Genie's Wonderlamp Slots
The genie theme seems to be a source of inspiration for slot designers that will never dry up, just like themes of Ancient Egypt, animals, and fruity slots. The Genie's Wonderlamp video slot is one old-school attempt by experienced German slot developers Merkur to tackle this evergreen theme. It's a slot that looks like it was built in the early days of online casino games but actually packs up several interesting extras that old games can't match. And, despite its outdated looks, it is also available to punters who prefer playing on an Android or iOS phone or tablet.
Visually, the graphics and presentation look a bit outdated. Obviously, the main source of inspiration is the genie-in-a-lamp myth. But instead of using its own 3D models of genies and characters to build an interesting take on the theme, Merkur uses a mix of designed symbols and real images of niqab-wearing women, the Taj Mahal (surprisingly), and a blue smiling genie that somehow make the game look cheaper. Complementing the visuals is an Arabic soundtrack that plays gently in the background as you spin the reels, only to get interrupted by an electronic bass track when the slot starts showcasing your win.
The visuals of the game are fit into a 5-reel layout that has 3 rows of symbols and 10 active paylines. The paylines can't be activated/deactivated individually but you can only switch between 5 and 10 paylines. The slot also features two bonus rounds that are randomly triggered as well as two gamble functions that can be used to increase what you've already won on the reels.
Make Your Wishes
Bets at the Genie's Wonderlamp online slot start at 0.01 credits per payline, or 0.05 credits per spin if you play with only 5 paylines activated. The maximum you can bet per payline is 2 credits, so if you activate all 10 paylines and bet the full bet per line, you'll end up paying a max bet of 20 credits on each spin. However, be careful when betting more since this is a game of high volatility.
The biggest payouts on the reels are given by the group of special symbols and the other picture symbols. The magic lamp wild and the Arabic woman, for example, can both bring you the maximum line payout of 500 times your bet when you collect all 5 of them. Other valuable symbols in the game are the special genie symbol, the Taj Mahal, and the magic carpet, which offer payouts even for 2 collected symbols. But if you don't get to land any of these on a winning payline, you can still win smaller payouts with the five card symbols found in the game.
The magic lamp symbol actually plays a double role here and acts as both a wild symbol and a scatter symbol that triggers the free spins round. It also has two different paytables according to the role it plays. When 3 or more of the lamp symbols appear on the reels, they trigger 9, 12, or 15 free spins which are played with the 10 as a special symbol that expands across the entire reel. The lamp symbol also plays a special role during the rounds themselves where it can trigger 3 extra spins and replace any lower paying symbols (A-K-Q-10-J) with the lowest paying special symbols.
Another prize-winning symbol in the Genie’s Wonderlamp is the blue genie which triggers a special "Pharao Feature" when you collect 3 of the symbols anywhere on the reels. The Pharao Feature is a game of pick-and-win that comes with a special admission price of 50x your bet. If you choose to pay the entry fee and not go back to the base game, you will have to pick 1 of the 3 genie symbols you've collected. Each symbol hides either a cash prize of 5-200x your bet or 9 free spins behind it. With the high fee you pay and the possibility of seeing very small returns, you might want to sit this one out.
If you like to take smaller risks, the slot also has two gamble features that can let you gamble all your winnings on a double-or-nothing bet or just gamble half of your bet. The first of the features lets you pick red or black and win when the machine draws a card that matches the colour. As for the second feature, it's sort of a risk ladder that will have you push a button that randomly chooses whether you climb up or down the ladder to win different prizes. You can collect your money during any move but also lose it all if you drop down to zero.
Giving Real Money to a Genie
To check out how profitable the game is, you can use our free Genie's Wonderlamp slot machine demo. Game demos work in the same way as when you play for real money and they are a great tool to use if you want to review a slot, learn its paytable, and test its volatility. And when you feel ready to start playing the game for real cash, you just have to find yourself a real money casino that offers Merkur's games.
To find a good and reliable operator, you will need to know what to look for. A casino without a license is definitely to be avoided and so is any operator that doesn't have basic security protocols in place or one that has unfair withdrawal policies. It's also good to check out the game variety before you play as well as see what rewards you can get for becoming a loyal player so that you know you'll stay covered further down the line.
One in a World of Magic Slots
With its classic theme, simple mechanics, and common bonus structure, the Genie's Wonderlamp feels very close to many other slot machines on the market that offer a similar experience. For example, take a look at Endorphina's Gems & Stones. It has the same 5x3 design with 10 active paylines and it also comes with a 10-free-spins bonus round that features a special expanding symbol, just like the Genie's Wonderlamp. Another similarity is the gamble feature which lets you double your wins.
The Queen Cleopatra slot from Novomatic likewise has the same format and comes with similar extras. Like the Genie's Wonderlamp, the Queen Cleopatra offers free spins rounds with a special expanding symbol and has a built-in gamble feature, only this one has a much a more interesting side-game. So, if you'd like a more interesting game than the Genie's Wonderlamp, you might want to check this game out. You can also have a look at our selection of new online slot games for even more alternatives.
Create More Magic in Your Life
Genie's Wonderlamp is not one of those slot games that immediately get you interested. The graphics quality and presentation looks quite simple and outdated and its bonus features don't really offer anything unique or over-exciting like some newer slot games do. However, with an RTP of 95.95% and its high volatility, it can end up giving you a solid cash-out if you can spare the budget and time to chase it. Whatever you do, be careful with the Pharaoh's Feature.
