Dogfather Slot Review

Provider	Microgaming

The Dogfather is a Microgaming slot that takes the classic mob-boss story and swaps every gangster for a dog. The result is a five-reel, 20-payline game packed with canine capos, scattered fire hydrants and a couple of bonus features that give it more life than the theme alone. It is not a modern video slot with cinematic animations, but it holds up well as an older Microgaming title with a clear sense of humour.

Theme and Design

The Dogfather parody runs all the way through the game. The cast includes Vinny, Knuckle and Duster, Fi-Fi and The Cleaner - each rendered as a suited dog in full mob attire. Lower-value symbols include a fire hydrant, brass knuckles, a stuffed bunny, shampoo, gloves and a pistol. The Dogfather himself sits at the top of the pay table, chomping a cigar and occasionally reading a book titled Taking Care of Cats. The humour is gentle and consistent, and the artwork does a decent job of setting the scene without being overly garish.

How to Play

Bets run from £0.01 up to £50 per spin. You can play between one and five coins on each of the 20 paylines, giving you straightforward control over how much goes on each spin. Standard symbols pay left to right on active paylines. The two scatter symbols - Itchy Da Flea and the fire hydrant - pay in any direction and do not need to land on the same payline, which can produce some welcome surprises.

Microgaming includes both regular and expert play modes. Expert mode lets you run five or ten automatic spins or set your own autoplay count, which suits players who prefer a set-and-watch approach.

Wild Symbol

The Dogfather acts as the wild and replaces all symbols except the two scatters. It can appear on any reel and slots into combinations neatly. When the animation triggers - usually The Dogfather adjusting his cigar or glancing at his book - it is a good sign that a paying combination has just been patched together. The wild does not carry its own multiplier, but given how frequently the two bonus features trigger, it works well as a gap-filler rather than the headline act.

Free Spins

Landing three or more Itchy Da Flea scatter symbols anywhere on the reels triggers 13 free spins. All wins during free spins are tripled, which makes the feature worthwhile whenever it arrives. Three more Itchy Da Flea symbols during the free spins round will retrigger another 13 spins with the same 3x multiplier in place. The free spins can also trigger the Mark Your Territory bonus, so the two features are linked rather than separate events.

Mark Your Territory Bonus

Three or more fire hydrant scatter symbols on the reels in the base game or during free spins launches the Mark Your Territory bonus. A second screen appears with 13 fire hydrants, each hiding a random prize. The number of fire hydrants that triggered the feature determines how many picks you get - one pick per triggering symbol, so landing five fire hydrants earns you five selections. Each prize is multiplied by your active coins-per-line and the number of paylines in play, so the potential payout scales with your stake.

The pick-em mechanic is simple by current standards but functions cleanly. There is no guesswork about what constitutes a good pick - you reveal your prizes and the feature ends. It gives the game a second layer beyond the standard base game and free spins combination.

RTP and Volatility

The Dogfather runs at an RTP of 95.52%, which is in line with what Microgaming typically offered during this era. Volatility is medium, meaning wins arrive at a reasonable frequency without requiring very long dry spells between them. The combination of two scatter types, a wild, free spins with a multiplier and a bonus pick round gives the game enough variation to hold interest across a session.

Developer

Microgaming developed The Dogfather. The studio is one of the oldest names in online gaming and built its reputation across a long catalogue of themed slots during the early years of the industry. You can find the full range of Microgaming slots reviewed on this site.

Verdict

The Dogfather is a solid mid-range slot that does exactly what it sets out to do. The parody theme is executed with enough wit to make the symbols memorable, the two bonus features provide genuine variation, and the 96.03% RTP means the maths behind it is fair. It will not dazzle anyone used to modern multi-feature releases, but players who enjoy Microgaming's older catalogue or who want a slot with a strong identity and reliable bonus structure will find it worth their time.

Who made the Dogfather slot?

The Dogfather was developed by Microgaming, one of the longest-established names in online casino software.

How many reels and paylines does the Dogfather have?

The Dogfather has 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 fixed paylines.

What is the RTP of the Dogfather slot?

The Dogfather slot has an RTP of 95.52%.

How do you trigger free spins in the Dogfather?

Landing three or more Itchy Da Flea scatter symbols anywhere on the reels triggers 13 free spins with a 3x multiplier on all wins. The feature can be retriggered during the free spins round.

What is the Mark Your Territory bonus in the Dogfather?

The Mark Your Territory bonus is triggered by landing three or more fire hydrant scatter symbols on the reels. A second screen shows 13 fire hydrants each hiding a cash prize. You get one pick for each triggering fire hydrant symbol.

What is the wild symbol in the Dogfather?

The Dogfather himself - a suited bulldog with a cigar - acts as the wild symbol. He substitutes for all other symbols except the two scatters and can appear on any reel.