What makes Buffalo King different
Buffalo King is a 6-reel, 4,096-ways pokie by Pragmatic Play, released in 2019. It features one of the highest theoretical maximum wins among Pragmatic Play’s non-jackpot titles (93,750x stake) through a free spins mechanic where entire reels can turn Wild based on the number of scatters that triggered the round.
4,096 ways and stacked Wilds
The 4×4×4×4×4×4 reel structure provides 4,096 ways to win. Stacked Wild symbols appear on reels 2 through 6, meaning entire columns of Wilds can land, covering all positions on that reel and contributing to every possible way-win crossing it.
Free Spins with extra Wild reels
Four or more Scatter symbols (the Buffalo) trigger free spins. The number of spins and extra Wild reels depends on how many scatters land:
- 4 scatters: 8 free spins, 1 extra Wild reel
- 5 scatters: 14 free spins, 2 extra Wild reels
- 6 scatters: 20 free spins, 3 extra Wild reels
Extra Wild reels turn an entire reel into a permanent Wild for the duration of free spins. With three extra Wild reels plus naturally landing stacked Wilds, the majority of the 4,096 ways can be covered in Wild symbols simultaneously.
Landing 4+ scatters during free spins adds the corresponding spins and Wild reels to the current count.
Why the maximum win is so high
The combination of 4,096 ways, multiple full Wild reels, and the top-paying Buffalo symbol on the remaining reels produces the 93,750x ceiling. This requires maximum scatters triggering free spins plus optimal symbol placement — it is a statistical extreme.
RTP and volatility
Pragmatic Play publishes 96.06% RTP. Buffalo King is high-volatility with one of the higher maximum wins in the Pragmatic Play catalogue. Base game sessions rely on stacked Wild hits for significant wins; free spins with multiple Wild reels are where the ceiling is reachable.
What it costs per hour
At NZ$0.50 per spin and 400 spins per hour: NZ$200 wagered × 3.94% house edge = approximately NZ$7.90 expected loss per hour.
### Q: What is the minimum number of scatters to trigger free spins?
A: Four scatter symbols are required to trigger free spins. Three scatters do not trigger the feature — unlike many other pokies where 3 scatters are sufficient. The higher scatter requirement is offset by the higher reward (extra Wild reels) for landing 4, 5, or 6 scatters.
### Q: Are the extra Wild reels active on every free spin?
A: Yes. Extra Wild reels remain active for the entire duration of the free spins round. They do not expire after a single spin. If more scatters land during free spins, additional Wild reels are added and remain for the rest of the round.
### Q: How does Buffalo King compare to Wolf Gold?
A: Both are Pragmatic Play wildlife-themed pokies with free spins bonus rounds. Wolf Gold uses a Money Respin jackpot mechanic and 25 fixed paylines. Buffalo King uses 4,096 ways and permanent Wild reels during free spins, with a dramatically higher maximum win (93,750x vs 2,500x). Buffalo King is significantly more volatile.
Playing Buffalo King at NZ casinos
Buffalo King returns 96.06% over the long run — well above the 78% minimum return required at NZ land-based pokies venues. At the NZ$0.25 minimum bet, the 3.94% house edge produces an expected hourly loss of approximately NZ$3.94 at 400 spins. At the NZ$125 maximum bet that rises to approximately NZ$1,970. The 4,096-ways structure evaluates a large number of symbol combinations on every spin, and stacked Wild symbols can cover entire reels, generating substantial base game wins when they align across multiple adjacent reels.
High volatility in Buffalo King is concentrated in the free spins mechanic. The requirement for four or more scatters to trigger (compared to the standard three in most pokies) means the base game scatter trigger is less frequent, and the majority of sessions involve extended base game runs before the bonus activates. When the trigger does occur, the number of scatters determines the number of extra Wild reels — up to three permanent Wild reels with six scatters — and this differential produces a wide range of free spins outcomes. Sessions with six scatters triggering and further scatters landing during the round to add Wild reels produce the game’s exceptional outcomes.
The 93,750x maximum win is one of the highest fixed-multiplier ceilings for a non-jackpot Pragmatic Play title. At NZ$0.25 per spin it represents NZ$23,437.50; at NZ$125 it represents NZ$11,718,750. These figures require full Wild reel coverage plus optimal symbol placement — an extreme statistical case. Expected hourly cost at the NZ$0.25 minimum is approximately NZ$3.94; at NZ$0.50 approximately NZ$7.88.
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Q: What is the RTP of Buffalo King?
A: Buffalo King has an RTP of 96.06%. This means for every NZ$100 wagered over many sessions, the game returns an average of NZ$96.06 to players and keeps NZ$3.94 as the house edge. At NZ$0.25 per spin and approximately 400 spins per hour, the expected hourly loss is approximately NZ$3.94. Check the in-game information panel at your specific casino to confirm the RTP setting in use — some casinos apply lower settings.
Q: Is Buffalo King available at NZ casinos?
A: Yes. Buffalo King by Pragmatic Play is available at reviewed NZ casinos on this site. Check individual casino reviews for the current game library — availability can change as operators update their game catalogues.
Q: What is the maximum win on Buffalo King?
A: The stated maximum win is 93,750x your stake. At NZ$0.25 per spin this would be NZ$23,437.50. Maximum win figures represent the theoretical ceiling under optimal conditions — they are statistical outliers that occur rarely across millions of spins, not typical session outcomes.