1st Down Slot Slot - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

The NFL has been steadily gaining in popularity in the UK, with fans packing Wembley stadium to watch exciting matches. American Football fans will rejoice to see the latest offering from Inspired online slots, which combines the chance to win with the fun of American Football.

Players can pick a team, spin the reels to win cash, and even watch virtual footage of gameplay in an offering that is bound to please sports fans and hardcore gamers alike.

Introduction to 1st Down Slot

This game from Inspired Gaming is one of a number of sports themed slots to enter the market in recent times. 1st Down is particularly exciting as Inspired Gaming is well known for its virtual sports games. While a UK-based company making a game based around a predominantly American sport may seem out of place, the developers certainly pull it off.

Players of all levels will find something with which to engage in this game, with its nice bonus features and quirky offerings making it stand out from the sea of regular slots. The fact that you can choose your own team is a nice touch, as it offers the chance to buy into becoming a supporter. The game history feature also adds interest, helping players to compare how their various teams have performed over time.

The American Football element is not all the game has going for it; in addition, it has some decent cash offerings and some nice multiplier and bonus features. It also has a couple of fun features such as the slam option, which makes the reels stop with a sudden bang.

1st Down Slot graphics and sound

The graphics on this game are pretty good, as you would expect from a company that prides itself on delivering virtual sporting games to a variety of audiences. In the main game, the symbols are all linked to traditional American Football symbols, such as balls, helmets, players and the team symbol.
One of the great things about this game is the option to personalise it. Whichever of the eight teams you choose at the start of the game, the reel will be in its colours, such as yellow for the Sabres, green for the Cyclones and purple for the Comets.

This theme carries on into the bonus feature, which also incorporates virtual live video play. This is where the graphics really come into their own with the slick and engaging video. The sound effects also work nicely, with cheering sounds and background music to give a real feel of being at an American Football game. The soundtrack is quite full on, but players can take advantage of the mute feature if they need to.

How to play 1st Down Slot

This is a fairly intuitive game that is easy to get to grips with, making it a great one for those just starting out in the world of online slots. Players start by choosing a team from the Stormers, Cyclones, Bobcats, Diablos, Sabres, Stags, Hawks and Comets. It is worth noting that none of these teams has any better chance of delivering wins than any other, so it is purely down to personal preference, although no doubt regular players will soon identify a ‘lucky’ team for them. Players can also change teams at any point during play.

Once a team has been selected, players can set how much they want to stack, ranging from 0.10 to 100 coins. There are also a series of autoplay functions to choose from. Spins can be set to run automatically five, 10, 25, 50, 75 or 100 times. There is also a cool turbo function that can speed up the reels for those who are impatient or just in a rush! Players also have the option to limit their losses and wins by selecting to stop autoplay when a certain win or loss limit is reached.

Once these options are all set, players simply click to spin the reels and then look to see whether any symbols match. Symbols range from the traditional jack, queen, king and ace playing cards to footballs, football helmets, players in game poses - such as throwing the ball - and the symbol of the team you have selected for the game. Match any of these between three and five times and you will win, with the amount depending on the type of symbol and the initial bet.

There are also wild symbols - imaginatively identified by the word ‘wild’ - that substitute for all others apart from the coins. The coins are good to watch out for as they unlock the bonus feature and also some great multipliers.

1st Down Slot payout ratio

This game has a payout ratio of 96.5 per cent. More experienced players will understand this; however, for those new to gaming, it is worth explaining that this does not necessarily mean that you will win 96 per cent of the time. This is a largely theoretical number, but it does give a good indication that this game has a decent payout rate.

While the maximum payout is 250,000 in this game, you are more likely to win lots of smaller amounts than one very large amount; however, there are still some good opportunities to win big. If huge jackpots are your thing, this may not be the game for you; however, for genuine fun and multiple chances to win a good amount, it is definitely worth a go.

How to win at 1st Down Slot

As already mentioned, this game provides lots of opportunities to win. It is played across 30 lines and matching any three symbols from left to right will see you win. Match three of the jack, queen, king or ace symbols and you will be awarded 0.40 coins. Match four and you will receive 1.00, while five sees you awarded 5.00. The ball and helmet symbols are slightly more generous, with three of these awarding 1.00, four 2.00 and five 10.00. The red, blue and green players are worth 2.00 for three, 4.00 for four and 20.00 for five. The team sign is the most generous, with three awarding you 3.00, four 6.00 and five 30.00.

Matching five symbols can be achieved in either a straight line or a wide variety of other combinations along the reels, which makes it slightly easier to get five in a row than with traditional games.

All the coins have multipliers on them, ranging from one to ten. If you match five of any coins, not only do you get your bet multiplied by the amount shown but also the virtual bonus game is triggered, which gives you the option to win even more. This is where those who like to chase bigger wins will find real enjoyment.

All these options to win make the game really exciting and fast paced. There are plenty of chances to secure a return on each spin, even if the amounts may not be huge. Bets can be placed up to 100; therefore, if this option is chosen, even matching three symbols can see a good win.

Max-win 250,000x

Volatility High

Top RTP 97

1st Down Slot bonus features

This game has some good bonus features, the first being the wild. This only crops up on reels two, three and four; however, when it does appear, it substitutes for all symbols except the coins.

There is also the 1st Down bonus game, which is triggered by matching any five golden coins on the main reels. These coins also show a variety of multipliers from one to ten. Those who like slots with multipliers will really enjoy this aspect.

Virtual videos play during the game, with your chosen team always on the offence. A series of plays are made and every time your team scores, you win! A touchdown sees players nab six times the value of the coin symbol on show, while a field goal sees you awarded three times the value.

The gameplay carries on until your team misses a goal or there is an interception. This feature really adds a lot to the game and enables the developers to show off their video software expertise. It adds some real excitement and interest and makes the game really stand out in a great way.

1st Down Slot no deposit

This game can be tried out for free with no deposit at a range of online sites. This is a really great way for those newer to online slots to try it out to see whether it is for them before committing any real cash. It is also a great opportunity for more experienced players to hone their skills and work out a playing strategy with different theoretical bet amounts to see what they could potentially win or lose.

Responsible gaming is really important and everyone should aim to play new games for free first to find their feet. Even when betting real cash, it is important to remember to never, ever bet more than you can afford to lose, to take regular breaks, and to stop playing when you stop having fun.

1st Down Slot on mobile devices

This game has been really well optimised for mobile and tablet devices, with the graphics and video just as clear and exciting on the small screen as on a bigger PC or laptop. Inspired Gaming knows that mobile is the way forward, with players wanting the option to enjoy games out and about at a time of their choosing, so it has ensured that this game can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime.

If you like 1st Down Slot

If sports slots are your thing, there is a huge range to choose from; for example, snooker fans can enjoy the Ronnie O’Sullivan game, racing lovers can play Frankie Dettori, and darts fans have Darts Heroes. If football is your game, there are loads to choose from, including Knockout Football. Cricket lovers can play Cricket Star and there is Centre Court for tennis fans.

Other American sports are also on offer, with Baseball Bucks, Basketball Star and Hockey Heroes to name a few. If it is specifically American football you are after, there are other games such as Slotback or Game Day to be enjoyed.

About Inspired Gaming

While this UK company may specialise in server-based gaming and has done since its inception in 2007, it also provides a small range of video slots. Although these are not its bread and butter, the ones it has made have all been well received.

Its slot games do not all focus on sports either but follow an array of themes, so there will be something from Inspired Gaming for every taste. Sports fans are catered to with a Grand National game and a great darts-focused one, with the rest a real mix. From Atlantis City of Destiny, Delhi the Elephant, Henry VIII, Jaguar Gem and Maid Marian to Ninja Monkey, Santa’s Free Spins, Shamrock Lock, Spirit of the Samurai and Super Hot Fruits, every type of player will find something to keep them coming back for more.

If you are looking for a sports-themed online slot with a difference, it is definitely worth checking 1st Down out. Even if you are not a huge sports fan, this game offers some really nice, unique features that make it fun for all to play. It is worth giving it a go just for the bonus virtual video feature, which makes a lovely change from the traditional extra bonus reels offered by so many other games. Give it a go and try for a touchdown for your team!

Disclaimer: 1st Down Slot trademark / license is owned by Inspired. This site is not endorsed by Inspired.