No one is entirely sure where the ‘luck of the Irish’ phrase comes from. Nevertheless, it’s led to a wide-spread belief that there’s something about Irish people – in fact, something about all things Irish more generally – that’s inherently lucky.
For obvious reasons, online game developers have long been cashing in on the opportunity to imply something about their casino games could bring gamblers good fortune. The Irish Luck theme, therefore, has been incorporated into hundreds of releases over the years. And whilst there’s no doubt that beautiful rolling hills, shiny pots of gold and merry flute-playing leprechauns do make charming additions to slot games, one important question remains: does it make them any luckier?
Well, now’s the perfect time to try and find out for yourself; to celebrate St Patrick’s Day, we’ve picked out the best Irish-themed casino games available to play online. . .
Rainbow Riches
After it’s huge success on the floors of real casinos up and down the country, Barcrest developed an online version of their classic Rainbow Riches slot machine. As expected, it proved an instant success with players. Multiple online editions in the now famous series have since been released. These include Rainbow Riches Pix ‘n’ Mix, where you get to customise your play with in-game bonus features, and Rainbow Riches Free Spins, where – you’ve guessed it – you benefit from plenty of freebie spins.
Though the newer versions do boast improved graphics and more bonus features, the original Rainbow Riches slot continues to captivate online players and is the obvious starting choice if you’ve never played before.
Finn and the Swirly Spin
A much more recent addition to the online gaming world than Rainbow Riches, Finn and the Swirly Spin is a modern video slot from the high-profile software company, NetEnt.
Though the Irish Luck theme is nothing new, this slot is something rather special. Instead of seeing any old spinning reels as you play (like with most of the other virtual slots on the market), symbols land on a 5x5 grid in a unique swirling formation – hence the ‘Swirly Spin’ bit in title – to give the game more of an arcade-style feel.
This unique spin mechanic is nicely combined with superb animations and the presence of Finn (a cute leprechaun who looks a little bit like Humpy Dumpy) beside the game grid. It’s a real delight that we think pretty much every player will love.
Isle O’ Plenty MegaJackpots
IGT is one of the world’s leading online gaming companies; they are responsible for some of the best slots on the market, including Cleopatra and Siberian Storm. They’re also the masterminds behind the celebrated ‘MegaJackpots’ series. For those of you who don’t know, this is a range of games connected to exciting cash prize funds which get progressively bigger each time a player bets.
Isle o’ Plenty Megajackpots is one such title – and you only need to hear the game’s slogan to know that it could turn into a seriously lucky winner: ‘A single spin could transform your life’. So, if you’ve got your fingers crossed for a seven-figure kind of windfall, this is the only Irish-themed slot you’ll want to play.
Shamrockers
Lastly, we have another IGT slot game. This one will make you seriously re-think your idea of leprechauns. Forgot the traditional image of little gnome-shaped men you’ve got in your head right now; Shamrockers showcases pint-sized, head-banging, guitar-strumming rock stars ready to join you for a fun jam session.
Not only are we big fans of the musical twist and pumped-up soundtrack, but we think the game’s featured ‘Dynamic Stack’ symbols are great. These can cover multiple spaces on the reels, to create even bigger possible wins!
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