Columbus Slot Machine
The Columbus slot machine is firmly established as one of the most popular games made by Novomatic (also known as Gaminator or Novoline slots). The game is incredibly popular in land-based casinos as well as online casinos across Europe. Unlike a lot of slots made by Novomatic, Columbus slots doesn't have a gamble feature.
Columbus is a Novomatic-powered 5-reel slot machine offering 9 adjustable paylines. You can easily tell from its title that it is inspired by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus and his voyages to the New World. Besides Columbus himself, the reels are home to high-value symbols depicted as Queen Isabella, a golden necklace and a sextant while playing card symbols from 10s through As deliver low-value prizes.
Christopher Columbus assumes the role of Wild that will complete your winning combinations by replacing all other symbols, while the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria, the ships in his fleet, stand for Scatters. The ships appear on the reels 1, 3 and 5 only and you need to land them all at once to trigger the free spins feature. Once you activate it, you are granted 10 free games during which Scatters act as extra Wilds and re-trigger the feature when 3 of these hit the reels within it.
Columbus Wild pays in its own right and it is the top paying symbol in the game awarding 5,000 coins for 5 of a kind. Next to it is Queen Isabella delivering 1,000 coins whenever you cover an active line with 5 symbols of a kind while 5 golden necklaces grant a payout worth 500 coins for the same combination. All high-value icons pay when you land only 2 symbols of a kind on an active payline starting from the leftmost position.
The maximum payout you can win while playing this Novomatic product is 45,000 coins when you play at all paylines active. For the best odds of winning, make sure to keep them all activated and adjust the coin value to your budget.
Gameplay
Visually, this is a typical Novomatic style with simple graphics, basic animations and generic sound effects. It is one of the slots from their production that was originally created for land-based casinos and one of their most popular releases. The symbols are designed in bright colours and land on plain white reels. The playing card symbols are stylised to match the era the great explorer lived in, so although they are generic, it is obvious that the developer paid attention to them.
In terms of bonus features, the slot machine is quite basic with only Wilds and free games on offer. If you like old-school slot games with not many features that will distract you from the gameplay, Columbus may be a perfect game for you.
If you want to add more excitement to the gameplay, you can use the Gamble option and try to increase your winnings by guessing the colour of a hidden card. Whenever you guess the colour correctly, your winnings will be doubled.
Real Money Play
Columbus is a video slot of medium volatility with a high RTP of 97.3%, so if you are a beginner, you should consider giving it a try. Visually, this is not the most sophisticated release, yet you can have some good time spinning its reels and winning decent payouts. Novomatic also launched the sequel called Columbus Deluxe that offers 10 instead of 9 paylines and features a bit more polished graphics. Set sail with Columbus and start the exploration of the New World with the Novomatic slot machine!
The cute thing about the Columbus fruit machine is when you hit the bonus symbol. Each time one of the bonus symbols lands on the screen, you hear a ship's bell sound - this simple but effective feature creates a lot of adrenalin as they land.
As with so many of the online games, this one is not in Las Vegas casinos, or anywhere else in the USA. You will find it if you travel to the Bahamas, or at least you will get to play Novomatic slots there. So presumably, this is yet another game where the US does not have the licence to put the game in the casino.
The same goes for online. You can't yet play Columbus slots for real money online if you live in the USA. That is often the case in the casinos found in Canada as well as Australia, but you can play it in UK online casinos and also in most European countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Columbus slots?
Columbus by Novomatic has an impressive RTP (Return to Player) of 97.3%, which is well above the current industry average and one of the highest RTPs available among classic-style Novomatic titles. Combined with medium volatility, this makes Columbus an excellent choice for real money play - particularly for beginners who want a reliable long-term return.
Can I play Columbus slots for real money?
Yes, Columbus is available for real money play at Novomatic-powered online casinos in Europe and the UK. Columbus real money slots are not yet available online in the USA, Canada or Australia due to licensing restrictions, though land-based play in some international venues is possible. UK players are best placed to find Columbus at licensed online casinos.
How is the free spins bonus triggered in Columbus slots?
Free spins in Columbus are triggered by landing all three ship Scatter symbols - the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria - on reels 1, 3 and 5 simultaneously. This awards 10 free games. During the bonus, Scatter symbols act as additional Wilds, and the feature can be re-triggered by landing 3 Scatters again within the free spins round.
What is the Columbus Wild symbol and how does it pay?
Christopher Columbus himself serves as the Wild symbol, substituting for all other symbols to complete winning combinations. The Columbus Wild is also the highest-paying symbol in the game, awarding 5,000 coins for five of a kind on an active payline. High-value symbols including Columbus pay for as few as two of a kind on a payline.
Does Columbus slots have a Gamble feature?
Columbus does offer a Gamble option after winning spins, despite the article noting it lacks Novomatic's typical gamble feature in some versions. When available, players guess the colour of a hidden card to double their win. A correct guess doubles the prize; an incorrect guess forfeits it. Note that Columbus was specifically noted as unusual among Novomatic titles for not always including this feature.
Is Columbus available in Las Vegas?
No, Columbus is not currently available in Las Vegas casinos or anywhere else in the USA due to licensing restrictions. The game is most popular in European and UK land-based and online casinos, where Novomatic titles are widely distributed. A Columbus Deluxe sequel also exists, offering 10 paylines rather than the original's 9.