The Buffalo Slot Family Tree: How One Casino Classic Inspired a Wave of New Games
A full herd
Come on, who doesn’t love a Buffalo slot? With so many variants and options, there is always a game to choose from, whether you are a fan of physical machines or prefer your casino play in an online environment. But how did it become such a ubiquitous brand, and why does it still have such enormous appeal despite new game themes launching all the time in an attempt to rival it?
American gambling landscape
Before taking a deep dive, it is worth looking at the American casino gambling market as a whole, because it’s a complicated landscape. In such a fragmented market, it is amazing that one game (and its variants) has managed to gain such a foothold. The jewel in the crown is, undoubtedly, Las Vegas. It is the self-professed global capital of gambling and entertainment (although officially this title now belongs to Macau, but never let the truth get in the way of a strong narrative), with millions flocking there every year. While US residents love to play casino and gambling games, there is still a good deal of resistance to easy access in the majority of states.
Commercial (as opposed to tribal) casinos are still only available in 27 states, and six still do not allow any casino gambling. However, the total value of the gambling market is enormous, with a total economic impact of $326.6 billion, supporting 1.8 million jobs. Video gaming (slot machines) can also be played outside of casinos in retail and other licensed establishments in Illinois, Louisiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Georgia.
However, many people today want to play Buffalo slots (whether White, Grand, or King, to name a few variants) on their smartphones or other mobile devices. This is where things get more complicated, because only a handful of states allow real-money online casino gaming (also known as iGaming). If you reside in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Delaware, Rhode Island, or Michigan, then you are ‘good to go’. Maine residents will be able to play online for real money soon (probably not until 2027, though).
Finding slots everywhere
Fortunately, some entrepreneurial types have come up with alternative social and sweepstake casinos, which allow near-universal access for anyone who has reached the legal age for gambling. This means players can usually find a great choice of Buffalo slots online, no matter where they live. Independent review sites like Casino Guru are on hand to show which versions of the game are available where, and which US-facing casino libraries feature which of the multitude of Buffalo titles. They also let you know where you can play the titles for free and enter into tournaments where you can win real cash prizes.
The growth of the herd
Looking back to where it all started with Aristocrat’s iconic Buffalo slot machine. It has been a casino staple since 2008 and then launched online in 2012. It is loved for many reasons, but its native North American wildlife theme cannot be ignored as part of the appeal. Ironically, strictly speaking, the beasts that roam “Home on the Range” are not actually buffalo but bison (which are South Asian), but the terms are used so interchangeably these days, and Buffalo Slots definitely plays into American iconography.
The animal represents the rugged spirit of the American West and the “wilds,” and the game’s other volatile features build on that narrative. The thing that really set this game apart from the crowd was the Xtra Reel Power systems, which meant there were 1024 potential ways to win, “stampeding” it into the hearts of casino players around the globe. To date there have been well over 100 distinct Buffalo slot games developed, from the classics and sequels like Original Buffalo, Buffalo Deluxe, Buffalo Max, and Buffalo Wild to the massive hits like Buffalo Gold and Buffalo Gold Revolution.
Creative license
While Aristocrat might have been the first company to harness the power of the mighty buffalo, they are not alone. Design studios have cottoned on to the popularity and produced every possible gaming scenario, whether you are looking for Hold and Spin or Megaways gaming.
Booming Games offer their 5×3 reel Buffalo Hold and Win title where landing six gold coins triggers the respin feature; Playson’s Buffalo Power 2: Hold and Win has an Arizona desert theme with fixed paylines and bonus symbols that unlock a grand jackpot; Gaming’s Grand Buffalo Hold and Win features a coin respin round with localized jackpots.
Pragmatic Play’s Buffalo King Megaways is a massive title where six tumbling reels provide over 200,000 winning possibilities on a single spin. In addition, there are free spin wild multipliers. Playson’s Buffalo Power Megaways offers over 45,000 ways to win, which is also impressive.
Facing into the storm
Not to be outdone at their own game, Aristocrat has continued with their innovations – like the buffalos; they have not shied away from the challenge. Their recently released Buffalo Link is charging straight into the storm. A mash-up of everything good that came before, this game is designed to deliver two favorites in one experience. It combines the thrill of Hold & Spin with progressive prizes.
There is a grand jackpot to play for, which is available when 20 Buffalo symbols appear in a paid-for game or are collected at the end of a Hold & Spin feature. Buffalo Link also has classic Buffalo free games with Wild 2x or 3x multipliers and free game retriggers. To add to the excitement, there is a free “Must-Hit-By” mystery collection feature. They also announced that Buffalo Super Eclipse is the most recent edition to join the herd.
Free to roam
Buffalo theming has stood the test of time, and nearly every major software provider has this magnificent beast in their repertoire. The choice is yours – where will you roam? Like a real herd of buffalo, the pack is made up of individuals.