Hot Shot slots, like Lucky 7 slots, is an exceptional implementation of a classic 3 reel slot machine design from Bally. The company is best known for its line of cinematic, 3D slot machine games, but they've demonstrated with this game that they can put together an online version of a traditional pub slot game that looks and sounds better than almost any of their competitors' games. The only thing missing from the online version of Hot Shots that is present on Bally's land based version is the Wheel of Fortune bonus but this makes little difference thanks to the extra slot round and there is plenty of action to be had for all bankrolls.
It's time to take it back to the old school with the Hot Shot Progressive slot game from Bally Technologies. Staying true to the Las Vegas roots of their company, Bally have created a classic casino vibe on this five-reel 40-payline title. That doesn't mean the mechanics are out-of-date, though – there are many interesting features available here, as well as a $240,000 jackpot.
| Game manufacturer: | Bally |
| Number of paylines: | 40 |
| Game theme: | Classic |
| RTP: | 96.04% |
| Reels: | 5 |
| Min/Max bet: | $0.01 - $24 |
| Progressive jackpot: | No |
| Regular jackpots: | Yes |
| Maximum standard win: | $2400 |
| Maximum jackpot win: | $240,000 |
| Free spins: | See review |
Themes & visuals
Hot Shot Progressive doesn't have much room to impress with the graphics, but that's not the point of the retro vibe Bally was going for. The symbols rolling across the five reels will be instantly familiar to anyone who's ever set foot inside a real-life casino. Expect dollar signs, BARS, ringing bells, and the old favorite blazing hot sevens.
The animations of the game-within-a-game reels that appear on the main reels during the bonus rounds are smoothly done and make for a nice update to a classic design.
Hot Shot Progressive's music is simple – a bland up-tempo jazz, rock'n'roll, and saxophone hybrid that's not as interesting as it sounds. Without a major pop culture license or any discernible exterior theme to draw on, we didn't expect much in the first place.
One thing we would have liked to see is an option to view the game's bet lines superimposed over the reels. This is always a nice feature as it's helpful to see where any wins are coming from without having to pull up the paytable and scroll through to the lines.
Betting options & paying combinations
Hot Shot Progressive includes 40 paylines, which players, unfortunately, can't change. Minimum bets start at $0.01 per line, or $0.04, and go up to $24, or $0.60 a line, which is on the very low end of Bally's slots portfolio. Considering there are many other slots where you can bet up to $400 a spin, even players with a mid-tier budget might find this low.
However, the potential win on the major Blazing Sevens Seven Times Pay Jackpot is 100,000x your stake, which might have something to do with the maximum bet being low.
Hot Shot Progressive does not offer an auto spin feature, which is disappointing and may detract from the game for dedicated players.
As for the RTP, or Return-to-Player, this title is on the higher end of Bally's slots at 96.04%.
What about the jackpots?
This game offers five individual progressive jackpots. These are, with their top jackpot prizes:
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- Blazing 7s (10x total stake)
- Diamond Line (50x total stake)
- Double Jackpot (100x total stake)
- Triple Jackpot (1000x total stake)
- Seven Times Pay (100,000x total stake)
As you can see, these jackpots go up to some hefty numbers. To access them, you need to pull any three (or more) jackpot symbols, which also act as Wild symbols for winning lines. Next, three smaller one-reel slots pop up where the jackpot symbols landed.
Each slot takes a spin and may award a prize corresponding to its pay table. If no wins occur, they'll spin again until a prize is awarded. Hit the jackpot Triple 7s on any of them to win that section's top-tier prize as well as any basic game lines set up by the jackpot symbols as Wilds.
For reference, we got the bonus slots to appear three times in around an hour of playtime, which means they pop up quite frequently.
Additional features & bonus rounds
The Jackpots, Wild, Scatter, and Bonus Round symbols are all linked up in Hot Shot Progressive. There are only five of them, but they all offer the potential for a bonus round with big jackpots.
Hit three of the jackpot symbols listed above, and all of them will launch their own mini-slot. These mini-slots come with their own paytables, although it's difficult to see them clearly when you have four or more on screen at once.
Double Jackpot, Triple Jackpot, and Seven Times Jackpot all also give you a bonus multiplier on any winning lines formed by them when used as Wild Symbols. Pull one double jackpot and you'll get double the pay for that line. Pull two Blazing 7s Seven Times Jackpot symbols in any one line, however, and you could earn a massive 49x your winning payout.
Hot Shot Progressive doesn't offer any free spins per se. However, the small-reel spins that occur in the bonus rounds are similar to free spins, and you can get up to 12 of them at once.
Who is this game ideal for?
The relatively low maximum bet of $24 and the lack of auto-spin may make you think Hot Shot Progressive won't appeal to more serious players. However, the potential for huge jackpots and the old-school casino classic feel could still win some of those players over.
This one might not be for fans of high-budget cinematic pop culture-licensed titles, but it should be of interest to most other slots players.
Similar games by Bally
There are plenty of old-school casino-style games on the market, and Bally has a few others in their selection. Examples include Hot Spin, Quick Hit Las Vegas, and Winning Times. You know what you're getting with these titles, which is exactly why they will always be popular.
What's hot
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Big Money Jackpots: The main draw for Hot Shot Progressive is the jackpots. With five separate pots available along with the chance to win a 49x payout on any winning line, this title has a lot of potential for big wins.
Classic Retro Feel: Everything here, from the symbols to the music and reel animation, is designed for that comfortable and timeless Vegas casino style. If you like that aesthetic – and many Americans do – you'll definitely enjoy Hot Shot Progressive.
Betting options & paying combinations
Hot Shot Progressive includes 40 paylines, which players, unfortunately, can't change. Minimum bets start at $0.01 per line, or $0.04, and go up to $24, or $0.60 a line, which is on the very low end of Bally's slots portfolio. Considering there are many other slots where you can bet up to $400 a spin, even players with a mid-tier budget might find this low.
However, the potential win on the major Blazing Sevens Seven Times Pay Jackpot is 100,000x your stake, which might have something to do with the maximum bet being low.
Hot Shot Progressive does not offer an auto spin feature, which is disappointing and may detract from the game for dedicated players.
As for the RTP, or Return-to-Player, this title is on the higher end of Bally's slots at 96.04%.
What about the jackpots?
This game offers five individual progressive jackpots. These are, with their top jackpot prizes:
Overall, the Dragon Link pokies from Aristocrat is an excellent land-based game that balances free spins, side games, and scatter bonuses. It's a great game to try on when you want to pass the time. Hopefully, a free-to-play online version would be available. Dragon link online free. Dragon Link™ comes to life now! Set your floor apart with Dragon Link™ our newest must-have game. Housed in the ARC Single™ Dragon Link is featured with a unique LED sign package designed to intrigue players from across the floor! Best of all, the industry-leading 'Hold & Spin' mechanic, featured across each of the four Asian-themed.
- Blazing 7s (10x total stake)
- Diamond Line (50x total stake)
- Double Jackpot (100x total stake)
- Triple Jackpot (1000x total stake)
- Seven Times Pay (100,000x total stake)
As you can see, these jackpots go up to some hefty numbers. To access them, you need to pull any three (or more) jackpot symbols, which also act as Wild symbols for winning lines. Next, three smaller one-reel slots pop up where the jackpot symbols landed.
Each slot takes a spin and may award a prize corresponding to its pay table. If no wins occur, they'll spin again until a prize is awarded. Hit the jackpot Triple 7s on any of them to win that section's top-tier prize as well as any basic game lines set up by the jackpot symbols as Wilds.
For reference, we got the bonus slots to appear three times in around an hour of playtime, which means they pop up quite frequently.
Additional features & bonus rounds
The Jackpots, Wild, Scatter, and Bonus Round symbols are all linked up in Hot Shot Progressive. There are only five of them, but they all offer the potential for a bonus round with big jackpots.
Hit three of the jackpot symbols listed above, and all of them will launch their own mini-slot. These mini-slots come with their own paytables, although it's difficult to see them clearly when you have four or more on screen at once.
Double Jackpot, Triple Jackpot, and Seven Times Jackpot all also give you a bonus multiplier on any winning lines formed by them when used as Wild Symbols. Pull one double jackpot and you'll get double the pay for that line. Pull two Blazing 7s Seven Times Jackpot symbols in any one line, however, and you could earn a massive 49x your winning payout.
Hot Shot Progressive doesn't offer any free spins per se. However, the small-reel spins that occur in the bonus rounds are similar to free spins, and you can get up to 12 of them at once.
Who is this game ideal for?
The relatively low maximum bet of $24 and the lack of auto-spin may make you think Hot Shot Progressive won't appeal to more serious players. However, the potential for huge jackpots and the old-school casino classic feel could still win some of those players over.
This one might not be for fans of high-budget cinematic pop culture-licensed titles, but it should be of interest to most other slots players.
Similar games by Bally
There are plenty of old-school casino-style games on the market, and Bally has a few others in their selection. Examples include Hot Spin, Quick Hit Las Vegas, and Winning Times. You know what you're getting with these titles, which is exactly why they will always be popular.
What's hot
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Big Money Jackpots: The main draw for Hot Shot Progressive is the jackpots. With five separate pots available along with the chance to win a 49x payout on any winning line, this title has a lot of potential for big wins.
Classic Retro Feel: Everything here, from the symbols to the music and reel animation, is designed for that comfortable and timeless Vegas casino style. If you like that aesthetic – and many Americans do – you'll definitely enjoy Hot Shot Progressive.
Nice & Simple: Because the Wild Symbols, scatter symbols, and jackpots are all combined into one system, the game is easy to follow. However, the title doesn't sacrifice depth or potential prizes, which is a big plus.
What's not
No Adjustable Paylines or Auto Spins: This is a big sin in today's slots market. It may make sense given the vintage theme of the game, but it remains a feature a lot of players will miss.
Low Maximum Bet: This is probably due to the higher jackpots on offer. However, Bally could have opted for fixed jackpots instead of tying them to the player's maximum bet. This would have enabled the slot to run a higher limit. Regardless, Hot Shot Progressive's very low maximum limit may put off high-rolling players – although the jackpots should be enough to make up for this shortcoming.
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Simple Theme Is Not for Everyone: The classic theme that is a big plus point for many might drive others away. Younger players who are more used to big-budget film or music tie-in slots might not find much to enthuse about with Hot Shot Progressive's classic stylings.
Final ratings
- Graphics and design: 3.5/5 – This slot was difficult to rate for graphics as the theme didn't give Bally much scope to show off. What they did do, however, they did well. The mini-reel-within-a-reel mechanic was fun and showed a novel approach to an old theme.
- Sound effects: 2/5 – Hot Shot Progressive's music was bland and repetitive. The sounds effects for wins were your usual casino fare and didn't show any new or unique ideas.
- Jackpot value: 4/5 – Short of the millions of dollars winnable on the big money progressives like Microgaming's Mega Moolah, Hot Shot Progressive provides a more-than-reasonable jackpot selection – $240,000 is no mean prize.
- Replay value: 4/5 – With plenty of ways to win and a relatively high RTP of 96%, as well as the potential for massive payouts, if players enjoy the style this slot offers, then it's hard to see them getting bored with Hot Shot Progressive anytime soon.
