Buffalo Gold Pros & Cons
Some good stuff here, but the RTP is a bummer.
- Gold coin multipliers add depth to free spins
- Stacked symbols create big win potential
- Free games trigger fairly often
- Available at most major casinos
- Proven Buffalo formula that works
- 94.85% RTP below industry standard
- $0.40 minimum bet too high for penny players
- Medium-high volatility = long dry spells
- Graphics look dated vs new releases
- No progressive jackpot online
Buffalo Gold Slot Review
Buffalo Gold is Aristocrat's follow-up to their massively popular Buffalo slot, and it's more of the same with a twist. Came out in 2016. The significant addition is gold buffalo symbols that show up during free spins and give you multipliers or extra games. Simple, but it works.
Here at SlotsGamblers, we tested this one to see if it's worth playing over the original. The game runs on 40 fixed paylines with medium-high volatility, so you'll be waiting around between big hits. RTP sits at 94.85% to 95.17% depending on your casino setup. That's below average, and it'll eat into your bankroll over time.
Visual theme: American wilderness—buffalo, eagles, wolves against a prairie sunset. Nothing fancy, but it looks decent. Betting starts at $0.40 per spin since all 40 lines are locked and active. Not ideal if you're a penny slot player. High-rollers can bet up to $80 or more, depending on the casino.
Aristocrat doesn't publish the max win, but you can score big when multipliers stack up during free games. If you want progressive jackpots or cutting-edge graphics, this ain't it. Buffalo Gold is about that classic casino slot feel with proven gameplay that's kept players hooked for years.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Aristocrat Gaming |
| Release Date | 2016 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines / Ways to Win | 40 fixed paylines |
| RTP (Return to Player) | 94.85% |
| Volatility Level | Medium-High |
| Min Bet | $0.40 |
| Max Bet | $80+ (varies by casino) |
| Max Win Potential | Not disclosed |
| Hit Frequency | Moderate |
| Default Bet Range | $0.40 - $80 |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
Symbols & Payouts
9 regular symbols plus the scatter. 4 premium animals, 5 card symbols, and the buffalo wild. Gold coins only show up during free games.
🦬 Buffalo Sunset Wild - Special Symbol
Buffalo silhouette against an orange sunset. Substitutes everything except scatters and only lands on reels 2, 3, and 4. Five wilds pay 300x your line bet. It stacks up to 3 high so that you can cover entire reels with wilds for massive hits. The buffalo charges when you land big wins.
🦅 Eagle - High Value
Top-paying regular symbol with sharp feather detail. Five eagles pay 300x, same as the wild. These stack frequently, and you'll see them cluster during hot streaks. Shows the eagle mid-flight with wings spread. Hits regularly between bonus rounds.
🐺 Wolf - High Value
Howling wolf pays 200x for five of a kind. Nighttime background with a full moon behind the wolf. Stacks slightly less than eagles but still pretty often. Win animation shows the wolf howling with a moon glow effect.
🦁 Mountain Lion - High Value
Crouching mountain lion pays 150x for a complete line. Good detail on the face and muscles. Stacks well during free games when everything gets more active. Delivers respectable wins but not as exciting as eagles or wolves.
🌄 Sunset Scene - Medium Value
Prairie sunset landscape paying 100x for five symbols. Filler between premium animals and cards. Purple skies with distant mountains. Forgettable, but it happens moderately often and builds smaller wins.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Purple ace with Western font. Pays 50x for five of a kind. You'll rack up frequent small wins with aces since they appear constantly.
🃏 King (K) - Low Value
Blue king is paying 50x for a complete line. Same as ace - frequent, small, consistent. Western font gives it personality, but it's still just a card.
🃏 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Green queen paying 40x for five on a line. These low cards keep your balance ticking along between big hits. Nothing special.
🃏 Jack (J) - Low Value
Jack and 10 pay 30x for full lines. Red and yellow. You'll see these constantly. Just there to create frequent small wins so you don't go broke waiting for bonuses.
🎰 Gold Coin Scatter - Special Symbol
Three or more trigger-free games. Only appear on reels 2, 3, and 4 in the base game. During free spins, they transform into gold buffalo symbols, awarding 2x-3x multipliers or extra games. Shiny gold finish with buffalo head embossed on it.
| ::: Synhoor | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | 2 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Buffalo Wild
|
300x | 100x | 25x | - | Substitutes all except scatter, reels 2-4 only, stacks |
|
Eagle
|
300x | 100x | 25x | - | Stacks frequently |
|
Wolf
|
200x | 75x | 20x | - | Stacks |
|
Mountain Lion
|
150x | 50x | 15x | - | Stacks |
|
Sunset Scene
|
100x | 30x | 10x | - | Medium frequency |
|
Ace (A)
|
50x | 20x | 5x | - | High frequency |
|
King (K)
|
50x | 20x | 5x | - | High frequency |
|
Queen (Q)
|
40x | 15x | 5x | - | High frequency |
|
Jack (J)
|
30x | 10x | 5x | - | Very high frequency |
|
10
|
30x | 10x | 5x | - | Very high frequency |
|
Gold Coin
|
- | - | Triggers bonus | - | Scatter, reels 2-4 only |
Bonus Features
One main feature - Free Games with gold buffalo coins. Simple but effective when multipliers stack.
| Feature Name | Trigger Method | Description | Max Potential Win | Frequency | Re-trigger Possible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Games
|
3 gold coins on reels 2,3,4 | 8 free spins; gold buffalos award 2x-3x multipliers or +5 spins | Substantial with stacked multipliers | Every 100-150 spins | Yes, unlimited |
|
Stacked Symbols
|
Random | Symbols stack up to high | 3 Full screen premiums possible | Common | N/A |
RTP & Volatility
RTP sits between 94.85% and 95.17% depending on the casino, below the 96% industry standard.
| Metric | Details |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
$0.40 (40 lines X $0.01) |
|
Max Bet
|
$80+ (varies by casino) |
|
Max Win
|
Not disclosed |
|
RTP %
|
94.85% - 95.17% |
|
Volatility
|
Medium-High |
Mobile
Works fine on iOS and Android. We tested on an iPhone 13 and a Samsung Galaxy—smooth, no crashes, no lag. The vertical layout adapts well to phones, though the buttons feel slightly cramped on smaller screens.
All features work the same as desktop. Touch controls are responsive, and bet adjustments are easy.
Battery drain is moderate. You'll get 2-3 hours of battery life on a full charge. Data usage is minimal.
Tips
Wait for hot streaks—stacked symbols tend to cluster. When you see frequent eagle or wolf stacks in the base game, keep playing because bonuses often follow soon after.
Track spins between bonuses - If you've gone 200+ spins without free games, your odds haven't changed, but your bankroll is hurting. Consider lowering your bet or switching to a different game.
Don't chase bad bonuses - If free games pay under 20x, don't double your bets expecting the next one to pay better. Each bonus is independent.
SlotsGamblers recommends starting at a minimum bet for 50 spins to feel out the hit frequency before raising stakes.
Max bet doesn't help - Higher bets don't trigger bonuses more often. Bet what your bankroll can handle.
Similar Games
Buffalo (Original)
The game that started it all. Same theme and layout, minus gold buffalo multipliers. Similar RTP and volatility.
Buffalo Stampede
Another Aristocrat sequel with 1024 ways to win instead of paylines. Higher volatility and bigger max wins, but eats money faster.
Wolf Gold (Pragmatic Play)
Similar wildlife theme with better 96% RTP plus progressive jackpots. More modern graphics and smoother mobile.
Raging Rhino (WMS)
African wildlife instead of American, but similar stacked symbols and free games. 4096 ways to win create more action.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the gold buffalo feature work compared to the regular Buffalo?
Gold buffalo only appear during free games and give you 2x-3x multipliers or five extra spins. Multipliers stack permanently for the whole bonus, so you can hit 15x+ if you're lucky. The original Buffalo doesn't have this.
Why is the RTP so low at 94.85%?
Aristocrat designs for land-based casinos where lower RTPs are standard because of overhead. The online version keeps the same math. Yeah, it's below 96% but that's typical for Aristocrat slots.
Can gold coins land on reels besides 2, 3, and 4?
Nah, gold coins only land on the middle three reels. You need all three to trigger free games. Keeps volatility controlled so bonuses don't trigger constantly.
What's the average payout during free games?
Most bonuses pay 20x-50x your bet. Get lucky with stacking multipliers, and you can hit 100x-200x. Massive 500x+ wins happen, but they're rare. We tested over 500 spins at SlotsGamblers and averaged about 35x per bonus.
Is Buffalo Gold better than the original Buffalo?
Depends on what you want. Gold has a higher max win potential thanks to multipliers, but RTP is nearly identical. Prefer simple gameplay? Stick with the original. Want extra complexity from collecting gold buffalo? Gold is more interesting.
How many free spins can you get a maximum?
Theoretically unlimited since retriggers are infinite. People have reported hitting 100+ free spins when Gold Buffalo kept awarding extras, but that's super rare. Most bonuses finish with 8-20 total spins.
Does max bet increase bonus frequency?
Nope, bet size doesn't affect how often bonuses trigger. You're playing the same 40 paylines either way. Scatters appear at the same rate whether you bet $0.40 or $80. Higher bets mean bigger payouts when you win.
Why isn't Buffalo Gold available at every casino?
Licensing and regulations. Aristocrat slots aren't in every market, and some online casinos focus on NetEnt or Pragmatic Play instead. Can't find Buffalo Gold online? Try land-based casinos, where it's way more common.