Black Bull Slot Review
Pragmatic Play’s reputation for refining collection mechanics has earned them widespread respect across the industry, and Black Bull demonstrates why this approach continues to resonate with players. Released in August 2022, this Wild West-themed slot combines a visually polished North American prairie setting with an engaging money collection system that transforms the base game into a stepping stone for the real excitement ahead. The 5×4 grid with 20 fixed paylines keeps the mechanics straightforward, but it’s the progression feature during free spins that gives Black Bull its distinguishing character. This isn’t the flashiest release in Pragmatic Play’s catalogue, but it clearly appeals to players seeking an alternative to the endless fish-themed offerings dominating the market.
Base Game & Features
The base game runs on a 5×4 configuration across 20 fixed paylines, and whilst wins come and go, there’s something genuinely engaging about the mechanics at play. The foundation rests on the Money Collection feature, where Wild symbols act as the driving force—whenever a Wild lands at the same time as Money symbols on the reels, those Wilds collect all visible Money symbol values and apply them to your total win for that spin.
The Money symbols themselves carry values ranging from 0.5x to 50x your bet, adding genuine variety to potential payouts even during ordinary spins. This mechanic transforms the base game from being purely passive into something that demands at least some degree of engagement and attention. Where the base game falls short, however, is in the frequency and magnitude of winning combinations. Players will find extended dry spells interrupted by modest wins, which explains why community feedback consistently points to the base game as the weaker component of the experience. It’s not broken—it simply feels designed as a vehicle to reach the bonus round rather than as an attraction in itself.
Bonus Features & Free Spins
The real distinction lies in what happens when you trigger the free spins round, and Black Bull’s bonus mechanics genuinely justify the build-up. Landing 6 or more Money symbols activates free spins with the following structure:
- 6–11 Money symbols award 6 Free Spins
- 12–17 Money symbols award 8 Free Spins
- 18–20 Money symbols award 10 Free Spins
What makes the free spins genuinely engaging is the Progression feature. Before the round begins, the total value of all Money symbols that triggered it becomes your starting value. During free spins, every Money symbol collected and every Wild that lands contributes to a Cash Bag accumulator located at the top right of the reel set. This isn’t a temporary boost—the Cash Bag total carries forward through every spin, meaning the longer you remain in free spins, the greater the multiplier applied each time a Wild lands.
Additionally, a Meter at the bottom of the Cash Bag tracks Money symbols landing during free spins. For every 6 Wilds that appear in view, you receive +2 additional free spins, creating the possibility of extended sequences if you can land enough Wilds to retrieve your accumulated money values. The trade-off? If the maximum win of 4,500x your stake is reached during free spins, the round terminates immediately and all remaining spins are forfeited. This cap ensures the game doesn’t spiral into truly astronomical wins, though it occasionally cuts exciting runs short.
Bonus Buy & Ante Bet
For players outside the UK, a Bonus Buy feature allows you to purchase direct entry into free spins at a cost of 75 times your stake. When activated, the RTP increases marginally from the default 96.51% to 96.69%. Note that this feature is unavailable to UK players due to regulatory restrictions, reflecting the strict guardrails the UK Gambling Commission maintains around purchase mechanics.
Our Honest Verdict
- Overall Verdict: 3.5/5
- Black Bull sits in an interesting space—it’s polished and mechanically sound, yet somehow manages to feel middling within Pragmatic Play’s broader portfolio. The free spins round delivers genuine excitement through its progression mechanic, and the money collection feature is well-executed. What the game lacks is truly distinguishing flair. The visuals, whilst competent, rely on a North American prairie theme that’s been used countless times before, and the base game feels like it’s simply marking time between bonus triggers. The 4,500x maximum win falls 500x short of Pragmatic Play’s standard ceiling, positioning this as a moderate-potential offering rather than a jaw-dropping experience. That said, the 96.51% RTP is respectable, the mechanics are engaging during free spins, and players seeking a genuine alternative to fish-themed slots may find real value here. It’s a solid middle-ground option—not the best Pragmatic Play has released, but certainly not the worst either. Fans of collection mechanics will appreciate the polish; those chasing transformative volatility should look elsewhere.
Black Bull FAQs
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The RTP of Black Bull is 96.51% as the default setting, though alternative versions are available at 95.12% and 94.24%. When using the bonus buy feature (available outside the UK), the RTP increases to 96.69%.
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The maximum win in Black Bull is 4,500x your stake. This limit applies to both the base game and free spins rounds. When the 4,500x ceiling is reached during free spins, the round terminates immediately and all remaining free spins are forfeited.
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Black Bull features high volatility with a 4.5 out of 5 rating on the in-game volatility scale. This means the game produces both extended dry spells and significant wins. The probability of reaching the maximum win is 1 in 1,140,698, reflecting the rarity of truly exceptional outcomes.
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Free spins are triggered by landing 6 or more money symbols on the reels. Landing 6-11 money symbols awards 6 free spins, 12-17 awards 8 spins, and 18-20 awards 10 spins. For every 6 wild symbols that land in view during the bonus round, you receive 2 additional free spins.
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Black Bull offers a bonus buy option for players outside the UK. The feature costs 75 times your stake and grants direct entry into the free spins round, with the RTP increasing to 96.69%. This feature is not available to UK players due to regulatory restrictions imposed by the UK Gambling Commission.
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Black Bull operates on a 5×4 grid (5 reels and 4 rows) with 20 fixed paylines. This configuration remains consistent across all versions of the game and all betting levels.
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Money collection symbols in Black Bull are golden coins worth between 0.5x and 50x your bet. These symbols accumulate during base game play, and their full value is collected when a wild symbol lands on the reels. During free spins, collected money values are stored in a Cash Bag accumulator that applies to every wild symbol that lands.
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Black Bull accepts bets ranging from 0.20 to 100 (in your chosen currency: GBP, EUR, or USD). This range allows both cautious players and high-stakes bettors to find a comfortable staking level for their playing style.
