King Cashalot Slot Review - Microgaming Progressive Jackpot

Provider	Microgaming

What Is King Cashalot?

King Cashalot is a classic progressive jackpot slot from Microgaming set in a medieval banquet hall. Five reels and nine paylines keep things simple, but the real draw is a linked progressive jackpot that starts at £100,000 and grows with every spin across the network. It launched in the early days of online slots and remains one of Microgaming's most recognisable jackpot titles.

The theme leans fully into its medieval setting. A rotund, cheerful king dominates the reels alongside a princess, a knight, a jester, a fire-breathing dragon, and a generous spread of banquet food - roast chicken, fruit, and wobbly jellies. The artwork is cartoon-style rather than cinematic, which suits the lighthearted tone perfectly. Lively sound effects and a jaunty soundtrack round things out.

Reels, Paylines and Betting

The game plays across five reels with nine paylines. Paylines are fixed, so every spin covers all nine. Coin denomination is set at £0.05, with a maximum of five coins per line giving a top bet of £0.45 per spin - unusually low compared to modern slots. That fixed betting structure does keep stakes predictable, and the Bet Max button lets you reach the maximum in one click, which matters because the progressive jackpot is only accessible at max bet on the ninth payline.

With an RTP of around 91%, King Cashalot sits below average compared to most current releases. That gap is the cost of the progressive. Volatility is low, so base game wins come fairly often - they just tend to be modest in size. Think of the progressive as the headline act and the base game as the warm-up.

Symbols and Payouts

The king is the wild symbol, substituting for everything except the two scatter symbols. Land him on a winning line and the payout doubles. Five kings on an active payline pays £15,000, or triggers the jackpot if they fall on payline nine at max bet. The jester is one scatter symbol - land two or more anywhere on the reels for a scatter win paid on top of any regular line win in the same spin. The dragon is the other scatter and only appears on reels two, three, and four, where it triggers the bonus round.

Remaining symbols - the queen, knight, princess, roast chicken, jelly, and fruit - fill out the paytable with modest but consistent returns. There are no card suit fillers, which is a welcome touch and keeps the medieval atmosphere intact throughout.

Treasure Bonus Game

Land a dragon on reels two, three, and four simultaneously and you enter the Treasure Bonus Game. A row of ornate treasure chests appears on screen. Each chest hides a cash prize. Pick one, collect the amount revealed, and the round ends. The bonus does not include free spins or multipliers - it is a straightforward pick-me feature that delivers a fast, satisfying win on top of whatever the spin paid out. Simple as it is, it adds a welcome break from the base reels and gives players something to aim for beyond the jackpot.

The Progressive Jackpot

The jackpot is the centrepiece of King Cashalot. It seeds at £100,000 and climbs steadily as players across all connected casinos spin the reels. To win it, you need five king symbols to land on payline nine with all nine paylines active and max bet placed. The jackpot amount is displayed at the top of the game screen at all times, which adds a constant sense of possibility even during ordinary spins.

King Cashalot is part of Microgaming's progressive network, which links jackpots across multiple casinos simultaneously. That network effect means the pot can grow quickly during busy periods. The trade-off is the lower base RTP - a portion of every bet feeds the jackpot pool rather than returning to players through normal wins.

Is King Cashalot Worth Playing?

King Cashalot works best when you treat it as a jackpot lottery with a built-in slot game attached. The base game is enjoyable, the theme is charming, and the bonus round gives occasional boosts to your balance. But with a 91% RTP and low volatility, it is not a game that will pad your bankroll through regular play. The appeal is the jackpot - a life-changing sum accessible at just £0.45 per spin.

If you enjoy Microgaming's classic jackpot range, see the full Microgaming slots catalogue for more titles in the same network. Games like Mega Moolah carry much larger jackpots, but King Cashalot's lower entry point and focused gameplay give it a different kind of appeal - compact, unpretentious, and built around one big moment.

King Cashalot FAQ

Who makes King Cashalot?

King Cashalot is developed by Microgaming, one of the longest-established software providers in the online casino industry.

How many reels and paylines does King Cashalot have?

King Cashalot has five reels and nine paylines. All nine paylines are active on every spin.

What is the RTP of King Cashalot?

King Cashalot has an RTP of approximately 91%. The lower return rate compared to standard slots reflects the portion of each bet that feeds the progressive jackpot pool.

How do you win the progressive jackpot?

To win the King Cashalot progressive jackpot you need to land five king symbols on payline nine while playing at maximum bet. The jackpot seeds at £100,000 and grows across the Microgaming network.

What triggers the bonus game in King Cashalot?

The Treasure Bonus Game is triggered by landing a dragon symbol on reels two, three, and four at the same time. You then pick from a selection of treasure chests, each hiding a cash prize.

Does King Cashalot have free spins?

No, King Cashalot does not include a free spins feature. The main bonus round is the Treasure Bonus Game triggered by the dragon scatter on the middle three reels.