Overview
Step into the thrilling world of Derby Wheel, a unique creation from developer Play'n GO that ingeniously merges the excitement of classic slot gaming with the anticipation of horse racing and the suspense of a money wheel. Set within a dazzling, 3D game show-style arena, this high volatility spectacle boasts an extravagant visual design that truly gives it a pulsating "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" quality. Played on a compact 3-reel, 3-row matrix with 5 paylines, the game is designed for straightforward action, aiming for three-of-a-kind wins and scatter-triggered bonus rounds. With a maximum win potential of 2,240xMax Win, Derby Wheel appeals to players seeking a simpler, yet glitzy, gaming experience offering a distinct blend of betting opportunities in one engaging package.
Gameplay & Features
Derby Wheel comes withtwo bonus rounds, each one triggered in the same way. The bonus process begins when3 scatter symbolsland in the base game to activate theFortune Wheel. This wheel is split into two segments –Horse RacingandBig Wheel, so once it stops spinning, one of these bonus rounds is randomly awarded.
• Horse Racing
•
This bonus can either be won from the wheel as described above or from the Big Wheel, which is covered next. Either way, the rules are the same. There are4 horses in a race, and players can choose one of4 optionsfor this feature:
No Bet(guaranteed payout): Pick no horse and win up to 50x the bet. Win(low volatility): Pick the winning horse to win up to 800x the bet. Exacta(medium volatility): Pick the 1st and 2nd horse in exact order to win up to 1,800x the bet. Trifecta(high volatility): Pick the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd horse in the exact order to win up to 2,800x the bet.
• Big Wheel
•
This bonus round can only be won when3 scattersland to trigger the Fortune Wheel. Here, players getone spinon the Big Wheel to winmultipliers. Here it is possible to also activate the Horse Racing feature
Final Thoughts
Derby Wheel might not be the 'best show this year', as it's been billed, but it is a little different and should have enough of the goods to entertain certain audience members. It's a simple, flashy, easy to play game that mixes bits of horse racing, prize wheel suspense, and some basic online slot gaming. It is a bit thin, especially on the slot side of things, which means it might run out of steam before long, though the flashy 3D production values are there to help maintain player enthusiasm. Derby Wheel has an over-the-top game show element, yet it does lack a certain level of depth found in online slots like those inWho Wants to be a Millionairerange, orDeal or No Deal, as a comparison.
Arguably, Derby Wheel's pinnacle is its Horse Racing feature. Would it have been better if Play'n GO had done away with the base game altogether and made it a straight betting game? Some may think so but having to be patient does build suspense for when the Fortune Wheel does eventually trigger. The main game is pacey, and the flash environs cushion the wait; plus, having a 5 p/c entry level is sure to be a welcome option. While the betting slip-type feature provides a taste of a day at the track, there are more immersive options out there.NetEnt'sScudamore's Super Stakes, for example, dives deeper into the theme, as doesiSoftBet'sRacetrack Riches Megaboardwith its actual race around a track bonus round.
There's that saying in life that trying to please everyone ends up pleasing no one. There is a touch of this going on in Derby Wheel, which does offer several things, but none of them in an overly exceptional way. Certainly, there are bigger money wheel games, slots, and horse racing opportunities out there. Still, few pull them all together into one place like Derby Wheel does, so its unique form of glitzy entertainment gives players with a horse racing bent something unique to try their luck with.
