| Provider | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| RTP | 97.80% - Compare RTPs |
| Volatility | High |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 5 |
Kings of Chicago is unlike any other slot you'll play. Developed by NetEnt and launched in August 2011, this game throws out conventional slot mechanics entirely and replaces them with a poker hand system. Instead of spinning reels lined with fruit, gems or card suits, every round deals you 15 playing cards across five rows and five paylines. Wins come from forming recognised poker hands along those lines, not from matching identical symbols.
The result is a game that feels completely different from a standard slot, sits comfortably above average on the pay-back scale, and has held its own for well over a decade without feeling dated. If you've ever found regular slots a bit passive, Kings of Chicago might be exactly what you're looking for.
How Kings of Chicago Works
Each round deals 15 cards from a standard deck across five paylines of three cards each. Those five rows are your active bet lines. Rather than needing three matching symbols in a row, you need the cards along each line to form a poker hand. Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush, Full House, Four of a Kind, Straight Flush and Royal Flush are all on the pay table. The higher the hand, the bigger the reward.
This changes how you think about each round. You're not watching a reel spin past hoping for a lucky stop. You're looking across five card rows, spotting whether any of them have come together into a hand. It's familiar territory if you've played video poker before, but the slot format means you're assessing five potential wins simultaneously rather than just one hand at a time.
The Dealsman mechanic is central to the experience. The Dealsman acts as the dealer who distributes the cards for each spin, and the results across all five paylines are revealed in sequence. It's a theatrical touch that fits the 1920s Chicago prohibition setting, and it keeps each round engaging rather than just watching numbers tick over.
Special Features
Joker Wild
One Joker card is shuffled into the deck. When it appears on a payline and helps complete a winning poker hand, it doubles the payout for that line. The Joker acts as a wild, substituting for any card needed to form or improve a hand. Landing the Joker on a high-value line can push a modest win into something considerably more worthwhile.
Free Spins and Scatter Cards
Land three or more Scatter cards in a single deal and you trigger the free spins bonus round. All wins during free spins carry a 2x multiplier, applied on top of the standard poker hand payouts. The combination of the multiplier with the top poker hands is where the biggest returns in this game come from. The maximum payout reaches 13,000x your stake, achieved through the free spins feature with premium hands.
RTP and Volatility
Kings of Chicago has an RTP of 97.8%, which places it among the highest-returning slots NetEnt has ever produced. For context, the industry average sits closer to 96%, so this game pays back noticeably more over time. Volatility is medium, meaning wins arrive with reasonable regularity rather than in long dry spells punctuated by rare large pays.
The poker hand mechanic naturally produces this kind of volatility profile. Lower hands like Pair or Three of a Kind come up often enough to keep play ticking over, while straights, flushes and full houses deliver more substantial returns on the occasions they appear. Royal Flushes and big multiplier combinations in free spins are rarer but meaningful when they land.
The Setting
The game is set against the backdrop of 1920s Chicago, the prohibition era when speakeasies, jazz clubs and organised crime defined the city. The visual style leans into this with a dark, moody colour palette, period-appropriate typography and character art straight out of the gangster genre. The Dealsman who distributes cards each round fits naturally into this world as a suited, slick operator running the table.
The soundtrack adds to the atmosphere without becoming repetitive. It's atmospheric rather than intrusive, which matters for a game where you're taking time to read five card rows rather than just watching a reel spin for a second and a half.
Who Is Kings of Chicago For?
Kings of Chicago works best for players who want something genuinely different. If you understand the basics of poker hand rankings, the game clicks immediately. If you don't, the pay table explains everything clearly enough, and the mechanic becomes intuitive within a few rounds.
The 97.8% RTP makes it particularly appealing for players who prioritise value. High-RTP games don't guarantee individual session results, but they do mean the maths is working more in your favour than it would be on a lower-returning title. For players who like to think about their session in terms of expected return, that number matters.
The medium volatility suits players who want a balance between frequency and size of wins. It's not a high-variance game that requires a long run to see its potential, but it's also not so flat that every spin returns a small amount. The free spins round is where the bigger hits live, and the multiplier on top of poker hand payouts is what makes it genuinely exciting when it triggers.
Standard slot players who want to try something with more mechanical depth will find Kings of Chicago an easy step up. Video poker fans who want more visual engagement than a standard poker client offers will find the format familiar and the setting appealing. The game occupies an unusual space in the NetEnt catalogue, and it remains one of the most distinctive titles the developer has released.
Key Game Stats
- Developer: NetEnt
- Released: August 2011
- RTP: 97.8%
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 5
- Volatility: Medium
- Max payout: 13,000x stake
- Special features: Joker Wild, Free Spins with 2x multiplier, Scatter cards
What makes Kings of Chicago different from a normal slot?
Instead of spinning reels with matching symbols, Kings of Chicago deals 15 playing cards across five paylines each round. Wins are based on poker hands such as Three of a Kind, Straight, Flush and Royal Flush forming along those lines, rather than matching three identical symbols.
What is the RTP of Kings of Chicago?
Kings of Chicago has an RTP of 97.8%, which is one of the highest of any NetEnt slot and significantly above the industry average of around 96%.
How do free spins work in Kings of Chicago?
Landing three or more Scatter cards in a single deal triggers the free spins bonus round. All wins during free spins carry a 2x multiplier applied on top of the standard poker hand payouts, giving the potential for much larger returns.
What does the Joker card do in Kings of Chicago?
A single Joker card is shuffled into the deck. When it appears on a payline and helps complete a winning poker hand, it acts as a wild card substituting for whatever card is needed, and it doubles the payout for that winning line.
Do I need to know poker to play Kings of Chicago?
A basic understanding of poker hand rankings helps, but is not required. The game explains which hands pay on the pay table, and the mechanic becomes intuitive within a few rounds. Three of a Kind, Straights, Flushes, Full Houses and Royal Flushes are all covered.
What is the maximum payout in Kings of Chicago?
The maximum payout in Kings of Chicago is 13,000x your stake, achievable through the free spins feature when the 2x multiplier combines with high-value poker hands.
Where to Play Kings of Chicago
These online casinos carry NetEnt games including Kings of Chicago. Read our Donbet review or browse all casino reviews.
Kings of Chicago RTP and Variance
Kings of Chicago has an RTP of 97.80%, which is well above average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. High volatility means wins come less often but tend to be significantly larger. Explore our high volatility slots guide.
More NetEnt Slots
If you enjoy Kings of Chicago, try these other NetEnt games available at the same casinos.
