.51%
Max Win x1364
Volatility Average
Bet Range ($,€,£) 0.25 - 125
Number of Reels 5
Betways 25
Features Football, Increasing Multiplier, Scatter Pays, Sports

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