The Equalizer is a futuristic, music-themed video slot with 5 reels and 15 paylines from Isle of Man-based software developer Red Tiger Gaming. With beautiful visuals, expanding wilds and reels, and an innovative Free Spins feature, the slot offers a fun, intense gaming experience and the chance to win up to 10,000 times your original stake.
Red Tiger’s The Equalizer was launched in May 2019 and was instantly recognized as one of the most interesting releases of the year. Visually, it draws inspiration from retro 1980s science fiction: a futuristic city in the background, neon blue and magenta colors, and an equalizer below the reels that reacts to events in the game and to the music. The soundtrack is rather basic and non-intrusive, which is refreshing. The symbols on the reels are nothing extraordinary: playing card suits, bars, and diamonds, and there are not many additional features.
Still, the slot itself expands from the classic 5×4 reel grid to 7 reels and 6 rows, while the paylines increase to a maximum of 60. There are also free spins and expanding wilds. The graphics are spectacular, and the winning potential reaches 10,000 times the stake. As the number of paylines is fixed, players can adjust the stake size by using the button in the lower left corner of the screen. Overall, this is a high-volatility slot with a high hit rate and a theoretical return to player of approximately 96.08%.
| The Equalizer Slot Summary | |
|---|---|
| Software Provider | Red Tiger Gaming |
| Paylines | 15-60 |
| RTP | 96.08% |
| Min Bet | $0.20 |
| Max Bet | $10.00 |
| Wild Symbol | The letter W acts as the Wild substitute and expands to fill the entire reel. |
| Scatter Symbol | The Free Spins symbol functions as a Scatter and three symbols of this kind activate 10 Free Spins. |
| Bonus Features | The slot randomly expands to 7×6 reels with 60 paylines. Three Free Spins symbols appearing scattered on the reels trigger 10 Free Spins. |
| Jackpot | x10,000 |
Red Tiger Gaming
Before delving into the gameplay and intensity of The Equalizer, let us take a look at its creator, Red Tiger Gaming, since this slot differs significantly from the studio’s other releases. The gaming studio was founded in 2014 by software developers, graphic designers, and gambling experts with previous experience in the industry, so it is no wonder that they evolved quickly, releasing their first casino games almost immediately.
What sets Red Tiger Gaming apart from most software providers is its solid, cutting-edge software platform that allows games to run consistently on many online casino websites. In fact, their slots can be found on a large number of gaming sites, and operators have the option to adjust features such as casino bonuses and progressive jackpots. The studio has also launched a handful of table games, namely blackjack, baccarat, European roulette, and Blackjack Deal or No Deal.
Compared to most of Red Tiger’s slots, The Equalizer features a very different theme, as the software provider usually creates fantasy- and Oriental-themed games. In terms of quality, however, the studio always delivers rich graphics, smooth animations, and engaging content. As with many of its other slots, The Equalizer offers a somewhat ordinary base game, yet includes fun, unconventional mechanics and a bonus game. Below, you can find more about this unique, shape-shifting slot.
Symbols and Winning Combinations of The Equalizer Slot
The semi-transparent reels display traditional yet beautifully drawn symbols that line up in combinations of three or more to produce a payout. Playing card suits act as the lower-paying symbols, starting with clubs, followed by diamonds, hearts, and spades. Alongside these four, there are also stars, bars, a pair of dice, and diamonds, while the highest-paying symbol is the yellow sports car. Players who land 7 of these on a payline receive a payout of 1,500 times the stake.
In addition to these symbols, the game also features a Wild symbol, represented simply by the letter W. Except for the Scatter, the Wild substitutes for all other symbols and may expand vertically to cover all four tiles in any reel (or all six tiles during the bonus feature). On its own, however, the Wild does not offer any payouts. The Free Spins image is the Scatter symbol in this slot. Just like the Wild, it does not form winning combinations. However, when three Free Spins symbols land anywhere on the reels, they trigger 10 free spins.
Bonus Features of The Equalizer Slot
The Equalizer is not particularly rich in bonus features, but the few it offers are designed in an interesting way. The first is the Expanding Slot, which triggers randomly, adding two additional reels and two more rows for a 7×6 reel grid. On this larger grid, a total of 60 paylines appear, and winning combinations can be formed with up to 7 matching symbols. This expanded slot is active for the current spin only. After that, it shrinks back to its regular size.
The other exciting mechanic is the Free Spins feature, triggered when three Scatters land in any position on the reels. Once this occurs, 10 Free Spins are awarded and play automatically at the same bet size as in the base game. These spins cannot be retriggered, but if an Expanding Wild or an Expanding Slot is active in the base game, it remains active for the duration of the Free Spins.
In addition, the Wild symbol can be pushed left or right by the speakers’ sound waves during Free Spins. This not only makes the game exceptionally engaging but also increases the player’s chances of winning.
Our Verdict
The Equalizer is entertaining and visually stunning, but players might expect more distinctive music and sound effects from a music-themed slot. Still, the soundtrack is very pleasant and, combined with the beautiful graphics and innovative features, this slot has the potential to become one of Red Tiger Gaming’s top releases. The Expanding Slot feature adds variety and is particularly interesting, making the game a great option for slot fans who are looking for something new and exciting.