9 Bells

Review

The hold and win genre has become so mainstream lately that it’s getting hard to find something stand-out among hundreds of similar slots, which offer pretty much the same experience and bring little to no innovations. Developer is one of the studios really keen on the format, but they have their own different approach, and their releases provide a truly unique gaming experience. Another one to fly off the company’s conveyor belt is the 9 Bells slot, where continues to push the boundaries of the hold and win system and presents novel mechanics to iGaming enthusiasts.

Slot Developer

started its journey in iGaming back in 2011, and since then, the company has released more than 40 online slots, and now they’re on track to release 40+ unique games annually. The studio is licensed in more than 25 markets and its content can be found across more than 1500 casinos worldwide.

Slot Theme And Storyline

In true’s fashion, the 9 Bells slot machine utilizes a classic, old-school-inspired theme. While everything is kept simple, the production values are pretty high, with sharp detailed graphics and smooth animations. The soundtrack is also alright, as the relaxing tune accompanying the gameplay fits it perfectly.

9 Bells Rules And Gameplay

Players drop in by setting base bets from €0.1 to €10,000, plus bets up to €60,000 are possible with the Chance Level™ feature enabled. The actions take place on a standard 3x3 reel setup, but unlike other slots, each position here spins independently. There are no regular paying symbols to be found in 9 Bells game, and reels can only reveal either one of the many bonus symbols or blanks.

Basically, the hold-and-win madness starts from the very beginning. Available symbols are Cash, Cash Infinity™, Mystery, Jackpot Mystery, Collector, and Bells. We’ll cover all of them in detail in the next section of our 9 Bells review, but here’s a brief explanation: the first two display random cash values, the next two reveal random cash values or jackpots, the penultimate collects all other values and boosts the sum with a multiplier, and the latter is used to trigger the bonus round. When any 3 bonus symbols appear within the Cash Out area, which is the middle row of the grid, their values are summed up and paid to the player.

9 Bells Bonuses And Special Features

Central to the gameplay of the 9 Bells online slot is the Hold the Jackpot™ bonus game, where all of the above-mentioned symbols contribute. Now, let’s walk you through each of those closely:

• Cash symbols - award prizes from 1x to 5x the bet. Can also land displaying Mini, Minor, or Major jackpots, worth 10x, 20x, or 50x the bet respectively.
• Cash Infinity™ - award prizes from 5x to 10x the bet. Whenever these symbols appear, they stick to the reels and remain held until the bonus game is triggered and completed. Can only appear in positions where a Bell symbol was previously drawn.
• Mystery symbols - can transform into any bonus symbol except for the Cash Infinity™. Reveal their prize at the end of the bonus game or the Cash Out feature.
• Jackpot Mystery - can transform into either Mini, Minor, or Major jackpot symbols. Reveal their prize at the end of the bonus game or the Cash Out feature.
• Collector - accumulates all other cash values from Cash and Cash Infinity™ symbols on the reels and randomly multiplies the sum by anything between 1x and 20x.

Hold the Jackpot™

Bells mentioned in the name are the most desired symbols here, as they are the key to initiating the bonus round. When a Bell symbol appears, it gets collected and added to the corresponding position on the Bonus Matrix, sitting to the right of the main reels. When the Bonus Matrix is full, which is when 9 bells are collected, the Hold the Jackpot™ feature comes into play.

Players receive 9 respins and players proceed to special reels where all bonus symbols are sticky and lock in place for the remainder of the feature. The bonus continues until the player runs out of respins or the entire reel setup is filled with bonus symbols. At the end, all prize values in view are summed up and paid as the total bonus win. If the reels are filled completely though, a Grand Jackpot of 1,500x the stake is awarded instead.

Gamble

After each win you achieve during the gameplay, a Gamble is offered, where you can risk your gains for a chance to increase the prize. It’s a simple card gamble, where the point is to guess the color of the next drawn card. Guess correctly, the win doubles. Guess wrong, however, you lose. The feature is repeatable and can be played for a maximum of 7 consecutive rounds or until the win limit of €15,000 is reached.

Buy Feature

An extensive 9 Bells bonus buy menu offers players an opportunity to skip through the base game and jump straight into the bonus immediately for a fixed price:

• 50x the bet - triggers a bonus with two starting Cash symbols. Has Low volatility.
• 75x the bet - triggers a bonus with a starting Cash symbol and a Mystery symbol. Has Standard volatility.
• 150x the bet - triggers a bonus with a starting Cash Infinity™ and a Mystery symbol. Has High volatility.
• 300x the bet - triggers a bonus with two starting Cash Infinity™ symbols and one Mystery symbol. Has Extreme volatility.
• 600x the bet - triggers a bonus with two Cash Infinity™ symbols, one Mystery symbol, and one Mystery Jackpot symbol. Has Double Extreme volatility.

Chance Level™

Alternatively, players can opt for a bonus bet to increase their chances of hitting a bonus round:

• Chance Level™ x2 - doubles the base bet for at least 2x higher chance of activating the bonus game.
• Chance Level™ x4 - increases the base bet by four times giving at least 5x higher chance of activating the bonus game.
• Chance Level™ x4 - increases the base bet by six times giving at least 8x higher chance of activating the bonus game.

How To Play 9 Bells Slot For Real Money

All you have to do to get started with the 9 Bells real money game is to follow these easy steps, which would take a maximum of a couple of minutes:

9 Bells RTP, Volatility, And Max Win

As the game’s help tab suggests, 9 Bells RTP value is solid at 96.16%, which is above the average level across the industry. When it comes to variance, players familiar with other releases should have heard of their trademarked Volatility Levels™, which allow players to choose game style manually at their preference:

• Low volatility - frequent payouts but usually smaller. Perfect for those who prefer shorter gameplay sessions.
• Standard volatility - offers a balance between payout size and frequency. Would suit players looking for big wins at a fair rate.
• High volatility - less frequent wins but more sizeable. Intended for gamblers not afraid of taking risks.

The 9 Bells max win, however, is pretty low at 1,500x the stake. Note that when a Grand Jackpot is won, which awards the top win, the bonus game ends immediately, and no other additional prizes are given.

9 Bells Demo Version And Free Play

At SlotCatalog, we always recommend starting with the demo first, and we have the 9 Bells free play version installed on our website, available for everyone without any registration or download. The game box is sitting at the top of this page, or you can simply follow this link to play 9 Bells demo right away.

Play 9 Bells Slot On Your Mobile

sticks to the so-called ‘mobile-first’’ approach, so their games are intended to be played on mobile in the first place. Therefore, you can expect a perfect gaming experience on any Android or iOS tablet and smartphone.

Strategy & Tips For Winning

The best 9 Bells strategy would be to stick to a predetermined budget and customize the gameplay based on your bankroll. Choose your preferred level of volatility and take advantage of the bonus bet if you may to maximize the odds of hitting a bonus and getting paid. Plus, you can take note of the following tips and advice to enhance your overall experience:

• Choose only licensed and trustworthy casinos.
• Always claim a bonus before starting your session.
• Try the free demo first.
• Use the buy feature carefully.
• Play for fun only.

Pros And Cons Of 9 Bells Online Slot

Pros	Cons
Exciting gameplay format	Relatively low max win
Innovative Bonus Matrix system
Opportunity to win jackpots on any spin
Players-favorite Hold the Jackpot™ bonus
Plenty possibilities for customization
Above-average RTP

Similar Slots To Try

9 Coins Grand Diamond Edition - a similar hold-and-win based game by , which offers a slightly different set of features and a larger 5,000x max win.

20 Coins - another game from ’s Hold the Jackpot™ series, which plays on a bigger grid and uses a different bonus system.

Review Summary

It’s hard to tell how many slots built on the streak-style respins mechanic we’ve seen over the years, but one thing is certain: if you’re looking for something different and unique, is the choice. 9 Bells, although is basically yet another hold-and-win game, offers gameplay that is newer and less recycled than most other slots out there. Thus, for fans of the genre, this one is a perfect option.