Slingo Deal or No Deal

Introduction

What do you get when you cross Deal or No Deal When combined with Bingo, you have Slingo Deal or No Deal. This thrilling game relies heavily on chance, and each round lasts approximately 1.75 minutes before the first opportunity to cash out arises. Be cautious; the game's enticing nature might lead you to chase after more spins, which can quickly become costly.

Rules

While the game's rules may seem complex at first glance, learning to play is relatively straightforward. To grasp the mechanics better, you might want to check out the video I’ve provided below.

1. The game begins with the player placing a wager. At DraftKings, you can select a betting amount ranging from $1 to $100.
2. Following the bet, the player is prompted to select one out of 26 cases.
3. A game board then appears featuring 25 cases arranged in a 5x5 grid. Similar to American bingo, each column contains five randomly selected numbers chosen from a specific range without any repeats. The first column includes numbers from 1 to 15, the second goes from 16 to 30, the third covers 31 to 45, the fourth spans 46 to 60, and the last column presents numbers from 61 to 75. Notably, there’s no free space on the board.
4. After the player's selection, 26 potential prizes are randomly allocated across the 26 cases—25 on the main board and one in the player's chosen case.
5. During the game, for each turn, a number or a special symbol is drawn from each of the five columns.
6. If a drawn number corresponds to a suitcase on the board, that suitcase opens to reveal the prize hidden inside. Prizes still in play are displayed alongside the suitcase array.
7. Here are the special symbols that might appear:
   • Joker (with red hat) — This symbol allows the player to open any case in the column where the joker is present, provided not all cases in that column are already open.
   • Super Joker (with green hat) — If this symbol appears, it grants the player the freedom to open any case on the board.
   • Free Spin — The player gets a free spin.
   • Devil — This symbol acts as a blocker, meaning no number is drawn for that column.
8. The game begins with ten free spins.
9. After the player utilizes all ten complimentary spins, plus any additional spins gained, the game transitions to a new phase. In this phase, the player must purchase each extra spin (unless they acquired a free spin in the previous round) or choose to exit the game.
10. In this second phase, after each turn, if the player has covered four lines or more, they face the choice between accepting an offer from the banker to cash out their case or opening their case to claim the amount inside.
11. Once the player has covered at least four lines, the banker recalculates their offer after each turn if at least one case has been opened.
12. Banker offers are determined to be 95% of the average value of remaining prizes in the cases.
13. It is vital to note that a player must cover a minimum of four lines in order to leave the game with any winnings. Often, players will deplete their free spins before achieving the required four lines, which then forces them to pay more to continue or exit without winnings.
14. If the player successfully covers five lines, the prize amounts will be multiplied accordingly. Below is a list detailing the multipliers based on how many lines are marked.
    • 0 to 4 lines — 1x
    • 5 lines — 2x
    • 6 lines — 3x
    • 7 lines — 4x
    • 8 lines — 5x
    • 9 lines — 6x
    • 10 lines — 7x
    • 12 lines — 20x

If any parts of the rules are unclear, I've included images of the rule screens. Click on any of them for a larger view.

Analysis

The help screens indicate that the RTP (Return to Player) stands at 95% for all bets placed. This encompasses the initial bet, any banker deal accepted, and charges for extra spins. I firmly believe this figure is accurate. Without knowing the odds for the jokers, devil's, or free spins, it would be challenging for me to analyze the game effectively.

Strategy

In terms of enhancing your expected return—the ratio of winnings to bets—the only significant strategy revolves around choosing which suitcases to open in conjunction with jokers. Here’s a general approach I recommend:

• The optimal suitcase to open is the one in the center, as it intersects with four lines.
• Next best are the diagonal suitcases, excluding the center, since they cover three lines.
• If none of the diagonal suitcases are available, simply choose any other suitcase.

However, there will frequently be multiple suitcase options fitting the same criteria. In such cases, I advise attempting to balance the number of cases opened from each column. This is crucial because a joker (with a red hat) won't benefit you if all cases in that column have already been opened.

Also, be conscious of managing your losses over time. On an initial bet, players have about 1.5 to 2 minutes of gameplay before they’re presented with an opportunity to exit, depending on their pace. After this initial phase, the costs can escalate quickly, especially with substantial prizes still on the line. For instance, in my first video game session below, I began with a $1 bet and ended up wagering $214.89 by the conclusion of the game. Keep in mind that every additional wager holds a house edge of 5%, which translates to an inflated cost for additional spins by 4.76%.

In summary, once you’ve covered four lines and receive a banker offer, I suggest turning down the offer and opting to reveal what’s inside your case. Typically, you’ll need to purchase some free spins before reaching that point, which underscores the importance of effective suitcase selection. The faster you complete four lines, the fewer free spins you will need to buy in the meantime.

Video

I believe illustrating this game through examples is more effective than a mere verbal explanation. That’s why I’ve created this video for you.

Other Versions

Slingo Fortunes appears to mirror this game but is themed around Asian motifs.

Slingo Reveal shares similarities with Slingo Deal or No Deal and Slingo Fortunes. Here are the primary distinctions:

1. There are no associated prizes linked to the numbers/cases on the playing field.
2. When the player fills a line, one of several symbols will be revealed: Cherry, orange, watermelon, plum, seven, diamond.
3. If the player gathers three of the same symbol, they'll win multipliers based on their initial bet amount:
   • Three bars — 100x
   • Three sevens — 20x
   • Three plums — 5x
   • Three watermelons — 2x
   • Three oranges — 1x
   • Three cherries — 0.5x
4. The player does not need to make a choice when they receive a joker; the game automatically decides a number for them. How this decision is made remains unclear to me.

External Links

• DraftKings — Here, you can try Slingo Deal or No Deal in a demo mode for free.
• Wizard of Vegas — A forum for discussing Slingo Deal or No Deal.

Written by: Michael Shackleford