| RTP | 95.20% - Compare RTPs |
|---|---|
| Volatility | Medium |
| Reels | 5 |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Features | Bonus Rounds |
Monkey Business is a 5-reel, 20-payline video slot from Blueprint Gaming, released in October 2018. The game is the online remake of an older pub fruit machine, retaining the jungle theme and cartoon monkeys while adding an expanding wild mechanic and a link to Blueprint's Jackpot King progressive network. RTP is 96.0% in its standard configuration (96.49% when Jackpot King's contribution is included), volatility is medium, and total bet range runs from £0.20 to £200 per spin.
Theme and Visual Design
The game leans into classic fruit-machine aesthetics dressed up with monkey cartoon characters. Reels display cherries, melons, bars, and sevens alongside a cast of primates who appear in idle animations between spins. Blueprint are clearly nodding to the arcade machine era here rather than competing with high-production narrative slots. The colour palette is bright primary yellow and green. Sound design matches: upbeat, looping, inoffensive. If you prefer a busier audio-visual experience this will feel subdued, but for players who find modern slots overwhelming it is a reasonable middle ground and the animations are clean without being distracting.
Gameplay Mechanics
Wins form on 20 fixed paylines across a 5x3 grid. The bet range runs from £0.20 to £200 per spin, covering a wide range of stakes. The wild symbol substitutes for all standard symbols and expands to cover the full reel when it contributes to a win. That expanding wild mechanic is the main upgrade over the original pub fruit machine version. Two or three expanding wilds landing simultaneously can produce strong base-game wins without needing to reach the bonus round.
Hit frequency sits at roughly one in four spins, which keeps sessions feeling active. Most hits are modest - enough to slow the burn rather than build the balance quickly - but the expanding wild can spike individual spins noticeably when multiple reels fill. The 96.0% RTP is in line with the industry average, which makes this a fair choice for extended play compared to slots that ship with operator-reduced RTPs in the 94-95% range.
Free Spins Bonus
Three or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels trigger 10 free spins. During the feature, a Monkey Multiplier symbol can land on reel 3 and apply a win multiplier to that spin. The multiplier level depends on how many scatters triggered the round: 3 scatters gives a 2x multiplier, 4 scatters gives 3x, and 5 scatters unlocks 4x. Targeting the 5-scatter trigger is therefore the priority if you want the bonus round to pay at its ceiling.
There are no retrigggers within the free spins, so the feature resolves in a fixed 10 spins. It is a short, punchy bonus rather than an extended feature-within-feature build. Players who prefer longer bonus rounds with multiple layers will find this underwhelming; players who like a fast, decisive outcome will find it efficient.
Jackpot King Progressive
Monkey Business connects to Blueprint's Jackpot King network, the same progressive system found in Genie Jackpots, King Kong Cash, and Ted. The Jackpot King feature can trigger randomly on any base-game spin, taking you to a wheel-spin mechanic with the chance to win one of three progressive prize tiers: Regal, Royal, or King.
The network jackpot is funded by a small contribution from every spin across all connected Blueprint titles, so the King tier prize fluctuates depending on when it was last won and current network traffic. The 96.49% RTP figure accounts for this Jackpot King contribution - if you strip it out, the base game runs at 96.0%. For players drawn primarily to this slot by the progressive jackpot, it is worth knowing the base game is solid enough to sustain interest between jackpot triggers rather than feeling like a waiting mechanism.
How Monkey Business Compares to Other Blueprint Slots
Blueprint's back catalogue includes several stronger feature sets. Fishin' Frenzy has a more engaging base game with a fishing reel mechanic that produces larger individual hits, while Eye of Horus runs at 96.25% RTP with a hold-and-respin bonus that builds more visibly. Monkey Business sits comfortably in Blueprint's mid-range: not their most innovative title, but more polished than their early catalogue entries and better value than operator-configured slots that ship with sub-95% RTPs.
If you are specifically looking for casinos that carry Blueprint's Jackpot King range, most major UK-licensed operators stock it. The Jackpot King pot total is visible in-game, so you can check the current network value before deciding whether to play.
Key Stats
- Provider: Blueprint Gaming
- Released: October 2018
- Reels / Paylines: 5 reels, 20 fixed lines
- RTP: 96.0% (96.49% including Jackpot King)
- Volatility: Medium
- Min / Max Bet: £0.20 - £200 per spin
- Wild: Expanding wild (fills full reel)
- Bonus: 10 free spins with 2x-4x Monkey Multiplier
- Progressive: Jackpot King network (Regal / Royal / King tiers)
Verdict
Monkey Business is a competent, no-nonsense slot. The 96.0% RTP is on par with the industry average, the medium volatility and strong hit frequency make it a reasonable choice for sessions that do not require a bonus trigger to stay afloat, and the expanding wilds give the base game more action than the simple 5x3 format might suggest. The Jackpot King link is the wildcard: three separate progressive tiers give you access to Blueprint's network without the extreme variance of a pure jackpot title. It is not the most feature-rich game Blueprint have produced - Wish Upon a Leprechaun and Paws of Fury both pack more into the bonus rounds - but Monkey Business holds up as a solid, accessible entry in the Jackpot King catalogue.
Who makes Monkey Business?
Monkey Business is developed by Blueprint Gaming, a UK-based studio known for their Jackpot King progressive network and licensed titles including Genie Jackpots, King Kong Cash, Ted, and Fishin' Frenzy.
What is the RTP of Monkey Business?
The return to player (RTP) for Monkey Business is 96.0% in its standard configuration. When the Jackpot King progressive contribution is included, the total RTP rises to approximately 96.49%. Some operators may configure a lower RTP variant, so it is worth checking the in-game information screen before playing.
How does the free spins feature work in Monkey Business?
Landing 3 or more scatter symbols anywhere on the reels triggers 10 free spins. During the bonus, a Monkey Multiplier symbol can appear on reel 3 to apply a win multiplier. Three scatters gives a 2x multiplier, four scatters gives 3x, and five scatters unlocks the maximum 4x multiplier. There are no retrigggers within the free spins.
What is the Jackpot King feature in Monkey Business?
Jackpot King is Blueprint Gaming's progressive jackpot network. In Monkey Business it can trigger randomly on any base-game spin, leading to a wheel-spin game where you have the chance to win one of three progressive prize tiers: Regal, Royal, or King. The jackpot pool is shared across all Blueprint Jackpot King titles, so the prize grows network-wide between wins.
What is the bet range for Monkey Business?
The minimum bet is £0.20 per spin and the maximum is £200 per spin across 20 fixed paylines. This covers a wide range of stakes, from low-budget sessions to higher-stakes play.
Is Monkey Business a high-volatility slot?
No, Monkey Business is a medium-volatility slot. It has a hit frequency of roughly one in four spins, meaning wins come fairly regularly, though most are modest. The expanding wilds and Jackpot King feature provide the higher-end prize potential without the long dry spells typical of high-volatility titles.
Where to Play Monkey Business
We're currently updating our casino list for Monkey Business. In the meantime, browse our full casino reviews or check out current free spins offers.
Monkey Business RTP and Variance
Monkey Business has an RTP of 95.20%, which is around the industry average. See our highest RTP slots for the best returning games. Medium volatility offers a balanced mix of win frequency and payout size.