The Belt and the Road - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction 

The re-structuring of the ancient Silk Road is underway in this online slot from game designer Vela Gaming. The Bely and the Road is played on a 5x3 reel set which generates 30 adjustable bet ways which pay left to right.

There are 10 regular playing symbols plus a scatter. The main 5 reflect the theme and are in order of value Aeroplane, Bridge, Train, Building and Tank Compound. These are supplemented by 5 card symbols ranging from ace to 10.

There is a wild which not only substitutes for all the main symbols bar the scatter, but also applies a x2 multiplier to any winning line which it forms. The scatter symbol pays as a multiple of the total bet, and also triggers free spins which can re-trigger. 

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Theme, Graphics and Soundtrack 

The Belt and the Road has a theme reflecting the Chinese government’s multi-billion dollar project to re-invent the Silk Road linking the country with Europe. The soundtrack features traditional Chinese instruments, but combines this with a western beat suggesting the ongoing construction work.

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The Belt and the Road RTP and Variance

Vela has a reputation for offering a fair RTP in its games and we trust that this is the case here, as extended play suggested it was. Even so, it is disappointing that an official RTP is not stated clearly in the game rules. We found the game to reflect high variance. 

How to Play The Belt and the Road

The Belt and the Road has a clear design on the main screen, and the controls are easy to understand, but here is a quick road map to get you started on your journey:

1. Once the main screen opens go to the top right hand corner and click on the menu icon.
2. A short menu opens, and here you can mute the soundtrack via the speaker icon, and extend to a large screen format.
3. Once you have decided on sound and visuals, click on the information button to open a new set of screens.
4. The first one shows the paytable in the form of multiples.
5. Click onto the next screen and you will see comprehensive descriptions of the wild and scatter symbols, and how they operate, as well as the free games feature.
6. The third screen has thumbnails of the 30 adjustable pay lines which can be changed in blocks of 5.
7. Go back to the main screen and click on the pile of chips to adjust your wager via coin size and multipliers, and adjust the number of lines you are betting on.
8. Back on the main screen, next to the chips icon you can engage auto spin. Note that this cannot be customised and must be halted manually.
9. Finally, there is a turbo mode option on the main screen if you wish to speed up the game.
10. You are all set to play, simply hit the spin button.

Remember, you can enjoy The Belt and the Road in demo mode here at Slots Temple, and familiarise yourself with the game before you play for cash at an online casino. Once playing for real, we suggest you set yourself a budget for each session, and play responsibly leaving the site when you feel you have hit the buffers on this particular road. 

Bet Sizes and Pay Table Wins 

Bet sizes in The Belt and the Road range from coin sizes of 0.01 to 1.00 and the multiplier available ranges from x1 to x10 meaning a total wager maximum of 300. The maximum win is X1000, but can be subject to a x2 multiplier.

The paytable for 5 of a kind is as follows:

Plane = x1000

Bridge = x500

Train/Building = x250

Tank Compound = x200

Ace = x125

King/Queen/Jack/Ten = x100

Scatter = x50

Max-win 30,000x

Volatility Low

Top RTP 97.00%

The Belt and the Road Bonus Features and Free Spins 

The wild acts as a bonus in this game as it comes with a x2 multiplier when it appears on a winning line. The scatter also pays anywhere across the reels and also triggers free spins when three or more appear.

Players get to choose from 4 different free spin modes. In the first there are 5 free games, and the low value cards are removed from the reels. In the second, there are 8 games but all top value symbols apart from the plane disappear. The third option has 15 free spins but only the cards and wild and scatter are on the reels. The final option is a mystery choice with a random number of spins and symbols from the first 3 options.

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The Belt and the Road Review 

This slot has a curious theme, but plays out in an exciting way. The bet spread is decent, and we can recommend it to all, although we would have liked an official RTP.

Disclaimer: The Belt and the Road trademark / license is owned by Vela Gaming. This site is not endorsed by Vela Gaming.