Buffalo Blitz slot

How the Buffalo Blitz slot machine makes 4,096 ways

Buffalo Blitz has no paylines. Every one of its six reels shows four symbols, and a win is any run of matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from reel one, in any row position. Four positions on six reels gives 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 4,096 possible paths, which is where the number comes from. It is the same idea as a 243 ways slot, scaled up: the 1,024 ways format uses four rows on five reels, and Buffalo Blitz adds a sixth.

Worked example: how stacked buffalo multiply a win

Buffalo symbols can land stacked on any reel. Say you see one buffalo on reel 1, two on reel 2 and a full stack of four on reel 3, with none on reel 4. The game counts every path: 1 × 2 × 4 = 8 separate three-of-a-kind buffalo ways, and each pays the three-buffalo prize. Add three buffalo on reel 4 and it becomes 1 × 2 × 4 × 3 = 24 four-of-a-kind ways instead. This multiplication is why stacks are the heart of the game’s bigger base-game hits.

Buffalo Blitz symbols, wilds and scatters

The paytable uses North American wildlife. The buffalo is the top symbol, other animals of the plains fill the middle of the paytable, and card royals are the low pays; the help screen lists each symbol’s value at your stake. Two special symbols sit on top of that:

• Diamond wild. Appears on reels 2 to 6 only, so it can never start a win itself, and substitutes for every symbol except the scatter. See wild symbols.
• Free games scatter. Doesn’t need to sit on adjacent reels; it triggers the bonus when three or more land anywhere. See scatter symbols.

Because wilds can’t land on reel 1, a buffalo or animal on the first reel is what makes a win possible. Wilds then help extend it along the row positions to the right.

Buffalo Blitz free spins: the free games bonus

Landing three or more scatters anywhere starts the free games. The number of spins rises sharply with the scatter count. Slot databases list the award as follows; the in-game rules at your casino are the final word.

During the free games, any win that includes a diamond wild is boosted by a randomly chosen multiplier, and further scatters can add more spins, including from just two scatters. The rules also set a ceiling on the total number of free games in one bonus. The base game has no multipliers, which is one reason so much of the game’s value sits in the bonus and why its volatility is high.

Six scatters on six reels in a single spin is an extremely rare event. Treat the 100-spin award as a curiosity of the paytable, not something to plan around.

A Buffalo Blitz spin from start to finish

1. Choose a total stake; it covers all 4,096 ways.
2. Press spin. The RNG has already chosen the stopping position of all six reels.
3. The game checks each symbol on reel 1 and follows every matching path rightwards.
4. Wilds on reels 2 to 6 join any path they can complete.
5. All ways wins are summed and paid.
6. Scatters are counted; three or more start the free games.

On UK versions each of these spins must take at least 2.5 seconds and must be started by hand, because autoplay and turbo modes have been removed since October 2021 under the Commission’s product design standard (opens in a new tab).

Buffalo Blitz RTP: 95.96% vs 94.01%

Playtech supplies Buffalo Blitz at two RTP settings, 95.96% and 94.01%. The game looks identical either way; only the long-run return differs. Under the Commission’s rules on game information (opens in a new tab), the RTP must be shown in the game rules, so you can check which one a casino runs before you play.

The gap is close to 2p per £1 staked. That sounds small, yet over 500 spins at £1 it adds up to around £10 of extra expected cost. Both figures are below the 96% many modern slots reach, so if RTP matters to you, compare with games on our high RTP slot machines page. Our explainer on RTP variants shows why one game can have several settings.

Buffalo Blitz max win and UK stake limits

We don’t state a Buffalo Blitz max win because the published figures don’t agree: some listings give a coin amount tied to line bets, others show none. The game rules at your casino will state any cap for that version. What is certain is the stake ceiling. In Great Britain the most you can stake per spin is £5 if you are 25 or over and £2 if you are 18 to 24, as set out in the Commission’s stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab). Any win, however large, is that stake multiplied by the result, and the largest come from free games where several multiplied wild wins and stacked buffalo combine.

Is Buffalo Blitz worth playing? Who it suits

It suits adults who like the classic Vegas-style animal slot and accept long quiet runs. If the steadier end of the scale appeals more, the medium volatility slot machines guide lists options.

Buffalo Blitz II and other buffalo slots

Playtech followed up with Buffalo Blitz II, which keeps the theme on an updated engine. Elsewhere, Pragmatic Play’s Buffalo King and Buffalo King Megaways cover similar ground, and Raging Rhino, a 2015 WMS game, uses the same 6×4, 4,096-ways layout. The animal slot machines guide collects the genre, and the theme has a long history on land-based cabinets too, as our online vs land-based comparison explains.

Buffalo Blitz myths

• “Full stacks of buffalo on reel 1 mean the reels are hot.” There is no such state; every spin is drawn fresh. Our page on loose and tight slot machines explains why the terms mislead.
• “Two scatters means the third is about to land.” Near misses are random outcomes, not warnings.
• “Playing more ways costs more.” All 4,096 ways are always active and included in the stake you choose.

Checking the Buffalo Blitz RTP and trying the demo

A Buffalo Blitz demo is available at many UK casinos after age verification, and it is the easiest way to read the rules. To find the RTP version:

1. Open the game and select the menu or help icon.
2. Find the payout or RTP statement in the rules.
3. Note whether it says 95.96% or 94.01%.
4. Read the free games section for scatter awards and the multiplier values.
5. If the lower figure is shown and that matters to you, look for another casino or game.

Playtech’s company website (opens in a new tab) describes its wider portfolio; the Playtech provider page on this site summarises the studio.

Where to play the Buffalo Blitz slot online

Playtech games are carried by many UK casinos, but libraries change, so search the lobby and confirm the RTP version. Welcome spins from our partners are played on games each casino selects, which may not include Buffalo Blitz.

At Coral, new customers aged 18+ who deposit and bet £10 on slots receive 100 free spins at 10p each, to be accepted within 48 hours and used within seven days, with no wagering. Ladbrokes gives up to 500 free spins over ten days (50 a day, 10p each, no wagering) after £10 of slot play. PlayOJO gives 80 no-wagering spins on Big Bass Bonanza for a first deposit of £10 or more, excluding Northern Ireland. Excluded payment methods and full terms apply; see our casino comparison for details.

If you need to talk to someone about gambling, GamCare’s live chat and helpline (opens in a new tab) is open 24 hours a day.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.