Quick Stats
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Provider | 888 (Random Logic) |
| Game Type | Video Slot / Pokie |
| RTP | Not published |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Reels / Rows | 5 × 3 |
| Paylines | 25 Fixed |
| Min Bet | $0.25 |
| Max Bet | $250.00 |
| Max Win | 750x stake |
| Features | Paying Wild, Scatter Free Spins, Expanded Wilds in Bonus |
| Theme | Shanghai / Asian City |
| Platform | Desktop & Mobile |
What Is Secrets of Shanghai?
Secrets of Shanghai puts you on the streets of one of China’s most iconic cities, with the reels set against a detailed line-drawing backdrop of the Shanghai skyline. It’s an older-style pokie from 888’s in-house studio — clean interface, standard 5×3 setup, and a modest feature set built around a free spins round with a useful twist.
The game suits players who want a low-friction session: no complex bonus mechanics to read through, no jackpot hunting required, and a betting range wide enough for both casual spins and higher stakes. The visual style is realistic rather than cartoon-heavy, with Shanghai landmark buildings as high-value symbols and traditional card faces filling the lower end of the paytable. The soundtrack uses instruments associated with Chinese music — the erhu and guzheng — which gives it a more considered feel than generic Asian-themed pokies that use generic flute loops.
It’s not built for players chasing big multipliers or retrigger chains. The ceiling is modest and the mechanics are deliberately simple. Think of it as a workmanlike pokie with genuine atmosphere rather than a feature showcase.
RTP and Volatility
888 has not published an official RTP for Secrets of Shanghai. This is the single biggest issue with the game from a player’s perspective. Multiple third-party reviews have estimated the RTP in a range of 94%–97%, with individual sites citing figures close to 95%, but none of these are confirmed by the developer. Playing any pokie without a disclosed RTP means you’re wagering without knowing a key piece of information about the game’s long-run return. That’s a legitimate concern.
What is observable through extended play is medium volatility. Wins come at reasonable frequency without the extreme dry spells of high-variance games. On a $25 session at $0.25 per spin — 100 spins — you can expect a mix of small base-game hits, occasional scatter pays, and a realistic chance of the free spins triggering once or twice. The absence of an official RTP figure makes it harder to compare Secrets of Shanghai fairly against pokies like Book of Dead or Starburst where the number is published and verifiable.
If RTP transparency is important to you, this game is a weaker choice than most modern releases from larger developers. That said, if you’re happy to use the free play mode first, you can form your own impression of hit frequency before committing real money.
Betting Range
The minimum bet is $0.25 per spin and the maximum is $250.00. The 25 paylines are fixed — you can’t deactivate lines to reduce your per-spin cost below $0.25. All symbol wins are calculated as multiples of your line bet, so every payout scales directly with what you’re wagering per spin.
At $0.25 per spin, the 750x max win returns $187.50. At $1.00 per spin it reaches $750.00. At $5.00 per spin — a reasonable level for many Kiwi players — the top payout from the wild climbs to $3,750.00.
Try this: Start at $0.25 per spin for your first 20 spins to observe how frequently the scatter lands before increasing your stake.
How to Play Secrets of Shanghai — Step by Step
- Open the info screen. Before you spin, tap or click the “i” icon in the bottom-left corner of the game. This opens a series of screens showing the paytable, symbol values, wild and scatter rules, and a diagram of all 25 paylines.
- Set your bet. Use the “+” and “–” buttons on the betting control at the bottom-left of the reels to choose your total stake per spin, from $0.25 to $250.00.
- Spin the reels. Press the Spin button for a single round, or use Autoplay to set between 10 and 75 automatic spins.
- Winning condition. Land three or more matching symbols on a payline starting from the leftmost reel. The wild substitutes for any symbol except the scatter and pays from just two symbols on a line.
- Scatter pays. Three, four, or five lamp scatters anywhere on the reels pay 3x, 15x, or 50x your total bet and also trigger 8 free spins. Scatter wins are added directly on top of any line wins from the same spin.
- Free spins. During the 8 free spins, the Girl, Pearl Tower, and Yuyuan Garden symbols become additional wilds — substituting for any symbol except the lamp and paying the same amounts as the main wild. The feature can retrigger if three or more scatters land during the round.
Try this: On your first free spins trigger, note how many of the three additional wild symbols appear — this is where the feature earns most of its value.
Symbols and Paytable
Secrets of Shanghai has 12 symbols in total — 10 paying symbols plus the wild and scatter.
The six high-value symbols are all Shanghai landmarks and characters: the Girl (highest payer), Pearl Tower, Yuyuan Garden, China Art Museum, Shanghai Tower, and the Round Building. Each pays for three or more of a kind on a payline from left to right. The top base-game symbol pays up to 500x your line bet for five on a payline.
The four low-value symbols are playing card faces — Ace, King, Queen, Jack — styled with an oriental design to match the theme. They pay smaller amounts for three, four, or five on a payline.
The Secrets of Shanghai logo wild is the highest-paying symbol in the game and is the one to watch. It pays from just two symbols on a line: 10x your stake for two, 50x for three, 150x for four, and 750x for five. That makes it both a substitute symbol and a high-value symbol in its own right — landing two wilds anywhere on a payline pays automatically even without a third matching symbol.
Bonus Features
Paying Wild — Secrets of Shanghai Logo
The game logo wild substitutes for all symbols except the lamp scatter. Uniquely for a standard wild, it pays from just two symbols on a line — meaning any two wilds anywhere on the same payline produce a win of 10x your stake, with no third symbol required. This is more generous than the standard three-symbol minimum most pokies use for wilds. Five wilds on a payline pay 750x your stake, which is the game’s maximum win.
Free Spins — Expanded Wilds
Three, four, or five lamp scatter symbols landing anywhere on the reels trigger 8 free spins. The number of scatters doesn’t change the spin count — you always receive 8 regardless. Scatter wins (3x, 15x, or 50x your total bet) are paid out in addition to the free spins, not instead of them.
During the 8 free spins, the Girl, Pearl Tower, and Yuyuan Garden symbols become additional wilds. They substitute for any symbol except the lamp and pay the same amounts as the main wild when two, three, four, or five appear on a payline. This effectively means there are four different wild symbols active during the bonus round, significantly increasing the number of winning combinations available on each free spin.
The feature can retrigger. If three or more scatters land during the free spins, another 8 spins are awarded and the expanded wild mechanic continues. There is no published cap on retriggers, though triggering the feature in the first place can take extended base-game play — multiple independent reviewers note it can be infrequent.
There are no multipliers in Secrets of Shanghai, either in the base game or during free spins. The expanded wilds are the feature’s primary upside in the absence of a multiplier.
Is Secrets of Shanghai Worth Playing?
Pros:
- The paying wild from just two symbols is a genuine player-friendly design choice — it generates base-game wins more regularly than a standard substitution-only wild.
- Expanded wilds during free spins create four active wild symbols, meaningfully improving win potential in the bonus round without requiring a multiplier to do the heavy lifting.
- Wide betting range ($0.25–$250) suits both casual Kiwi players and higher rollers without needing to adjust play style.
- Clean, atmospheric design with authentic Chinese musical accompaniment sets it above generic Asian-themed pokies.
- Free spins can retrigger with no published cap.
Cons:
- No official RTP published — this is the game’s most significant drawback and a legitimate reason to choose a more transparent pokie for regular play.
- Maximum win of 750x stake is modest by current standards; most comparable medium-volatility pokies offer higher ceilings.
- No multipliers anywhere in the game, including during free spins.
- Free spins are fixed at 8 regardless of how many scatters trigger the feature — landing five scatters gives the same 8 spins as landing three.
- The free spins feature can be slow to trigger, which may frustrate players in shorter sessions.
Secrets of Shanghai is a well-made, relaxed medium-volatility pokie that rewards patient play and delivers a pleasant session without demanding deep knowledge of complex mechanics. The expanded wilds in free spins are the standout feature. The missing RTP is a real problem for informed players — if that matters to you, there are stronger alternatives. For a low-pressure spin session at $0.25–$1.00 per spin, it’s a solid choice.
Responsible Gambling
Secrets of Shanghai uses a certified random number generator (RNG). Every spin is an independent event — past results have no influence on future outcomes and cannot be predicted. Set a session budget before you start and stick to it. If gambling is causing concern for you or someone close to you, reach out to your local responsible gambling support service for free and confidential help.
