- 3x5 slot developed by NextGen Gaming
- Released in December 2017
- Chase big wins with free spins and sticky Wilds
- Inspired by the Chinese Year of the Dog
According to the Chinese zodiac, those born in the year of the Dog are reliable, trustworthy, and protective. Wonder Hounds is a lighthearted online slot game that follows Jinse, a charming, golden-hued pup, and her two international sidekicks as they bring their playful energy to the reels. Together, they roam the reels with adventurous energy and unwavering camaraderie, capturing the warmth and festive essence of the year of the Dog as they hunt down treasures. Keep reading to learn more about one of the most popular NextGen gaming slots.
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Wonder Hounds Game Highlights
After the wild success of Golden (their year of the Rooster slot game), NextGen Gaming decided that there should be a dedicated game for every Chinese New Year. The Wonder Hounds slot game was released just in time for the most recent year of the Dog, which occurred in 2018. This slot game celebrates the traits of loyalty, honesty, and responsibility that those born in the year of the Dog are known for, but with a charming storyline centered around three international dogs of mystery:
- Jinse: The lucky charm of the group brings grace and good fortune, with a name that means “Golden” in Chinese
- Ace: A disciplined, high-flying pup from the U.S., inspired by WWII pilots.
- Winchester: The British detective of the pack, always alert and ready to sniff out a win.
This game is played on a 5×3 grid with 25 paylines. On any spin, Jinse and her two trusty companions can turn Wild or help you dig up the variable Free Spins feature with guaranteed sticky Wilds.
Wonder Hounds Quick Facts and Features
| Software Provider | NextGen Gaming |
| RTP | 95.16% |
| Volatility | Medium–High |
| Paylines | 25 |
| Reels | 5 |
| Max Wager | $250 |
| Max Win (Base Game) | 2,600 credits |
| Max Win (Bonus) | 200,000 credits |
Does Wonder Hounds Pay Real Money?
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How To Play Wonder Hounds
All the game controls you’ll need to play Wonder Hounds are in a neat panel on the right-hand side of the screen. First, use the “+” and “-” buttons to adjust your wager from $0.25 to $250. If you’d like to speed up your gameplay, you can set 10–100 automatic spins with the “Autoplay” button, which has a mandatory loss limit to help protect your bankroll. To spin the reels manually, press the “Play” button to start the game. The five reels will spin, stopping one by one to reveal a random assortment of symbols. If three matching symbols appear on one of the 25 paylines, it counts as a win, and you’ll win the symbol’s corresponding paytable prize. If there’s no win, simply place your new bet and press “Play” again.
Wonder Hounds Game Features
Wonder Hounds brings the action and charm of its theme to life with features that activate through any of the three dog characters or two types of special symbols:
- Scatter: The golden pawprint is a special symbol that not only offers paytable prizes of up to 100x your bet for five-of-a-kind combinations but can also trigger the Free Games feature.
- Wild: Represented by the word “Wild”, this symbol offers paytable prizes of up to 400x your bet per line and can substitute for any other symbol (except Scatters) to complete, expand, or form winning combinations.
- Wonder Hounds gone Wild: On any spin, one or more of the three Wonderhounds could randomly turn Wild (one per reel), adding more chances to create winning combinations.
Wonder Hounds Bonuses and Jackpots
While this slot game may not offer a traditional slot jackpot, players can win some big prizes in the Free Games bonus. If 3–5 Scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, players will win 8, 12, or 15 free spins, respectively.
During this feature, any Wild that lands on the reels will stick to the grid, helping you to form wins for the remainder of the bonus. To make your free spins even more rewarding, 1–15 Wilds may also be randomly awarded at the start of the feature.
It’s important to remember that this bonus cannot be retriggered.
How To Win Wonder Hounds
Like all online slot machines, Wonder Hounds is a game of chance. Every spin relies on the outcome of a random number generator, and there’s no way for players (or the online casino) to know what symbols will land next. So, without any way for you to control or predict the outcome, the best way to win at slots is to understand the game and use a good betting strategy.
In Wonder Hounds, wins occur when you align symbols along the 25 paylines, with the payout values determined by the type and number of symbols matched. With a return to player (RTP) of 95.16%, players can expect a reasonable return over time, though the medium-high volatility means that wins may not come as frequently. So, smart bankroll management is important. Keep your budget in mind while you play, and make sure you choose a bet size that allows for a longer playing session, giving you the time (and budget) flexibility to hit those bigger payouts.
Wonder Hounds Graphics and Design
Wonder Hounds may be based on the Chinese New Year, but its main focus is the zodiac. The Asian-themed elements are subtle and carefully integrated into the game in small but impactful ways, such as Jinse’s outfit, the Chinese character on the dog food bowl, or the red and gold colors of various elements in the game’s design.
The reels are framed in red-hued wood with a thin golden trim, while each dog character showcases its unique personality with an adorable outfit. The paw prints beside the playing card symbols add a fun flair, while the backdrop features lush greenery and a bright blue sky.
Wonder Hounds Symbols
Landing 3–5 Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels will pay 4x, 15x, or 100x your total bet, respectively, while the rest of the symbols will pay out as follows for 3–5 of a kind (multiplied by your bet per line):
- Wild: 80x–400x
- Ace: 60x–350x
- Jince: 40x–300x
- Winchester: 20x–150x
- Bowl of food: 20x–150x
- Bone-shaped collar charm: 15x–100x
- A: 15x–100x
- K/Q: 10x–75x
- J/10: 5x–50x
Similar Slot Games To Play at BetMGM Casino
BetMGM Casino is home to many of the industry’s best online casino games, including several titles similar to the Wonder Hounds slot. There are even several dragon-themed slots to celebrate this year’s Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Dragon.
Whether you’re in the mood for more Asian-themed slots or on the hunt for another game with adorable canine characters, here are some of the top online casino slots to consider the next time you play slots online:
