Smugglers Cove

Smugglers Cove Slot Review

Slot Provider: Pragmatic Play

RTP: 96.5% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 10,000x

Our Score: 7.4

Play at Casumo Casino
QUICK LINKS: Game Information | Where To Play | Full Review | Tips For Players | About The Developer

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About Smugglers Cove

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 4th November 2021

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.

Smuggler’s Cove is a simple 5 reel pirate-style slot from Pragmatic Play with a 10,000x maximum win and a high variance. Alongside high value pay symbols the game’s highlight is a Treasure Bonus feature where landing 5 or more gold coins anywhere on the reels triggers extra wins of up to 1,000x. This Scatter Pays feature is repeated in the free spins round where up to 20 free plays are awarded with an enhanced Treasure Bonus feature with a 10,000x maximum payout. Spins start at 20p.

Smugglers Cove Game Information

  • Release Date: December 2021
  • RTP: 96.50% | 95.50% | 94.50%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 10,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 3
  • Paylines: 20
  • Minimum Stake: £0.20
  • Theme: Pirates
  • Features: Free Spins, Instant Win Treasure Bonus

What We Liked

  • High value across the paytable incl. up to 100x for premiums
  • Bright, colorful and optimistic production
  • Wilds pay out 100x for 5 on a line
  • Big 10,000x top payout in free spins round
  • Pays for 3 coins in the free spins round too

What We Didn't like

  • Very basic gameplay can get boring

Smugglers Cove Review Scores

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

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A very basic pirate slot with very limited features but redeemed by high values in the paytable and the Scatter Pays Treasure Bonus feature"

Overall Score: 7.4

Theme & Design

Our Score 7

Set Sail On The High Seas As You Treasure Hunt With Smugglers Cove

Smuggler’s Cove goes for a bright and upbeat production with primary colors everywhere, including bright blue skies and seas, and all in a cartoon illustration style. Elsewhere you’ll see a few handsome buccaneers looking fetching in blue, red and green outfits, along with bright gold coins and skull and crossbones on the reels. The soundtrack has an optimistic upbeat feel, the perfect backdrop to heading out into the blue yonder in search of treasures. There’s nothing particularly original about it, but it certainly sets the scene nicely for your spins.

Smugglers Cove by Pragmatic Play
Smugglers Cove – bright and colorful production with an upbeat soundtrack

RTP and Variance

Our Score 7

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.

Smugglers Cove has 3 available RTP settings – 96.5%, 95.5% or 94.5%. Which you play at will be at the discretion of your slot site. You can check the RTP setting in the game by clicking the ‘I’ link in the bottom left corner of the screen and scrolling through until you see Return to Player.

This is also a high variance slot – rated 5/5 by Pragmatic Play themselves – so it will be unpredictable though it is capable of kicking out some big wins thanks to those high value paytable symbols and the Treasure Bonus described below.

Maximum Win

Our Score 8

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 maximum payout is 10,000x which is far short of that in Pragmatic Play’s highest paying slots but still a very competitive potential up there with similar games like Eye of the Storm (10,000x) and Gates of Valhalla (10,000x).

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 8

The High Paytable Values Are A Highlight Of The Paytable

This is a 5-reel slot with 3 rows and 20 fixed paylines. You will need to land 3 or more identical symbols on the reels from left to right, starting at the left most reel.

Smuggler's Cove Paytable
Paytable with 100x payouts for 5 green smugglers

Its notable that the paytable has really good value in it. There are 8 symbols. The low value ones are the card suits, spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds. These are valued at from 0.4x for 3 diamonds up to 2.5x for 5 spades. The premiums are the four smuggler characters – in brown, blue, red and green. These are valued at from 0.5x for 3 brown up to 100x for 5 greens.

There is also a Wild symbol that looks like a gold coin. It will substitute for any other pay symbol to complete paylines and is valued at 5x, 10x or 100x for 3, 4 or 5 on a line.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 7

As far as gameplay goes, Smuggler’s Cove has an interesting mix of Scatter Pays and Free Spins to liven up your gameplay. In particular, the Scatter Pays feature, called Treasure Bonus, has some great value in it.

5 Or More Coins Unlocks The Treasure Bonus

The Coin Symbol is easy to spot – it’s a gold coin! They land anywhere and everywhere and if 5 or more drop on one spin then you are awarded an instant prize as follows:

  • 5 coins – 1x win
  • 6 coins – 2x win
  • 7 coins – 5x win
  • 8 coins – 20x win
  • 9 coins – 50x win
  • 10 coins – 100x win
  • 11 coins – 100x win
  • 12 coins – 500x win
  • 13 coins – 500x win
  • 14 coins – 500x win
  • 15 coins – 1,000x win

To help here, Super Wild Coins and Super Coins come into play. These land only on reel 5. The Super Wild Coin is a wild so it will substitute for all other symbols to complete wins, but it comes with a multiplier too of 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x. This multiplier ONLY applies to the win from a Treasure Bonus.

A Treasure Bonus Win With 5 Coins
A win with 5 coins for 1x in testing

The Super Coin behaves in the same way, but it doesn’t have Wild properties. In other words, it only comes with a multiplier to be applied to any win from the Treasure Bonus.

Free Spins With Enhanced Treasure Bonus Values

The free spins feature is simple. You just need to land 3 or more Bonus Symbols to unlock it. Then, you will be credited with a randomly chosen number of free spins – 8, 10, 12, 15 or 20.

Wheel Spin For Free Spins in Smugglers Cove
A spin of the ships wheel decides how many spins you get

The difference now is that you only need THREE Coin Symbols to drop on one spin to unlock a Treasure Bonus. And the awards are MUCH bigger!

  • 3 coins – 1x win
  • 4 coins – 2x win
  • 5 coins – 5x win
  • 6 coins – 20x win
  • 7 coins – 50x win
  • 8 coins – 100x win
  • 9 coins – 500x win
  • 10 coins – 1,000x win
  • 11 coins – 1,000x win
  • 12 coins – 2,500x win
  • 13 coins – 2,500x win
  • 14 coins – 2,500x win
  • 15 coins – 10,000x win

Unfortunately, Super Coins are NOT valid during free spins, but you can trigger 8 more spins by landing 3 Bonus symbols again.

The Final Verdict

Not every slot game needs to be a super-complex Nolimit City feature fest. And if you enjoy your slots with simple gameplay that is easy to follow then Smuggler’s Cove is a great option for you. The bold and upbeat production in this game is matched by very bold paytable values and instant wins from the Treasure Bonus. And that is all you need to know to enjoy it. The downside is, the buzz may wear off quite quickly as the action is relentlessly same-y. But for a quick hit and the chance to land a top value prize, Smuggler’s Cove ticks all the boxes.

Useful Tips When Playing Smugglers Cove

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. Look Out For Super Wild Coins

Perhaps the most powerful symbol on the reels is the Super Wild Coin. They land ONLY on reel 5 to help complete standard paylines AND Treasure Bonus wins. That can’t be bad!

2. Check The RTP Before You Spin

With 3 available RTPs you want to make sure you choose a slot site where the game is running at the maximum rate. Do this by checking the game info screen (‘i’ button, bottom left). It it says less than 96.5%, go elsewhere!

3. Remember, Wilds Have Pay Value Too

Another powerful part of this game is the standard Wild. Don’t forget, you’ll score wins when 3 or more of these land on a line too – up to 100x in fact! That’s a result when it happens!

 

4. Only Play At Licensed UK Slot Sites

I recommend only playing at licensed UK slot sites like the ones on this page. These operate under strict UK laws to ensure that slots play is always fair, safe and secure. Never play at unlicensed sites.

Who Made Smugglers Cove?

  • Name: Pragmatic Play
  • Established: 2015
  • UK License: Remote 046683-R-325951-014
  • Total Games: 500 +
  • Known For: Wide range of themes and styles, live casino including gameshow formats, and bingo
  • Popular Slots: Fruit Party, Dog House Megaways, Big Bass Bonanza, Release the Kraken
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