Monopoly Heights (Bally): Overview

Monopoly Heights is the newest entry in the ever-growing Monopoly franchise, which shows no signs of slowing down. Just how many slots now feature Mr Monopoly, aka Rich Uncle Pennybags? Plenty, we’d bet, which is great news if you love the board game. If you don’t, is there still enough here to hold your attention? Possibly—if you’re in the right frame of mind.

The moment the game starts loading, you immediately know what you’re getting. That sense of familiarity is strangely reassuring, even if you’re not especially into the board game. The action takes place downtown, with the grid surrounded by tall buildings and skyscrapers, and the sights and symbols lifted straight from the physical version. It’s also worth turning the sound on, at least at first. A bright Charleston-style melody plays, evoking the swinging 20s—when the city was buzzing, cocktails were flowing, and everyone was chasing a good time. It’s an ideal setting for a slot focused on property, investing, and money.

In terms of betting, high rollers are looked after with €100 per spin, while more relaxed play starts at just 25 cents per spin. The win rate is decent thanks to an RTP rating of 95.85%, though it sits a little below the industry norm, and there are several extras that broaden what the game can do. Symbol values are on the low side, with the community chest, J, Q, K and A paying 0.04x – 0.36x. Mid-tier symbols include free parking, a diamond ring, and coins, paying 0.20x – 0.60x. At the top end, Mr Monopoly, Monopoly Heights, and Diamond require only two or more to pay 0.24x – 1x the stake. So yes, the payouts are pretty modest, but the added features do a lot to rescue what might otherwise have been a complete misfire.

Monopoly Heights (Bally): Features

The first added mechanic is the Wild Dice, although it doesn’t appear especially often. It can land on reels 2-5 and substitutes for any of the paying symbols.

The most frequently seen extra is the Expanding Reels feature starring Mr Monopoly himself. When he lands as part of a winning combination, he jumps in and strikes the roof with his cane. This adds an extra reel while the symbols lock in place, and if additional Mr Monopoly symbols land in a winning way, he hits the roof again to add another level. The sequence can grow to a maximum of 8 reels total, boosting the win ways from 1,024 at the base level up to an impressive 32,768 ways to win.

If you want a shot at one of the four Jackpots, you’ll be hoping for the hotel symbols. They’re not common, though, because a single one can trigger the bonus game, while two hotels ensure it starts. The game then shifts into a pick-and-reveal bonus where players select face-down cards showing four different icons. Each icon corresponds to one of the jackpots, and once enough matching icons appear, the relevant prize is paid. There are four fixed jackpots available – the Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand jackpots worth 10x, 25x, 125x, and 2,500x respectively.

Monopoly Heights (Bally): Verdict

For a lot of players, Monopoly Heights may end up as one of those slots you play, enjoy for a bit, and then move on from. It’s a mild, easygoing game, with a fairly high payout frequency that keeps the spins flowing. If you manage to land a hotel or two, that’s a nice bonus, but it’s not really the kind of title dedicated jackpot chasers will actively hunt down. Still, Bally deserves credit for delivering a slot that remains extremely faithful to the feel of the original board game.

So what might bring someone back? One factor is the win rate, which seems tied to a low rather volatility level. Another is the Expanding Reels Feature. Rich Uncle Pennybags and his magical cane step in often enough to keep things engaging. Like passing go, you never quite know what’s about to happen next. That said, there are also some significant negatives that, for us at least, are deal-breakers: the low potential feels underwhelming, the below industry-standard RTP is hard to accept, and the painfully slow Expanding Reels animation is genuinely irritating. These issues are too distracting, and the overall gameplay isn’t compelling enough to keep us coming back.

If you want to experience the ultimate Monopoly video slot, we suggest you try Monopoly Megaways from Australian game developer Big Time Gaming.