Lucky 88 is an Aristocrat pokie machine released in 2016. The game is available to play at physical casinos in Australia and around the world, as well as on real money online casinos we‘ve listed on this page.
The Lucky 88 pokie is a popular Chinese-themed game with 5 reels, 3 rows, and 25 paylines. The stakes range from A$0.06 to A$6.25 per round with the jackpot set at 888 coins. What makes Lucky 88 such a popular game is the range of features. You will encounter wilds, scatters, multipliers, free spins variations, and a bonus game with instant prizes.
Despite the high volatility, Lucky 88 has a nearly 50% hit rate and an RTP maximum of 95.6%. Read about my Lucky 88 experience and its features before heading to one of the listed casinos to play the game for real money.
- High hit rate
- High wins in the base game with 88x multipliers
- Several bonus rounds
- Flexible betting range
- Multiplier animation occurs even on losing spins
- Below average RTP
- Low max win
- Outdated graphics
Lucky 88 Review
| Developer | Aristocrat |
| Reels | 5 |
| Rows | 3 |
| Paylines | 25 |
| Stakes | A$0.06 – A$6.25 per spin (1.2x more for active Extra Choice) |
| Volatility | High |
| RTP | 95.6% |
| Highest Win | 78,144 Coins |
| Special Features | Wilds, Scatters, Multipliers, Free Spins, Dice Bonus Game, Extra Choice, Bonus Retrigger |
| Release Year | 2016 |
| Similar Games | More Chilli, Big Red, Where’s The Gold, Dragon Link, Lightning Link |
Chinese pokies have been very popular Down Under, with Aussie players also considering the number 8 a solid one to chase through their gameplay. Although many titles follow this concept, few capture it as well as Aristocrat in the Lucky 88 pokie. All multiplier values and max win are tied to 8s, radiating a strong feeling of luck.
In terms of display, symbols, and graphics, Lucky 88 looks a bit dated just like most other online pokies by Aristocrat. There is a red background and the game grid almost takes up the whole screen. The symbols are clearly laid out in the middle of the screen across 3 rows and 5 reels. The balance, win, and total bets are visible at the top, with a settings icon on the right, and then you have the spin and extra choice feature right below.
If you don’t want to read the complete Lucky 88 review, I urge you to take a look into the settings for payout and bonus details.
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Grasping the Lucky 88 gameplay shouldn’t take over a minute or two. It works like most other online pokies, but before you read below, sign up on one of the Lucky 88 online casinos we’ve listed on this page.
- Next, search for Aristocrat pokies in the lobby, and pin down Lucky 88.
- After the game launches, you will be able to see your balance, total bet, win, and special features at the top center.
- You can set your stake per spin by opening the settings and navigating to the coins tab. You can bet on 1 – 25 lines from A$0.01 per line up to A$0.25. The betting range when all paylines are active ranges from A$0.25 to A$6.25 per spin. Activating the Extra Choice feature automatically increases your bet by 1.2x.
- You are now ready to start betting on the Lucky 88 pokie machine. We advise users to manage the sound controls and set autospins instead of manually hitting the spin button although it’s up to you really. The ‘I’ icon is where you can discover more about how the game works.
- Payouts are formed from left to right and multiple lines can pay on a single spin. An animation occurs after every spin displaying the win multiplier for that round. Typically, 3+ symbols must appear on a line for a win, except for the 9, scatter, wild, and higher-paying symbols.
Make sure to set your bets carefully before hitting the floor, and manage your sessions with care. Lucky 88 is a highly addictive online pokie and it is extremely easy to continue betting even when you have wagered more than you should have.
Odds & Payouts: Symbols, RTP and Volatility
The symbols in Lucky 88 pay a fixed amount of coins, so the total payout of your spins will depend on the value of each coin you are wagering per line. This is different from most modern games displaying the payouts in relation to your bet size instead of credits. Nonetheless, here is what the Lucky 88 paytable looks like:
| Symbols | 2 on a payline | 3 on a payline | 4 on a payline | 5 on a payline |
| 9 | 2 coins | 5 coins | 18 coins | 48 coins |
| Q, 10, J | – | 5 coins | 18 coins | 58 coins |
| K | – | 5 coins | 38 coins | 68 coins |
| A | – | 8 coins | 38 coins | 68 coins |
| Temple & Drum | – | 8 coins | 48 coins | 78 coins |
| Statue | – | 18 coins | 58 coins | 88 coins |
| Lion & Swan | 2 coins | 18 coins | 68 coins | 88 coins |
| LAMP Scatter | 1 coins | 2 coins | 8 coins | 188 coins |
| MAN Wild | 8 coins | 188 coins | 388 coins | 888 coins |
It should be obvious that significant wins are only likely to come when the wilds or scatters appear on the reels. However, the special features in the game can make even low-paying symbol wins considerable.
Combinations occur on almost every other spin at Lucky 88, at least when I was trialing the game. This seems unlikely for a high volatility pokie but I guess large wins can take a while to appear. Based on Aristocrat’s variance rating for this game, I suggest you take things slow and bet small amounts, ideally the minimum coin size but on all paylines.
The RTP is another important metric to consider when playing pokies. The Lucky 88 RTP ranges based on the number of active paylines and whether the Extra Choice feature is activated. The lowest RTP configuration is 89.91%, reaching an average of 95.6% when all paylines and the Extra Choice feature are activated. It’s worth it considering a total stake of A$0.3 per round is required if you do not increase the coin size.
Although the Lucky 88 RTP value is theoretical, it’s important to remember that all pokies come with an inherent house edge. Payouts are randomized through RNG software but in the long run, you will end up a loser.
Lucky 88 Bonus Features
The easiest way to end up winning playing Lucky 88 pokie is landing a sizeable win through the special features and calling it a day. Here is what you can expect:
Extra Choice
Extra choice is an optional feature that increases your bet per spin by 1.2x for improved bonus rounds. To activate it, players must be wagering on all paylines. Based on the Lucky 88 resources I’ve got it’s worth it, increasing your long-term RTP slightly.
Random Wild Multipliers
The Man Wild symbol acts as a substitute for all Lucky 88 symbols except the scatter. What’s special here is that the wild also activates the random multipliers ranging from 2 – 88x per spin in the base and bonus games.
The annoying thing is that the animation revaling your multiplier occurs even on non-winning spinnings, making Lucky 88 quite slow-paced. Additionally, the wild symbol is the highest paying one, paying 888x when 5 appear on a payline. If you also hit the Lucky 88x multiplier you can bag over 70,000 coins from a single spin!
Free Spins
Aristocrat makes it seem like the extra choice is a must to trigger the Lucky 88 free spins round when in fact, the only requirement is betting on all paylines. Other than this, you need at least three scatters anywhere on the reels. Then, you get a payout ranging from 1 – 188x your total bet plus four sets of free spins options with 2 multiplier values. The options differ depending on whether you had the Extra Choice feature active during the bonus trigger.
| Bonus Options | Extra Choice Activate | No Extra Choice |
| Free Games Option 1 | 25 FS + 5 or 18 multiplier | 20 FS + 5 or 18 multiplier |
| Free Games Option 2 | 15 FS + 8 or 38 multiplier | 10 FS + 8 or 38 multiplier |
| Free Games Option 3 | 8 FS + 18 or 88 multiplier | 3 FS + 18 or 88 multiplier |
| Free Games Option 4 | 4 FS + 88 multiplier | / |
What’s great about the Lucky 88 free spins bonus is that it lets you choose the volatility. Going for more free spins will result in frequent smaller wins, and vice versa if you opt-in for the highest multipliers. The bonus can be re-triggered while playing the free spins by landing 3 or more extra scatters.
Dice Feature
When three scatters land on the reels and the Extra Choice feature is active, players get two bonuses instead of just the free games.
At the start of the bonus round, the user gets 3 dice games. Each round begins with the 8 outer dice being rolled, and any 8s that are rolled remain stacked and multiplied by the total credits per line in the end.
There is an option to retrigger the dice bonus round by landing the 3 more games option.
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Aristocrat Gaming mainly powers games for land-based casinos in QLD, Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, etc. Having said this, there are a few free mobile casino apps and selected operators that feature their games, including Lucky 88.
Although free mobile pokies that do not pay real money aren’t appealing, many Aussies end up at sites like thePokies.net, Q7 Casino, Pokizino, and Pokiez which seem to feature the highly-coveted games. I’ve reviewed them and they do not host the original versions but pirated titles.
Where does this leave users looking to play Lucky 88 online pokie? Well, you can try the game here for free no registration or download. For real money, you have to settle for Lucky 88 alternatives like Plentiful Treasure by RTG and 88 Fortunes by SG Digital. Both titles are featured on the listed operators and not only look better than Lucky 88 but they also pay out way higher jackpots!
Lucky 88 Strategies & Tips
Strategies, hacks, and tricks for Lucky 88 and other legitimate pokies don’t work. Winning at the casino depends on luck since all games work based on a random number generator. Users cannot do much to influence the games’ outcomes in any way – BUT Lucky 88 has been designed with three adjustable features offering a few ways to maximize your budget:
- Betting on all paylines is essential to get the most out of Lucky 88. Failing to do so removes the free games and dice bonus options.
- Activating the Extra Choice feature is another thing you can control and increase the RTP. This isn’t just a guess, Aristocrat clearly states that having this option activated brings the Lucky 88 RTP value to its maximum range.
- Lucky 88 free games come with four options. Players on a tight budget are advised to choose the one with the highest number of free spins, while those looking for less frequent but sizeable wins should go for the highest multiplier.
- Lastly, playing Lucky 88 online pokie at legit and licensed operators we recommend is a must. Otherwise, you might end up playing pirated versions rigged against you. Legit casinos do not just feature the original Lucky 88 version; they also give out huge bonuses and free spins to help you turn the odds in your favour.
Is the Lucky 88 Pokie Worth Playing?
What pokies you end up playing depends on the theme, budget, and personal bonus preferences. Lucky 88 appears to be one of the most popular Aristocrat online pokies in Australia and it is easy to see why.
The game might be a bit rough on the edges but it has several special features and a couple of adjustable features that give a sense of control to the player. Hefty multipliers can land on any wild win during the base game, making the whole experience fascinating and not revolving around the bonus round only.
Still, the RTP and jackpot at Lucky 88 are considerably lower than newer slots and pokies offered at online casinos, making it a less appealing option for most.
- About the Author
- Affiliate Disclosure
Michael has reviewed and verified all information on this page. Having worked in the iGaming industry for over 8 years, he is the most capable person to help you navigate online casinos, pokies, and the Australian gambling landscape.
