Monopoly Roulette Tycoon
Monopoly has always been a popular brand to attach to casino games, and we don’t think that’s just because it is such a well-known board game. There’s also the fact that the game is all about accumulating money – who doesn’t want to do that while gambling? – and, perhaps most importantly of all, the ease with which the iconic board can be integrated into a bonus round where players roll dice and travel around to different properties to win more cash.
That’s the idea behind Monopoly Roulette Tycoon. Yes, at its heart, this is still just a standard roulette game, and if you want to play it that way, you can. But there’s also a great bonus feature that gives you the chance to relive your days of playing this classic family game. And with very generous rules, you’ll almost always succeed in playing this feature, making it a very significant part of this title.
Classic Gameplay Sets the Stage
At its heart, Monopoly Roulette Tycoon – a game that is provided by SG Interactive – is just like every other roulette game you’ve ever played, live or online. You’ll see a complete layout for a European-style game, including a wheel that contains just a single zero. In addition to the normal betting layout, there’s also a racetrack style area where you have the option of making the so-called French bets, like Tiers and Orphelins.
If you’re unfamiliar with how roulette works, here’s a quick refresher that’s applicable to whether you play the game with real cash or one of the many the free online roulette versions available. The object of the game is to predict what number will be spun on a wheel that is divided into 37 equally sized pockets, each of which are numbered from 0 to 36. Half of the pockets are colored red, while half are black (with the zero being green).
However, you won’t necessarily have to make a perfect prediction of the exact number in order to win. There are an assortment of bets that cover a wide range of options: you can bet on a single number, or cover nearly half the wheel. Of course, the payouts differ depending on the specific wager you make. Players are permitted to make as many bets as they like, provided that they bet at least the table minimum in total on the “inside” bets, and meet that same minimum on each “outside” bet. The inside bets tend to cover one or just a few numbers, while the outside bets are more likely to win, but at lower payouts.
Wagering
You can make any of the following wagers before each spin. These are the inside bets:
- Straight: A bet on a single number, made by putting chips on that number. Pays out at 35-1 odds.
- Split: A bet on two numbers, made by placing chips on the intersection of those numbers. Pays 17-1.
- Street: A bet on a row of three numbers, made by placing chips on the edge of the row. Pays 11-1.
- Corner: A bet on a “square” of four numbers, made by placing chips in the intersection of the four spots. Pays 8-1.
- Six Line: A bet on two rows of three numbers (six total), made by putting chips at the edge of the intersection of the two rows. Pays 5-1.
And the outside wagers:
- Column: A bet on a column of 12 numbers, paying out at 2-1 odds.
- Dozens: A bet on a dozen consecutive spots (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36). Pays 2-1.
- Odd/Even: A bet on all the corresponding numbers, paying even money.
- Red/Black: A bet on all the pockets of that color, paying even money.
- 1-18/19-36: A wager on all the numbers in the given range, paying even money.
Once you’ve placed all the wagers you want to make, click the spin button to see a close-up of the wheel itself. A ball will spin around the outside before slowing down and eventually falling into one of the pockets. At that point, any bets that correspond with the winning number/color will be paid, while all others will be lost. You can then start over again, or remake your previous bets using a handy button that will repeat your previous spread on the layout.
Rolling the Dice on a Bonus Round
One of the major reasons why this game is different than a typical roulette offering is the addition of the Monopoly Bonus. At any time, you can hit a button located below the wheel to flip the betting layout, showing instead a track of the standard Monopoly board, which you can move around. If you’d like, you can place bets on all of the properties spread about the board. As long as you make at least one wager here, you will have the potential to activate the special feature.
Once you start a spin with at least one bonus bet, you’ll be notified that if any red number is spun on the next four spins – a very likely outcome – you’ll be taken immediately to the board, starting on the Go square. You’ll then get to watch as Mr. Monopoly himself runs around the board with the help of three dice rolls.
On its most basic level, your goal is to land on properties that you bet on earlier. This will award a prize based on a few factors: the value of the property (those farther down the board are worth more), the size of your bet, and which spin you triggered the bonus on. Other benefits can also be conferred by hitting Chance or Community Chest spaces. There are also special rewards for hitting Income Tax on your first roll: you’ll get a full refund of all your bets should that happen, though hitting it any later will cause the feature to end.
The game continues until you either run out of spins or land on the Go to Jail square (or, again, a tax property after your first roll). You can earn additional spins by getting all the way around the board and passing Go again -- an advancement which will also increase the value of any other prizes you earn for the rest of the round.
Half Table Game, Half Casual Fun
To really talk about Monopoly Roulette Tycoon, it’s important to realize that you’re basically playing two separate games. The main roulette portion is pretty straightforward: it’s a standard European game with the expected 2.70% house edge, and nothing that happens in the special feature impacts this. In fact, you could play this entire game just as a straight up version of the game – though if you wanted to do that, we’re pretty sure you’d just play one of the dozens of standard options that are out there.
The real fun comes from adding the bonus board game round into the mix. We’re not sure about the house edge or your chances of winning big in this feature, but we absolutely know that it’s fun to watch our character run around the board collecting prizes. You can spend a ton of money, or just place one or two bets; either way, there’s no shortage of excitement every time you trigger this game. And with the liberal rules for triggering it, you should get a chance to play the bonus about 93% of the time. For Monopoly fans who also enjoy placing a few bets on the roulette wheel, this is a game that is a surefire hit.
