Vending Machine

Vending Machine Slot Review

Slot Provider: Hacksaw Gaming

RTP: 96.28% | Variance: Medium | Maximum Win: 5,000x

Our Score: 7.8

Play at Barz Casino
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WHY YOU CAN TRUST THIS REVIEW: The information and opinions on this page are the result of an comprehensive process of information gathering and live game testing by the gambling experts who work at allslotsites.com. Find out more here.

About Vending Machine

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 18th July 2023

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.

Vending Machine is a 5-reel, medium variance slot from Hacksaw Gaming. It utilises cascading wins and cumulative multipliers on every row in both base game and bonus round to build up win potential unlocked by landing Lightning Bolt scatters. It’s a typically eccentric and innovative Hacksaw game with 5,000x potential. Vending Machine is available at all the online slot sites listed on this page.

Vending Machine Game Information

  • RTP: 96.28% | 94.26% | 92.32% | 88.28%
  • Variance: Medium
  • Maximum Win: 5,000x
  • Progressive Jackpot: No
  • Reels: 5
  • Rows: 5
  • Paylines: 35
  • Minimum Stake: £0.10
  • Theme: Food
  • Features: Cascading Wins, Free Spins, Multipliers

What We Liked

  • Big cumulative multipliers in free spins
  • Clever and unusual gameplay
  • Nice design style and urban setting
  • Epic multiplier boosters!

What We Didn't like

  • Quite hard to follow at first
  • Bit too chilled for some perhaps!

Vending Machine Review Scores

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

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"Unique, intriguing and definitely laid-back slot with big multiplier potential"

Overall Score: 7.8

Theme & Design

Our Score 9

Hacksaw Gaming are known for taking their fans to places other developers don’t go with their slot games. And Vending Machine is another eccentric one for sure. Utilising the design of a classic vending machine to frame the reels is an interesting concept. So too is the urban setting, crescent moon, veranda, neighbourhood cat and bored girl browsing her phone, leaning on the machine and occasionally kicking it for good measure.

Vending Machine Slot by Hacksaw Gaming
Vending Machine – a unique online slot concept

It’s not like anything we’ve seen in a slot before. But nor were the graphics in Break Bones or Book of Time for that matter. It’s what Hacksaw do, and once again they’ve built something totally unique.

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.

Vending Machine has four available RTP settings: 96.28%, 94.26%, 92.32% or 88.28%. This is not uncommon. You will find multiple RTP settings in most Hacksaw slots. Which setting you play at will depend on the level set by your casino. We checked the setting at five popular UK slot sites and this is what we found:

As you can see, not all casinos will run Vending Machine at its optimum RTP level. If RTP is a key consideration for you then we recommend that you play at MrQ where the game is running at the top level of 96.28%.

This is also a medium variance slot so it should be less volatile than recent titles by Hacksaw like Mighty Masks or Mayan Stackways. If you prefer their more chilled fare like Frank’s Farm then this slot could suit your tastes.

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 maximum payout in this game is 5,000x. That is standard for a medium variance slot from this provider and puts it in the same bracket as games like Fear the Dark. If you want a medium variance slot from Hacksaw with a higher top payout, try Dork Unit (10,000x).

Explore Games With Similar RTP, Variance and Maximum Win

Like the numbers? Here are some more games you might want to try.

Slot SiteSupplierRTPVarianceTop Payout
Fear The DarkHacksaw Gaming96.25%Medium5,000xPlay Here
Fruit DuelHacksaw Gaming96.3%Medium3,333xPlay Here
Break BonesHacksaw Gaming96.22%Medium3,333xPlay Here
Born WildHacksaw Gaming96.28%Medium2,500xPlay Here
Gronk’s GemsHacksaw Gaming96.22%Medium7,500xPlay Here
Pug LifeHacksaw Gaming96.33%Medium7,500xPlay Here
Dork UnitHacksaw Gaming96.28%Medium10,000xPlay Here
RIP CityHacksaw Gaming96.22%Medium12,500xPlay Here

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score 7

Vending Machine is a 5 reel and 5 row slot with 35 fixed paylines in play at all times. The objective is to land 3 or more identical symbols across a payline from left to right. Symbol values are reasonably good, and there is enough multiplier action in the features to ensure regular boosts to your wins.

Vending Machine Slot Paytable
Vending Machine Slot Paytable

Low payers are the bread, sweets, chewing gum and lolly pop. These are all worth from 0.1x for 3 up to 2x for 5 on a line. Premiums are the ice cream, drink can, drink carton and slushy drink. These are worth from 0.5x for 3 ice cream up to 20x for 5 slushy drinks.

There is also a Wild Popcorn which will substitute for any other symbol to complete a line and also pay out 20x where 5 land on a line.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score 8

Vending Machine, like many Hacksaw Gaming slots, is ALL about the multipliers! The objective is to build them as high as possible then land Lightning Bolts to unlock them so that they are applied to your latest win.

Cascading Wins

First thing to note is that this is a cascading wins game. That means after any winning spin, winning symbols are removed and new ones drop in to replace them. This may create more wins to trigger the process again.

Multiplier Lights on Every Row

To the left side of each row are multiplier values displayed on arrows. The value of each multiplier is chosen at random before each spin – 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 6x, 7x, 8x, 9x, 10x.

Vending Machine Multipliers
Vending Machine – Multipliers light up down the left of the reels

The multiplier values can be increased in TWO ways.

First, after a winning spin, multipliers on all rows that include a symbol that was part of the win increase by the same number of winning symbols on the row. For example, if a winline converges with a row twice, then the multiplier for that row increases by 2x.

Second, if a Multiplier Boost symbol lands, then it increases the multiplier on the row it landed on by 2x. An Epic Multiplier Boost increases ALL multipliers by 2x.

Then … if a Lightning Bolt lands on a row, it activates the multiplier for that row for the duration of the rest of the cascades.

Now, once activated, a multiplier is applied to ALL winlines that converge with its’ row.

But beware … because if a Blackout Skull lands on a row, it deactivates the multiplier!

Two Free Spins Rounds 

There are also two free spins rounds in this game.

First is Lo Fi Free Spins. If you land 3 FS Scatters, you will trigger this round with THREE activated multipliers. The round just keeps going until each of the three has been deactivated.

Finally, there is a Spin and Chill round triggered by landing FOUR FS scatters. Now, ALL FIVE multipliers are active when the round starts. And spins continue until each has been deactivated.

Vending Machine - Free Spins Round
Unlocking the free spins round on Vending Machine

Remove and Cascade 

As a cheeky extra, Hacksaw have added this one. At the end of any spin / cascade, randomly all low payers may be removed for one more cascade.

The Final Verdict

Hacksaw make a lot of the laid-back vibe of this game. The opening line of the info screen says it all … ‘Vibe Check! Feeling good? Great! Then kick back and relax with us for a while.’ The peaceful urban setting, the chilled girl leaning on the vending machine and the bland music all create a sort of comfy world to sink into. And that is great for a short while, but the lack of any visceral excitement like you find in a Hand of Anubis or Gladiator Legends means things can quickly become boring.

And whilst the idea of row multipliers seems like a compelling one, for the most part whilst playing Vending Machine it feels like not a lot is happening. Wins and multipliers come and go without drama and time goes by. For balance I should say that if the bonus round had been kinder, it might have felt like a very different game. After all, there was a 45x multiplier on row 1 just waiting to deliver a big win until it got deactivated, and on another day that might have produced something special.

In conclusion, Vending Machine is a great-looking game with an interesting mechanic, but it’s medium variance and laid back vibe make it a slot that can lose your attention before long. One for casual gamers rather than those on the hunt for hard core, high risk thrills.

Compare Vending Machine With Similar Slots Picked By Us

Here are more games like Vending Machine compared on configuration and features. Click through to read a review of each one.

Slot GameProviderThemeMin. StakeMax. RTPVariancePaylinesTop PayoutJackpot
Hacksaw GamingAztec£0.1096.23%HighWin Ways10,000xNo
Hacksaw GamingAnimals£0.1096.31%MediumScatter Pays5,000xNo
Hacksaw GamingCartoon£0.1096.22%Medium2512,500xNo
Hacksaw GamingMusic£0.1096.22%Medium173,333xNo
Hacksaw GamingFruit£0.1096.3%Medium173,333xNo
Hacksaw GamingAnimals£0.2096.28%Medium262,500xNo
Hacksaw GamingComedy£0.1096.28%Medium1610,000xNo
Hacksaw GamingCartoon£0.10%High2010,000xNo

Useful Tips When Playing Vending Machine

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 Multiplier Boosts

Whilst all your attention might be on landing wins that grow the multipliers to the left of the machine, don’t forget that those Multiplier Boosts can also play a big part in landing bigger payouts. The big yellow boosters are the epics and the most powerful. Hope to see lots of them!

2. Spin And Chill Gives You Best Chance Of Hitting 5,000x

Due to its enhanced set up with all multipliers active at the start, the Spin and Chill is your best chance of hitting the top payout. Hope to land FOUR scatters to open this one up.

3. Enjoy The Vibes

Hacksaw have clearly set out to build something a little bit different and thanks to its relaxing atmosphere and medium variance, Vending Machine has a great feel to it. Take your time and soak it up!

 

4. Play At A Recommended Slot Site

Always play at licensed UK slot sites like the ones on this page that operate under UK regulation making them safe, fair and secure. These casinos all provide Responsible Gambling tools to help you manage your spend.

Who Made Vending Machine?

  • Name: Hacksaw Gaming
  • Established: 2018
  • UK License: 54059
  • Total Games: 50 +
  • Known For: Dark, high variance output and bonus rounds driven by combining multipliers
  • Popular Slots: Hand of Anubis, Itero, Gladiator Legends, Break Bones
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