Guido’s Gold has 13 symbols in total. The low-paying tier uses five playing card symbols styled in bright desert colours (presumably the standard A, K, Q, J, 10 set). The high-paying tier is theme-specific: four differently coloured crickets, a sombrero, the game’s logo, chili sauce, and crossed maracas.

The 3×3 grid itself is a classic fruit machine — bells, oranges, plums, lemons, cherries, grapes, sevens, boxes, and the Joker Wild at the top. The Joker Wild can appear randomly in the centre position, substituting for any symbol and helping complete paylines across all 5 active lines.The four coloured crickets are particularly relevant because they’re the symbols Guido catches during Free Spins for boosted wins — so their relative value in the paytable likely reflects their boosting potential during the feature as well. Specific coin values for each symbol are not published by any independent source for this title. Check the in-game paytable for exact figures.

At 96.98% RTP — nearly 97% — this is one of the most player-friendly RTPs on the Blackspins platform and one of the highest in Felix Gaming’s own catalogue. SlotsFan’s platform review specifically highlights It’s a Joker as Felix Gaming’s all-time best-performing slot.Guido

is the Wild. He substitutes for all standard symbols and pays on his own across the paylines. He’s the only special symbol in the game and serves double duty as the Free Spins trigger when three or more land anywhere simultaneously.

Who this is for: NZ players who enjoy compact, fast-playing 3×3 pokies with genuine bonus action on every spin, want a near-97% RTP, and appreciate a distinctive horror aesthetic on a classic fruit machine template.No traditional separate scatter symbol exists in this game. The Wild performs both roles.

Who this is not for:Bonus Features High rollers — the $7.50 maximum bet is a hard ceiling. Players who want large max win ceilings (400× is modest) or deep multi-stage bonus mechanics.

Guido Wild — Base Game Substitution

RTP and Volatility

In the base game, Guido substitutes for any standard symbol on any reel, helping to complete or extend payline wins. Two or more Guido symbols on adjacent reels from reel 1 can form their own paying combination. Because there are only 10 paylines, each Wild appearance on a contributing reel matters more than in a higher-payline game — a single Guido landing on reel 3 can simultaneously fix multiple incomplete combinations across the active lines.

It’s a Joker carries an RTP of 96.98%Free Spins — Guido Catches Crickets, confirmed across all independent sources. The house edge is 3.02% — well above the 96% industry average and one of the top RTPs in the Blackspins lobby alongside Hit Saber (97.50%) and Hit the Diamond (96.5%). For comparison, Felix Gaming’s other Blackspins-listed title Hit Saber sits at 97.50%.

Landing three or more Guido Wild symbols anywhere on the reels triggers the Free Spins feature. The number of free spins awarded scales with how many Guidos triggered it — three Guidos likely awards the minimum count, with four and five awarding progressively more, though the exact spin counts are not published in independent sources.

Volatility is medium-highDuring Free Spins, Guido’s behaviour on the reels shifts: he now actively catches the cricket symbols that land during each spin. When Guido catches a cricket, that cricket’s win is boosted above its standard paytable value. The four differently coloured crickets (red, blue, yellow, and green based on the source page’s description) likely carry different boost magnitudes — how much each colour is worth beyond its base value is not confirmed by any external review. Check the in-game rules panel during demo play to confirm exact cricket boosting values before wagering real money.. Felix Gaming’s own rating places it at 4/5 for volatility (per GoodLuckMate). The 5-payline 3×3 format means base-game wins from payline combinations are less frequent than wider-grid games, but the flanking bonus reels deliver free spins and multiplier values on every spin — creating a rhythm where the bonus reels contribute meaningfully even when the main grid doesn’t produce a payline win.

The Free Spins mode is the primary earning engine of Guido’s Gold. A session without triggering it at least once will typically show a net loss in the base game. Whether the feature can be retriggered is not confirmed in any available source — check the in-game rules.

At $0.25 minimum, a $25 session covers 100 spins. The 3×3 grid resolves instantly, making session pace fast.

Is Guido’s Gold Worth Playing?

Betting Range

Pros:

It’s a Joker accepts bets from $0.25 to $7.50 per spin . All 5 paylines are fixed. The compact max bet is the game’s primary limitation for players wanting large absolute payouts — 400× at $7.50 = $3,000 maximum session win.Guido Wild serving as both a substitution Wild and a scatter trigger is a clean, unified mechanic — you’re watching for one symbol, not two

The bet range makes this a genuine casual player’s slot. At $0.25, a $25 budget covers 100 spins. At $1.00, $100 covers 100 spins. The multiplier up to 25× means even small stakes can produce 25× the bet on a Joker Wild payline combination.Cricket-catching mechanic during Free Spins gives the bonus round a distinct identity rather than being a generic free spin re-run

Autoplay is available.$0.01 minimum bet makes it accessible for very low-stakes casual play

$1.00 maximum bet is a very low ceiling — high volatility with a $1 max bet means even strong bonus results produce limited cash value

How to Play It’s a Joker — Step by Step

RTP is not independently verified; the 95.5% in the body text is sourced from the operator page only, and the stats field is blank

The 3×3 main grid is straightforward. The flanking bonus reels add the interesting layer — pay attention to both sides before each spin resolves.

Max win is not published, making it impossible to assess the game’s actual upside

1. Set your bet.Only 10 paylines on a 5×3 grid means base-game win frequency is low and sessions between bonus triggers can feel lean Choose between $0.25 and $7.50. All 5 paylines are always active.
Very limited independent coverage — no dedicated review on major slots databases, which makes it harder to assess real-world performance
2. Observe the full screen layout. Three reels to your left: the main 3×3 grid and two single-symbol bonus reels flanking it on each side. All five areas spin simultaneously on every round.Reflex Gaming is a niche studio; their online track record and certification standards are less documented than major providers
3. Press spin. The main 3×3 grid resolves left-to-right combinations on 5 paylines. The two flanking reels simultaneously show a free spins value (one reel) and a multiplier value (other reel).Bottom line:
Guido’s Gold is a focused, low-complexity micro-stakes pokie with a charming desert-lizard theme and a Free Spins mode built around a cricket-catching mechanic that gives the bonus genuine personality. The $1 max bet cap keeps it firmly in casual territory — this is a game you play for fun at low stakes, not one you grind at high bet for jackpot-level returns. Verify the RTP in-game before playing and run the demo first to get a feel for Wild frequency.
4. If the main grid produces a payline win: The right-side multiplier reel value is applied to that win. A Joker Wild three-of-a-kind worth 16× your bet multiplied by 25× = 400× your bet — the game’s maximum.Responsible Gambling
5. If the left-side reel shows a free spins value (1–5):Guido’s Gold uses an RNG to determine all outcomes. Every spin is random and independent — no strategy, spin history, or bet size changes what comes next. Set a session budget before you play. High volatility games can produce long runs without significant wins. If gambling is causing concern for you or anyone close to you, contact your local responsible gambling support service for help. Those free spins play out immediately, with the multiplier from the right-side reel locked in for all of them. Free spins + multiplier work in tandem.
6. Random Joker Wild (centre position).

Dual Flanking Bonus Reels (Active Every Spin)

The defining mechanic of It’s a Joker. Two single-symbol reels are positioned on either side of the main 3×3 grid and spin on every single round — they are not triggered, they are always running.

<

< Displays a multiplier value. When a payline win occurs, the multiplier is applied. Maximum multiplier: img src="https://unicorn-cdn.bingosys.net/functionality/api/images/regulatory/ecogra_footer_logo.png" alt="ecogra">25× . During free spins, the multiplier reel value from the triggering spin remains active for the duration of the free spins feature.

< img src="https://www.blackspins.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Safe-Better-1.png" alt="Safe-Better">

It’s a Joker draws explicit visual inspiration from Stephen King’s IT — a malevolent clown, drain/sewer backdrop, and a small paper boat visible floating in the scene. PlaySlots.net calls the aesthetic a “steampunk-horror mashup” — Victorian-era cog elements, deep blue shadows, and the Joker character drawn with cartoon horror flair that’s unsettling without being graphic.

<
• every single spin — you’re always in bonus-adjacent territory<