The Joker Bombs slot is a December 2021 Hacksaw Gaming release on a six-by-five grid where any eight or more matching symbols pay, wherever they land. It has a 96.48% RTP, a medium volatility rating (3 of 5 on Hacksaw's scale) and a 5,000x max win; here is how those pieces fit together.
Hacksaw Gaming, December 2021: 6 reels × 5 rows, pays anywhere for 8+ matching symbols.
96.48% RTP; 100 spins at 50p average a cost of about £1.76.
Medium volatility (3 of 5 on Hacksaw's own scale) with a 5,000x cap.
UK version: no bonus buy, no autoplay, 2.5-second minimum spin, £5 or £2 stake cap by age.
Developer
Hacksaw Gaming
RTP
96.48%
Volatility
Medium (3 of 5)
Layout
6 reels x 5 rows
Ways to win
Pay anywhere (8+ symbols)
Max win
5,000x stake
Released
December 2021
How the Joker Bombs slot machine pays anywhere
Joker Bombs, from Hacksaw Gaming, has no paylines or ways. It uses the pays-anywhere system, sometimes called scatter pays: after each spin the game counts how many of each symbol are visible across the 30 positions, and any symbol that appears eight or more times pays, wherever those symbols sit. They don't need to touch or line up.
Here's a simple illustration. Suppose a spin shows nine red jokers spread around the grid, seven blue gems and assorted others. The jokers pay, because nine is at least eight. The gems don't, even if all seven sit in one corner. The help screen shows how much each symbol pays at each count band; the bigger the count, the bigger the prize.
Counting a Joker Bombs spin (illustrative)
Symbol
Count on 30 positions
Pays?
Symbol A
9
Yes (8+)
Symbol B
7
No
Symbol C
12
Yes, at a higher tier
Other symbols
2 (rest of grid)
No
That makes the game easy to read: you're counting, not tracing lines. It's the same basic idea used in well-known games such as Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus, though Hacksaw's own features and maths are different.
A Joker Bombs spin from start to finish
Pick your stake (subject to the UK limits by age).
Press spin; the RNG decides the full grid of 30 symbols.
The game counts each symbol type and pays any with eight or more.
Winning symbols are removed and replacements drop in, which can pay again within the same paid spin.
Bomb symbols and any bonus scatters are resolved as the help screen describes.
All of that is one game cycle, and in Great Britain each cycle must take at least 2.5 seconds. The order in which symbols drop or explode is presentation; the result was set at step two. Our game cycle page explains why that matters.
The bombs: Joker Bombs' main feature
As the name suggests, bomb symbols are central to the game's design. They are special symbols that act during a spin's sequence, and in Hacksaw's design they can add multipliers to the result or clear parts of the grid so more symbols fall in. The exact behaviour, including what each bomb does, how multipliers are applied, and whether they carry into later spins, is set out in the help screen for your version.
We keep this description general on purpose: the sources we can verify don't list the bomb values, and third-party summaries of Hacksaw games don't always match the version supplied to UK casinos. If you want to understand how slots handle multipliers in general, our multipliers page explains the common patterns, and cascading reels covers the drop-in mechanic.
Joker Bombs free spins and bonus features
The free spins round is triggered by scatter symbols landing in the required number during a spin. The help screen states the trigger count, how many free spins are awarded, and whether the bomb multipliers behave differently in the round, such as being kept between free spins. In many pays-anywhere games, that kind of persistence is where the large results come from.
Outside Great Britain, Hacksaw games commonly offer menus to buy a bonus or pay extra for boosted spins. Neither appears in UK versions, because slots supplied here don't offer feature buys. Our bonus buy in the UK page explains how that came about, and ante bets covers the related idea of paying more per spin for extra chances.
Joker Bombs volatility: what '3 of 5' means
Hacksaw rates its games on a scale of one to five, and Joker Bombs scores 3: medium. On our site, games such as Chaos Crew and Wanted Dead or a Wild score 5 of 5 or are listed as high, while Le Bandit, Dork Unit and RIP City sit in the middle.
Joker Bombs vs other Hacksaw slots (published volatility ratings)
Slot
Volatility
Max win (published)
Joker Bombs
Medium (3 of 5)
5,000x
Dork Unit
Medium (3 of 5)
See its page
Le Bandit
Medium
See its page
Chaos Crew
High (5 of 5)
See its page
Wanted Dead or a Wild
High
See its page
Medium volatility means the balance usually moves in moderate steps, with occasional bigger hits through the bombs and free spins. It's a description of how results spread, not of how much the game costs; that's the RTP's job. See volatility for the full explanation.
Joker Bombs RTP and cost in pounds
The developer lists Joker Bombs at 96.48% RTP, leaving a house edge of 3.52%. Over a very large number of spins by all players, about £3.52 of every £100 staked is kept by the game. A single session can end anywhere.
Joker Bombs long-run average cost per 100 spins
Stake
Total staked
Average cost (3.52%)
Average returned
10p
£10
35.2p
£9.65
20p
£20
70.4p
£19.30
50p
£50
£1.76
£48.24
£1
£100
£3.52
£96.48
£2
£200
£7.04
£192.96
£5
£500
£17.60
£482.40
As a time-based example: 400 spins in an hour at 25p is £100 staked, with a long-run average cost of £3.52. Use the slot cost calculator to try your own stake and pace.
Joker Bombs max win at UK stake limits
The Joker Bombs max win is 5,000 times the stake, after which the game ends that round's winnings. Here it is at stakes available in Great Britain.
The joker has been a slot favourite for decades, borrowed from playing cards where it is the odd card out. On fruit machines and classic-style video slots it often appears as a wild or a high-value symbol. Hacksaw uses it as the theme rather than a traditional wild here. Our joker symbol page covers where it comes from, and Play'n GO's Fire Joker and NetEnt's Mega Joker are two other well-known joker games.
UK rules that apply to Joker Bombs
Joker Bombs arrived in December 2021, weeks after Great Britain's online slot design rules came into force on 31 October 2021, so UK versions have followed them from the start. The Commission's online games design consultation response (opens in a new tab) explains the background.
UK rules and their effect on Joker Bombs
Rule
Date
What you'll notice
No autoplay
31 October 2021
Press spin each time
2.5-second minimum game cycle
31 October 2021
No turbo or quick spin
No celebrating returns at or below stake
31 October 2021
Small part-returns shown plainly
£5 stake cap (25+)
9 April 2025
Top stake you can choose
£2 stake cap (18–24)
21 May 2025
Lower top stake for younger adults
Joker Bombs demo
Free demo play of Joker Bombs is available after age verification at UK-licensed sites that carry it. It's a quick way to see the counting system in action and watch how the bombs behave. A few hundred demo spins can't tell you what a real session will do, though. Our demo slots guide has more.
Is Joker Bombs worth playing?
Advantages
Simple to read: count to eight
96.48% RTP, slightly above many games
Medium volatility suits moderate budgets
Clear 5,000x ceiling
Drawbacks
Bomb rules need careful reading in the help screen
Feature extras seen in overseas videos aren't in UK versions
Cascading sequences can make spending feel slower than it is
The long-run average is still a loss
It suits adults who like pays-anywhere games but want something less swingy than the high-volatility end of the genre. Our how to choose a slot machine guide sets out other things to weigh.
Where to play the Joker Bombs slot in the UK
The offers below come from our UK-licensed partners. We can't confirm that any of them lists Joker Bombs today: search the casino's lobby, because game availability changes. New Coral players who bet £10 on slots get 100 free spins at 10p each on selected games; Ladbrokes gives 50 free spins a day for 10 days (up to 500, 10p each, selected games) after £10 of slot play; PlayOJO's 80 no-wagering spins on a £10 first deposit are on Big Bass Bonanza. All are 18+ and terms apply. See our casinos page and the slots hub for more.
Set limits before you play. If gambling is getting on top of you, GamCare (opens in a new tab) offers free, confidential support, and the National Gambling Helpline is on 0808 8020 133.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of Joker Bombs?
Joker Bombs has an RTP of 96.48%, according to the developer. That means it returns an average of £96.48 for every £100 staked over a very large number of spins, with £3.52 kept as the house edge. A single session can end far above or below that, especially if the bonus lands or doesn't. Check the help screen when you load the game, as it shows the figure for that casino's version. Our RTP explainer covers how the number is worked out.
How does pay anywhere work in Joker Bombs?
After each spin, the game counts how many of each symbol appear across all 30 positions of the six-by-five grid. Any symbol showing eight or more times pays, regardless of where the symbols sit; they don't need to touch or form a line. Larger counts pay more, with tiers shown in the paytable. Winning symbols are removed and replaced, which can lead to further wins within the same paid spin. Our pays-anywhere slot machines page explains the system in detail.
What is the max win on Joker Bombs?
The maximum win is 5,000 times your stake. That's £500 at 10p, £5,000 at £1, £10,000 at the £2 limit that applies to players aged 18 to 24, and £25,000 at the £5 limit for players aged 25 and over. Once the cap is reached, the round's winnings stop there. Very few rounds come close, so treat it as a ceiling, not an aim. Casino terms may also limit single payouts. See max win caps for more.
How do you trigger Joker Bombs free spins?
Free spins are triggered by landing the required number of scatter symbols during a spin. The help screen lists the exact count, how many free spins you get and how the bombs behave during the round. As with all bonus triggers, it's random on every spin; past results don't make it more or less likely. In Great Britain you can't buy your way into the bonus. The basics are covered in how free spins work on slot machines.
What do the bombs do in Joker Bombs?
The bombs are the game's special feature symbols. They act during a spin's sequence and, in Hacksaw's design, can add multipliers to wins or clear symbols so new ones drop in. Exactly what each bomb does, how its multiplier is applied and whether it carries forward in the free spins are set out in the help screen of the version you play. We don't list values because they're not in the sources we can verify. Our multipliers page explains how slot multipliers generally work.
Is Joker Bombs high volatility?
No. Joker Bombs is rated medium, scoring 3 on Hacksaw's own five-point volatility scale. Results tend to move in moderate steps rather than long droughts broken by rare large results, though losing runs still happen. Several other Hacksaw games, such as Chaos Crew, score 5 of 5, so this is one of the studio's gentler options. Volatility doesn't change the long-run average cost; that's set by the RTP. Compare it on our medium volatility slot machines page.
Can I buy the bonus on Joker Bombs?
Not in the UK. Hacksaw games often come with bonus-buy menus in other markets, but slots supplied to Great Britain don't include that option, so the only way into the free spins is to trigger them during normal play. The same goes for paid extras that raise the chance of a bonus. This keeps every spin within the UK stake limits of £5 for players aged 25 and over and £2 for players aged 18 to 24. Read bonus buy in the UK.
Can I play Joker Bombs for free?
Yes, as free demo play after age verification, at UK-licensed casinos that list the game. Licensed operators have had to verify age before allowing access to free-to-play games since May 2019. The demo uses the same maths as the real game, so it's useful for learning how the counting works and how the bombs behave. It won't predict how a real-money session will go. Our page on whether free slot games are the same as real ones covers the details.
Who makes Joker Bombs?
Joker Bombs is made by Hacksaw Gaming, a studio known for high-energy online slots and for its five-point volatility rating shown on every game. It was released in December 2021. Other Hacksaw slots on our site include Chaos Crew, Wanted Dead or a Wild, Le Bandit, Dork Unit and Hand of Anubis. You can read about the studio, its typical maths and its best-known titles on our Hacksaw Gaming page.
How much does Joker Bombs cost per hour?
It depends on your stake and how quickly you spin, but you can estimate the average. At the UK minimum of 2.5 seconds per game cycle, an hour could hold up to 1,440 spins, though most people play fewer. At 400 spins an hour and 25p a spin you'd stake £100, and at 96.48% RTP the long-run average cost is £3.52. Real results vary widely in both directions. The full method is on how much a slot costs per hour.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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