Regal Riches and Prosperity Pearl

Introduction

Regal Riches and Prosperity Pearl are two slot machines that fundamentally operate the same, differing only in names and symbols. Both are produced by Unity, which operates under the IGT umbrella. Essentially, they are different skins of the same underlying game. A notable feature of these machines is that when players acquire a wild symbol, they can utilize it immediately, and it will also be saved for future spins or bonuses. If enough wilds are accumulated for future use, the odds will often tilt in favor of the player. A savvy player will seize the opportunity to engage in such a game when in a favorable position and continue playing until all banked wilds are consumed.

Rules

1. Players need to wager 75 credits for each spin they make. They have the flexibility to determine the monetary value of each credit, which usually ranges between 1 to 5 cents. This means total bets can come to $0.75, $1.50, $2.25, $3.00, or $3.75 depending on their preference.
2. Each wagering level operates as an independent game, complete with its own pool of wild symbols (detailed below).
3. The game features five spinning reels and presents four columns that are visible during gameplay.
4. The player always plays 30 paylines.
5. All winning combinations must align starting from the leftmost side of the screen.
6. Excluding wild symbols, the game showcases nine distinct line pay symbols. In Regal Riches, these comprise a shield, crown, ring, cup, horn, lyre, and the card symbols A, K, Q, and J.
7. Wild symbols in the game come in four different colors: blue, green, purple, and yellow.
8. In the initial rounds, when a player obtains a wild, it is effective for that moment, and the meter for that wild color increases accordingly.
9. There are established minimum and maximum values for counters associated with all four wild colors. Below are the specific ranges for these counters, extending from reset values up to the must-hit-by point.
   • Blue: 5 to 50
   • Purple: 30 to 75
   • Green: 40 to 100
   • Yellow: 50 to 125
10. During each initial spin, there’s a chance that the Blue wild feature may activate randomly. If this occurs, the number of wilds stored in the Blue bank will be randomly spread across the screen prior to the reels coming to a halt.
11. Any given spot on the screen can feature as many as five wilds. If a position lands two or more wilds, it awards a multiplier equivalent to the total wilds present there for any corresponding wins.
12. Once the reels cease spinning and results are calculated, the Blue wild counter resets back to five.
13. The likelihood of triggering the Blue wild feature increases with the number of Blue wilds accumulated in the meter, reaching a certainty of 100% once there are 50 Blue wilds.
14. Whenever a winning combination includes at least one wild, the total win amount will be multiplied by the count of wilds involved in that win.
15. "Free Games\" symbols can be found on reels 1 to 5. If a player lines up two of these symbols on reels 1 to 4 and adds another on reel 5, they will enter the bonus game. The rules do not clarify what occurs if players manage to achieve three or four wilds within the first four reels, which may indicate a potential design flaw in the game's programming.
16. The Free Games symbol appearing on reel 5 can appear in green, purple, or yellow hues.
17. When the bonus is activated, it consists of ten free spins. Notably, this bonus cannot be retriggered.
18. The free spins utilize a different set of reel strips.
19. When a player activates the bonus, the color of the Free Games symbol on reel 5 dictates which wild symbol bank will be applied during the bonus round. For instance, if a player initiates the bonus with a Green wild symbol, they will benefit from all wilds contained in the Green bank.
20. The game randomly distributes the accumulated wilds across the ten free spins.
21. Similar to the Blue wild feature, a single position can also accumulate up to five wilds during the bonus.
22. After the conclusion of a bonus round, the counter for the color associated with that bonus will reset according to the specifications outlined in rule 7.
23. A higher number of wilds available in the purple, green, or yellow banks boosts the likelihood of winning the bonus.
24. If any bank reaches or surpasses its maximum threshold, the bonus will commence immediately.

The pay table is below.

If any of these regulations are unclear, you are encouraged to explore the detailed rule pages for clarification. Click any image for a larger view.

Strategy

The abundance of wilds in the meters correlates with a higher expected return. The pressing inquiry remains: at what point do these wilds provide a tangible advantage to the player?

To put it succinctly, I cannot provide a definitive answer. However, I have gathered insights from various players who focus on machine advantages. While they may not all agree precisely, they generally converge on similar breakeven thresholds.

With that said, I offer my recommendations regarding the minimum number of wilds necessary to engage in play. Specifically, you should consider participating if any of these wild counters meet or exceed the quantities specified below.

• Blue Meter — 8. Seven is borderline.
• Purple Meter — 56.
• Green Meter — 81.
• Yellow Meter — 106.

If one or more of the wild meters falls into a gray area regarding playability, assess the other counters as well.

Keep in mind that each betting level constitutes a separate game, each with diverse wild banks. It is prudent to evaluate all available options.

For upscale casinos that may feature less generous slots, you should maintain higher standards for when to engage in play. This guidance applies to ALL slot machines.

Take this advice cautiously. I recommend gaining personal experience with the game and exchanging insights with other advantage players.

External Links

• Discussion You can discuss Regal Riches on my forum at Wizard of Vegas.
• Regal Riches: An Intricate IGT Game Accompanied by Bonus Meters article at Know Your Slots.

Written by: Michael Shackleford