Golden Ticket 2

Golden Ticket 2 Slot Review

Slot Provider: Play n Go

RTP: 96.5% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 5,000x

Our Score: 8.0

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About Golden Ticket 2

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 7th September 2020

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

Golden Ticket 2 by Play n Go is the 2002 sequel to the original Golden Ticket circus slot released in 2014. It plays out on a 5×5 grid with 20 paylines and a maximum win of 5,000x. It is a significant evolution from the original game with more intricate features and a more volatile maths model.

Avalanche wins are a key part of the gameplay, helping to fill a meter which releases wild multipliers onto the grid. There is also a free spins round with up to 9 spins, 3x multipliers and guaranteed Win Spins. Clear the grid at any time for 500x bonus payout!

Golden Ticket 2 Game Information

  • RTP: 96.50% | 94.50% | 91.50% | 87.50% | 84.50%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 5,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 5
  • Paylines: 20
  • Minimum Stake: £0.20
  • Theme: Party
  • Features: Free Spins, Multiplier Wilds, Tumbling Reels and Win Spins

Golden Ticket 2 Review Scores

  • Gameplay and Features 8
  • Maximum Win 7
  • Theme and Design 9
  • Paytable 8
  • RTP and Variance 8

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A fun slot with plenty of action on every spin where the circus theme is reflected in the mayhem on the reels and the unpredictable nature of the gameplay."

Our Score: 8.0

Golden Ticket 2 Pros and Cons

What We Liked

  • Fun theme with eventful gameplay
  • 500x win for those who clear the grid
  • Choice of THREE free spins set ups
  • 2x2 multiplier wilds in bonus game
  • Great atmosphere and graphics

What We Didn't like

  • Top win could be higher

Theme & Design

Our Score 9

Lots To Take In With Lots of Fun Animations and A Busy Soundtrack 

Play n Go have really gone to town on this slot and it looks and sounds fantastic. Whilst the original had great visuals too, this one has more razzmatazz, animations and explosions to fit with the equally frenetic gameplay. The circus soundtrack is also more exciting in my opinion, building in speed and volume as you hit more features.

Golden Ticket 2 by Play n Go
Golden Ticket 2 – lots of circus razzmatazz

In keeping with the circus theme, your eyes are drawn this way and that as events unfold. As the screen shot shows, the backdrop is a circus ring, illustrated in great detail. To the right you will see a circus performer – it will change after random spins from the clown to the juggler and the ringmaster. To the left is a meter that fills up and releases wild multipliers as described in our review. Meanwhile, stardust falls and the crowd whoops and whistles to invoke the atmosphere of a real circus. Top stuff!

RTP and Variance

Our Score 8

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

Golden Ticket 2 has 5 available RTP settings – 96.5%, 94.5%, 91.5%, 87.5% or 84.5%.  Whilst most slot sites will run the game at one of the highest settings – usually 96.5% or 94.5% – some choose a lower option. So, it is worth checking the game info screen before you start spending your money. I verified the RTP at several sites we use for testing and found it to be running at 96.5% at MrQ (Lindar Media) and Barz Casino (White Hat Gaming).

This sequel is also a high variance slot, much more volatile than the original which was medium variance. That means an uneven win distribution but potentially lucrative sequences when wild multipliers and free spins combine. If you enjoy this type of volatility then you should also try Shamrock Miner, Boat Bonanza or Hooligan Hustle, also by Play n Go.

Maximum Win

Our Score 7

What Is Maximum Win?

Maximum win refers to the maximum amount a player can win from one spin. It is expressed as a multiple of the stake. For example, where the maximum win is 100,000x, from a £1 stake, the maximum win would be £100,000.  

The top win here is 5,000x. Whilst this is OK, there is much bigger potential in other games form Play n Go. I also recommend Kiss Reels of Rock (50,000x), The Last Sundown (36,000x) or Raging Rex 2 (30,000x).

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

Golden Ticket 2 is a grid game with 5 reels and 5 rows where wins are triggered by landing 3 or more identical symbols in a row horizontally or vertically.

Golden Ticket 2 Paytable
The paytable with a 50x payout for 5 Circus Tent Wilds

There are 9 pay symbols in total. The low payers are the circus props – unicycle, jugglers props, throwing knives, juggling knives and ringmaster props. These are valued at from 0.1x for 3 of the unicycles up to 4x for 5 of the ringmaster props. The premiums value symbols are the clown, magician and ringmaster valued at from 0.5x for 3 clowns up to 10x for 5 ringmasters. What I like about this game is that you can also score a payout of 0.25x, 0.5x or 5x for a MIX of 3, 4 or 5 of any of the 3 premiums.

Look out as well for the circus tent that is the wild. Not only does it substitute for pay symbols to complete paylines but it also pays out at 1x, 3x or 50x for 3, 4 or 5 on a line.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

Golden Ticket 2 is a significant upgrade on the original when it comes to features with lots of opportunities to unlock higher value potential. If you are looking to win big, these will help you.

Clear the Board With Avalanche Wins To Earn 500x!

First up, every win is followed by an avalanche – winning symbols are removed and existing symbols drop down to fill the spaces. Unlike other Avalanche Wins games, here new symbols DO NOT drop in at this point. Instead, you just keep clearing more symbols with each drop. Clearing the entire grid gets you a 500x prize! You can find a similar feature in ELK Studios Dreamzone slot.

Also, with each avalanche a progressive multiplier increases by 1x, just like in games like Gonzo’s Quest or Bonanza (Free Spins Round). In this way the win for clearing the board can be as high as 5,000x!

Add Multiplier Wilds by Completing the Wilds Meter

Look for the Wilds Meter to the left of the grid. Any win with premiums will contribute to filling this. Wins with 3, 4 or 5 symbols add to the first, second of third segment in the meter. Once filled, 1 or 2 multiplier wilds are dropped onto the grid to help trigger wins.

Wild Meter Filled By Premium Symbol Wins
The wild meter filling up in testing after a premium symbol win

Which value multiplier you get depends on who appears to the right of the grid.

The ringmaster will award the highest value multiplier so look to unlock this feature when she is overseeing the action.

Clear The ‘Bonus Row’ to Unlock THREE Free Spins Options With Variable Volatility

One row of the grid always has the word ‘BONUS’ printed behind it – it could be any as the word moves up and down with each spin. To enter free spins you will need to clear this row of the grid completely with avalanches. You have a choice of THREE configurations which give less spins but higher multipliers or vice versa. These are your options:

  • 5 spins with high variance and 3x multiplier
  • 7 spins with medium variance and 2x multiplier
  • 9 spins with low variance and 1x multiplier
The Bonus Row in Golden Ticket 2
The Bonus Row moves up and down with each spin

The win meter is still significant here – filling it will get you a GUARANTEED win spin with a super-sized 2×2 symbol. Remember, with avalanches it will remain until it forms part of a win so it’s a useful addition.

Finally, re-filling the win meter will unlock ANOTHER win-spin and the win multiplier DOES NOT re-set for the new spin.

The Final Verdict

Our Score 8.0

Golden Ticket 2 is an exciting slot with lots going on in almost every spin of the game. At first it can seem overwhelming due to the changes in configuration– the bonus row moving, the circus character changing, the avalanches and the wild meter – but once you understand what is happening its better for it. Whilst the free spins round is tough to get to, the choice of configuration and volatility makes it interesting. Personally, I would pick the higher multiplier, but that is your choice should you get there. I also like the idea in this slot that clearing the grid at any time can get you that 500x bonus prize. That adds some nice jeopardy to any spin.

Is there anything I didn’t like? 5,000x top win is an improvement on the original of 1,000x but it is still far short of some of the prizes you can win in other slots from the same provider. But if you can live with that then Golden Ticket 2 is an excellent choice for your next slot.

Boom or Bust? 200 Spins On Golden Ticket 2

To give you an accurate and honest assessment of the games we review our writers play 200 spins. Whilst this is a useful tool to help us review games and to give an example of what might happen when you play, keep in mind that 200 spins is only a very small sample and cannot be used to accurately predict what might happen over another 200 spins. The outcome of all slots play is always random.

I played 250 spins on Golden Ticket 2 for real money at Duelz Casino to test the game and this is what happened.

  • Stake Size: £0.2
  • Start balance: £51.15
  • End balance: £28.65
  • Biggest Win: 16x
  • Free Spins: 0
  • Session Time: 21 minutes 27 seconds

In an effort to unlock the free spins round I extended the normal 200 spins test session to 250 spins but still couldn’t do it. Whilst this is an indicator of how volatile this game is, it’s not totally unusual. It can sometimes take 300 spins or more to trigger the bonus in high variance games. Despite not getting lucky with a bonus feature the base game was still entertaining. I quickly got into the rhythm of each sequence of Avalanche wins where the focus is on trying to fill the meter and add multiplier wilds. The wins weren’t huge – maxing out at just 16x – but its easy to see how on another day Golden Ticket 2 could deliver some spectacular payouts.

A Big Win Is Triggered
A 16x win was the biggest that landed in testing

Useful Tips When Playing Golden Ticket 2

Remember, online slots are games of chance, there is NO strategy that can improve your odds of winning. However, reading our review and following these tips will help you get the most out of your time playing this slot game.

1. Play In Demo Mode Before Spending Your Money

This is one of those games that can feel quite confusing when you first play because of all the avalanches,  animations and moving bonus rows. That is why it is worth learning the game in demo mode before spending your money.

2. Choose A Sensible Stake

As my test session of 250 spins showed, it can take time to unlock the free spins feature or any big wins due to the high volatility. That is why I recommend playing at a low stake to make your balance last whilst you try.

3. Watch Out For Premium Symbol Wins

These are the key to extending your win sequence. When premium symbol wins occur you boost your Wild Meter to trigger extra wilds and multipliers. These were critical in helping me get my best wins.

4. Only Play At Recommended UK Slot Sites

We recommend the sites on this page because they are licensed by the UK Gambling Commission which means they have been audited to ensure they offer safe, fair and secure gambling and provide Responsible Gambling Tools to help manage your spend.

Who Made Golden Ticket 2?

  • Name: Play n Go
  • Established: 1997
  • UK License: Remote 021725-R-304911-020
  • Total Games: 200 +
  • Known For: Grid slots, high variance slots, huge range of themes, styles and maths models
  • Popular Slots: Book of Dead, Reactoonz 1 and 2, Troll Hunters 2, Rise of Olympus
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