It is no wonder why Asian-themed slot games always attracted thousands of players from all around the world. The most popular Asian-themed games are usually related to Chinese and Japanese history and folklore. The tales about samurai heroes, Chinese Emperors or dragons almost always perform well on the market, gathering fans and positive reviews. Jade Emperor is a Chinese-themed slot machine from Ainsworth. This game features bright colours with lots of gold for a feeling of luxury and richness. The symbols here include the Chinese emperor, a golden temple, a lantern and golden statues to add to the atmosphere. China Mystery Slot Machine Review. Since the onset of the use of themes to create slot machine games, China has been heavily tapped into by online gaming software developers both offline and online to present hundreds of slots that depict different elements of the region.
Many common themes exist throughout the slots world. TV shows, fruits, African wildlife, banking, treasure hunting, and sports are among the key examples.
But perhaps no theme is more prevalent in the casino gambling world than Asian culture. Literally thousands of Asian-themed slot machines exist throughout land-based and real money online casinos.
Why is it that slots developers have such a fascination with Asian culture and history? You’ll find out below, as I explain more on this type of slots and why they heavily populate the gambling industry.
How Common Are Asian-Themed Slots?
If you’ve walked around a brick and mortar casino or browsed an online gaming site, you’ve almost assuredly seen at least one Asian-themed slot. You may have even played one or more of these games.
The number of such slot machines varies based on the casino in question. However, Asian slots commonly fill out between 5% and 25% of a casino’s game selection.
Other common themes only account for between 3% and 10% of casino slot machines. For example, a gambling establishment isn’t going to dedicate 25% of its selection to treasure hunting.
What Is the Typical Asian Slot Machine Like?
Some game providers do a decent job of switching up the look and feel of Asian slot machines. Nevertheless, many of these slots still revolve around similar concepts and appearances.
A typical Asian-themed game will deal with good fortune and make a dragon or the Chinese lucky number 8 the key concept.
These types of slots also have traditional Asian music. Their music and sound effects are built to create a pleasing atmosphere rather than a high-energy one.
These slot machines also commonly present a combination of a historic and mythical theme. Revered in Chinese culture, dragons are heavily prevalent throughout such slots.
Asian games also frequently use zodiac signs as symbols. For example, they may center on a rooster, which is the zodiac sign for fidelity and punctuality in Chinese culture.
Ways That Asian-Themed Slots Differ From Western-Themed Games
Asian slot machines have distinct characteristics that set them apart from many Western-facing games. Below, you can see the key differences that make them special.
Lots of Red and Gold
Red is almost always the predominant color in any Asian slot. It represents good fortune in many countries on the continent.
Likewise, gold is yet another common color in these types of games. For example, gold coins may serve as the wild symbol while gold trim outlines the reels.
This same red-and-gold makeup is common in Chinese homes and restaurants. Assuming you enjoy this color scheme, then you’ll definitely appreciate it in Asian-themed slot machines.
Different Symbols
One downside to these games is that they overlap with their symbols far too often. However, the same symbols also rarely appear in any other type of slot.
Here are examples of the icons commonly featured on the reels of Asian slots:
- Cashien (god of wealth)
- Fortune cookie
- Gold coin
- Gold ingot
- Firecrackers
- Jade dragon
- Rooster
I’ve played my fair share of these games, so I get bored with seeing the same symbols pop up again and again. However, the same group of icons set Asian-themed games apart from the average slot.
Common Themes
Game developers have found a proven formula with these kinds of slots. Therefore, they tend to feature the same themes over and over.
Here are common themes found in Asian slot machines:
- Cashien
- Chinese New Year’s celebration
- Dragons
- Good fortune
- Koi ponds
- Wealth
One of the most cliché type of slots includes a wealth-based game that offers gold coins and gold ingots as key symbols.
Dragons encompass another common Asian slot theme. Such a game often features the dragon as a wild or scatter symbol and includes gold coins and other typical icons.
Asian-Inspired Music
As mentioned before, these games favor traditional Asian music over the high-energy beats and loud sound effects seen in many other slots.
For example, a game about a Japanese koi pond will offer a very laid-back tune. Compare this to a racing themed game that has a rock n’ roll beat and loud sounds when you form winning combinations.
Why Do Casinos Carry so Many of These Game Types?
What makes these slot machines so appealing to casinos? Here are several reasons why the gambling world loves offering such slots.
Appeal to Asian Tourists
Gambling is a large part of Asian culture. Therefore, many people from this continent like visiting major gambling destinations, such as Las Vegas, Monte Carlo, and the more local Macau.
The same tourists probably don’t want to play a slot based on football or American patriotism. Instead, they’re looking for something familiar in a foreign place.
Asian-themed slots provide this familiarity. They include the types of cultural symbols, music, and color schemes that those from this continent are used to.
Casinos are motivated to cater to this group when considering the sheer tourism numbers out of Asia. China, Japan, and South Korea all feature a great deal of international travelers.
The same nations don’t have a lot of legal gambling options either. When they come to the United States or UK, for example, they really enjoy visiting casinos.
Over 4.6 Billion People Live in Asia
It makes total sense to develop slot machines that appeal to the world’s most-populated continent. Asia has 4.6 billion people.
By comparison, Europe is the next-largest continent with 741 million people. As you can see, the numbers aren’t even close.
You’ll also see countless slots that are specific to Chinese culture. The reasoning here is also simple when considering that China has the largest population with over 1.4 billion people.
Not many slots specifically cater to India. But given its population of 1.3 billion people, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this trend change in the near future.
Unique to Westerners
Asians aren’t the only ones who enjoy these types of slot machines. Some Westerners also like Asian-themed games for something different.
They’re used to playing the same kinds of adventure, outer space, and spooky slots over and over again. They may seek Asian-themed slot machines for something different.
Again, these games blend together after a while. But they’re certainly interesting if you haven’t played them much before.
Good Luck Themes Bring Good Fortune
Many gamblers rely on luck to bring them big winnings. So, what better way to attract this luck than by playing slots that are entirely centered on good fortune!?
Of course, the return to player (RTP) has much more practical bearing on your winnings. But a game that’s based on Chinese good luck symbols may make you feel luckier.
Will Asian Slot Machines Always Be so Popular?
Asian slot machines will always hold a prominent place in casinos. After all, they cater to the countless tourists coming from Asia every year to play real money slot games.
Western countries like appealing to these tourists with slots that match their tastes. Considering that Asia comprises 60% of the world’s population, this trend should continue into the foreseeable future.
Of course, countries like Japan and South Korea have made more forays into the casino gaming world in recent years. Most notably, Japan has legalized casinos and will feature their first gambling resorts within the next few years.
Therefore, I’m not so sure that generic Asian-themed slots will be enough to keep attracting this group in the future. Even still, I don’t think this aspect will put a big dent in the mass production of Asian slot machines.
Conclusion
Casino gaming is a numbers game to the industry. Gambling establishments want to offer games that appeal to the masses and earn them the most profits.
Asian-themed slot machines help accomplish this goal to a great degree. After all, they’re aimed at a population of 4.6 billion people.
The drawback to these games is that they often look similar regarding colors and themes. But they also offer familiar concepts to millions of Asian tourists.
That said, you shouldn’t expect this style of gaming to slow down any time soon. Developers will keep churning out many Asian slots well into the future.
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- Asian Slots are among the top games of the gambling industry
Asian Slots have become very popular among gamblers this decade as Asian-themed Slots can introduce you to the worlds of China, Korea, Japan and other wonderful countries in the Far East.
If you’re looking for Asian Casino games and lots of Chinese Slot machines, we’ve got you covered. The following games are all free Asian Slots that are available on your PC and any mobile device.
Hong Bao
Let’s start this list with one of the most traditional-looking Chinese Slots, Hong Bao.
This title by Kalamba Games comes with one interesting feature you won’t likely find on many other games - you can buy a bonus.
Spirits of Zen
Spirits of Zen is an Anime-themed Asian Slot with well-crafted visuals.
The game features 243 ways to win, a Scatter that can give you up to 30 free spins, and a Wild Hopper symbol that turns other symbols Wild.
Year of the Dog
Even though Year of the Dog video Slot looks traditional, it feels fresh.
This game is also quite innovative in terms of features, as there are 1,024 ways to win and lots of cool free spins bonuses with different multipliers.
By the way, the RTP is 97.039 percent,.
The Legend of Shangri-la: Cluster Pays
This 6-reel Asian Slot machine lets you form wins through cluster pays, which substitution symbols (Wild symbols) help you get.
The game comes with four bonus features: Random Substitutions feature, Sticky Re-Spins feature, Nudge Reel, and a Free Spins feature that can give you five to nine free spins.
The RTP of 96.59 percent definitely make this Asian Slot machine worth a try.
Sakura Fortune
The five-reel, four-row, 40-payline Sakura Fortune is one of the most interesting Asian Slots.
The Wild symbol is the Sakura Princess that can trigger two bonus features: the Sakura Fortune Re-spin feature and the Mystery Nudge feature.
You also have a Free Spins feature, triggered by Scatter symbols, where you can get five to 10 free spins, during which you can land the Wild that will expand across the reel and stay locked during the feature.
You can win up to 1,087 times your stake on each spin, and there’s an RTP of 95.58 percent.
Koi Princess
This five-reel, 20-payline Slot machine comes with eight bonus features, four of which are Random Bonus features (5-Hit Bonus, Random Wild, Wild Reels, and Bonus Activation) triggered in the base game, while the other four (Sure Win Free Spins, Wild Reels Free Spins, Coin Win, and Bonus Wheel) are triggered when three bonus symbols appear on the first, second, and fifth reel.
You can get up to 1,000 your bet on each spin, and its RTP of 96 percent can be increased to 96.23 percent if you activate the Bonus Bet and double your current bet.
88 Fortunes
This five-reel Chinese Slot machine with 243 ways to win comes with a Free Games feature that can get you up to 10 free spins, and the Fu Bat Jackpot feature where you can win up to four progressive Jackpots: Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand Jackpot.
The RTP of 95.93 percent is not the highest but, despite that, the game is definitely one of the best free Chinese Slots you can play according to our team.
100 Pandas
100 Pandas is a five-reel, 100-payline game, which is one of the simplest Chinese Slot games to play because you only need to watch out for the Yin and Yang bonus symbols to land winning combinations.
The bonus symbols can activate the 100 Pandas bonus game that can get you up to 10 free spins with a 2x multiplier. Additional Yin and Yang symbols during the bonus game can get you 10 extra free spins with a 2x multiplier.
Bruce Lee
This five-reel, 60-payline Slot machine is one of the most action-packed Chinese Slot games online.
It comes with a Free Spins Bonus feature, where you can get up to 14 free spins, and the Enter the Dragon Bonus feature, which is triggered only in the Free Spins mode.
Lights
Lights is a five-reel, nine-payline Asian theme Slots machine with two bonus features: the Floating Wild feature, during which up to four symbols can turn into Wilds to help you get winning combinations, and the Free Spins feature, where up to six symbols can turn into Wilds during each free spin.
The Free Spins bonus is triggered by the Scatter symbols, which can give you 10 to 30 free spins, and you can win up to 1,000x your stake on each free spin.
The RTP in this slot machine game is 96.10 percent.
Geisha Story
Geisha Story is a five-reel, 15-payline Slot machine game that is one of the most popular Asian Slots with an RTP of 95.48 percent.
It comes with a bonus (the Geisha’s Garden Bonus feature), where you can get four to 20 free spins, after which a multiplier will be revealed, increasing your winnings from 2x to 10x.
Red Mansions
Red Mansions is a five-reel Asian Slot machine game with 1,024 ways to win.
It comes with a great Free Spins Bonus feature where you can get 10 to 20 free spins when the jade gem bonus symbols are landed on the third reel.
If you land more bonus symbols during the Free Spins feature, you can get even more free games.
This is one of the few Chinese Slot machines that have beautiful oriental-themed symbols and immersive Chinese-style graphics.
Thai Flower
One of the most popular Asian Slots, Thai Flower is an online Slot machine with five reels and 10 paylines.
Its exotic theme gives it special charm, and its Wild symbol (the pink lotus flower), which is also the Scatter symbol.
Thai Flower comes with an RTP of 95 percent and one Bonus feature, which is the Free Spins feature that can get you 12 free spins.
Zhao Cai Jin Bao
Of all the Chinese Slots, Zhao Cai Jin Bao is the simplest one, as it has neither bonus features nor does it give you free spins.
However, this doesn’t mean that it’s not worth a try, as it is perfect for all those who simply enjoy the spinning of the reels.
Of all its higher value symbols, a dragon’s head is the best, as landing five dragon’s heads in one row leads to a win of 5,000 times the stake. The RTP for this Chinese Slot machine is 95.99 percent.
Gong Xi Fa Cai
This is a five-reel, 50-payline Asian Slots machine devoted to the Chinese New Year.
It has two Bonus features: the Free Spins feature, where you start with eight free spins which can be re-triggered, and the Multiplier feature, which can be triggered both in the base game and during the Free Spins. It can multiply your wins two, three, or five times.
The RTP for this Slot ranges from 92.41 to 96.23 percent.
Fei Long Zai Tian
This five-reel, 25-payline Asian Slots machine looks quite good and it comes with an RTP of 96.03 percent.
It has only one bonus feature, the Dragon’s Pearl Free Spins You trigger it with the Scatter symbols, that is, by landing three or more of them anywhere on the reels.
During the feature, you will get eight free spins with a 2x multiplier for all the wins.
Most importantly, free spins can be re-triggered infinitely.
88 Coins
88 Coins is a five-reel, 30-payline Chinese Slot machines game that has an RTP of 97 percent.
It’s not progressive and it doesn’t have a bonus game, but its Wild (the Lotus Flower) and Scatter (the Pierced Coin) symbols more than compensate for the lack of other features.
The Wild doubles your wins, while three or more Scatters activate 10 free spins and a cash prize.
Fu Dao Le
One of the best Asian Slots, Fu Dao Le is a five-reel real money game with 243 ways to win and progressive Jackpots.
It comes with four bonus features: Mystery Stacked Reels, Progressive Jackpots (Red Envelope and Jackpot Bonus) and, of course, free spins, where you get eight spins with a 2x multiplier.
This Slot game differs from others in that it has several Wild symbols: Normal Wild, 2x Wild, and 3x Wild (all of which appear only during the Free Spins feature), Clumped Wild and Wonus (which is both a Wild and the Bonus symbol).
Shangri La
Shangri La is a five-reel, 50-payline Slot game with an incredible number of seven bonus features.
Three of them are triggered in the base game, and those are the Added Wilds feature, the Wild Reels feature, and the Added Scatter feature.
The other four bonus rounds are the Free Games feature (eight free spins that can be re-triggered), the Super Free Games feature (12 free spins that can be re-triggered), the Chest Bonus feature (you keep opening chests until you win all the prizes before the chests close and you can win up to 15 times your stake) and the Trail Bonus feature (you take steps to the prize map and you can win up to 100 times your stake).
Prosperity Twin
Prosperity Twin is a five-reel Asian Slots game with 243 ways to win and an RTP ranging from 95.45 to 96.29 percent.
It allows you to play both ways and all you have to do is look out for the Scatter symbols, as they will trigger the Free Spins feature, where you can get eight to 28 free spins.
Shaolin Spin
Shaolin Spin is also a five-reel Asian Slots machine with 243 ways to win. It has a Scatter symbol that activates the Free Spins feature.
During it, you can get 10 to 20 free spins, during which all your wins will be trebled by a 3x multiplier.
There aren’t any more features, but the existing ones definitely make this Slot worth your time.
Panda Pow
Panda Pow is yet another one of the very popular Asian Slots, mainly because of the lovely panda symbols featured in the game.
It has five reels and 25 paylines, and only one Bonus feature, which is Free Spins. The Panda symbol that acts both as the Wild and the Scatter triggers the Bonus feature and can get you five to 20 free spins.
Additionally, five or more Pandas during the Free Spins feature can get you up to 40 more free spins.
The Great Ming Empire
Japanese Themed Slot Machines
This five-reel, five-payline Asian Slots game has an RTP of 96.15 percent and it comes with only one Bonus feature – The Treasure Room Bonus.
It’s activated by three or more of the same Scatter symbols (there are three different Scatters) .
Satsumo’s Revenge
Satsumo’s Revenge is an interesting Asian Slots machine game with cartoon-style graphics, five reels, and 25 paylines.
Chinese Themed Slot Machines
It features two bonus rounds: the Shuriken Wilds feature, where you have a chance of turning up to three reels fully wild and boosting the payouts wins with a 2x or 3x multiplier, and the fun Fighting Free Games feature, where you choose a fighter and play several rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors, getting lots of free spins.