Action Bank from Barcrest: Slot Review - put your cracking skills to the test!

Get ready to take part in the mother of all heists in this extremely popular release from Barcrest! This slot is actually based on the physical slot machine version with the same name which took casino halls by storm when released a couple of years ago. The premise of this game is simple as it is all about breaking into a golden vault which is naturally packed full of cash and gold bars. Read on to see if cracking open this vault is worth more than a few spins of your time?

Action Bank is a 5 reel slot with 20 paylines that includes Double Symbols, Free Spins, Wilds, and a Gamble Mode.

Special Features

The first feature to discuss is the obligatory Wild symbol which is represented by an image of a smiling joker. Like most Wilds, the main job of this symbol is to replace all other symbols apart from the Scatter to help form winning combinations on the reels.

Surprisingly, the game only features a handful of symbols which are a Lucky Seven, a Bar, a White Circle, and an X letter. The Lucky Seven is the most valuable of these symbols as if you are fortunate enough to land 5 on a payline then you will bag yourself a nice cash prize worth 500X your wager.

As you spin the reels, keep a close eye on the White Circle symbol as it can transform into Scatter symbols from time to time when it is part of a non-winning spin. The Scatter symbol is illustrated by an image of a Golden Vault and when you land 5 of these on the same spin then you will be taken to a new screen and get to choose from one of the following bonus features:

Big Bank Bonus: in this pick-me style bonus game you get to choose from 15 different symbols that are comprised of 6 Sapphires, 5 Rubies, and 4 Diamonds. Here, you get to pick and choose until you have found 3 identical symbols to receive a cash prize. The top prize on offer here is 500X your total bet.

Free Spins: in this feature you will be awarded anywhere from 5 to 25 Free Spins. You will also get the chance to gamble to win even more Free Spins if you are awarded less than 25 Free Spins but you also run the risk of losing Free Spins as well. For instance, if you get 10 Free Spins and decide to gamble then you might end up with 20 or just 5 Free Spins instead. During Free Spins, 3 double symbols are added to reel 1 which double payouts when matched with the corresponding symbol on reels 2, 3, 4, and 5. It is also possible to retrigger this rewarding feature by landing 5 additional Scatters.

Theme, Graphics and Sound

The presentation of the game is pretty basic to be fair which is understandable as it is based on a physical slot machine after all. The game plays out in front of a dull grey background with numbered paylines displayed on opposite sides of the reels. The symbols consist of a range of classic slot machine symbols such as Xs, Os, Bars, and Smiling Jokers. They are big and colourful which makes it super easy visually to spot them on the reels. The animations are decent as symbols flash and enlarge when part of a winning payline. It’s especially exciting when you trigger the Bonus Bank feature as you get to choose from a range of new symbols including Sapphires, Rubies, and Diamonds.

There is no real music to highlight here apart from a few generic sound effects which kick in whenever you spin the reels or form a winning combination.

Win lines, Payouts and Jackpots

The game has 20 paylines, an average RTP of 95.16%, and a low maximum payout worth 675X your wager.

Below is a summary taken from the PayOut Table from the game. The amount won for each combination depends on the value of the bet when you spin the reels.

Bet Range: 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00, 30.00, 50.00, 100.00, 200.00, 300.00, 400.00

• Red Seven Symbol: 20 for 3X, 100 for 4X, 500 for 5X
• Bar Symbol: 10 for 3X, 20 for 4X, 100 for 5X
• X Symbol: 5 for 3X, 10 for 4X, 50 for 5X

Our Verdict on Action Bank

Acclaimed software developer Barcrest created this slot and unfortunately, there is not enough action here as the game title suggests. Having said that, it is based on a real slot machine so it should appeal to players who prefer a more brick and mortar gaming experience. In terms of bonus features, it is pretty good that you can choose from either Free Spins or a pick-and-click bonus game. We recommend always selecting the Free Spins feature as it is here where you can bag the top prize which is a respectable 675X your wager. We should also mention that the RTP is quite low when compared to other slots and is of Medium variance. So expect to land a few decent wins every once in a while here. For more heist based fun, check out The Heat is On and Cops'N'Robbers.

Steal yourself a fortune on the reels when you play Action Bank!