We have over 28,000 FREE games. Start here.
Written by: Filip Gromovic Reviewed by: Nashon Khamala
Updated: Jun 2025
Despite many subsequent sequel releases since its launch, SG Gaming’s original Dancing Drums slot still remains one of the industry’s best machines to date, particularly popular in the USA and UK markets. The oriental Asian title was released in 2002 and explores timeless Chinese superstitions like the lucky drums, happiness, and materialism. Expectedly, there are dancing drums that beat the tone of wealth and cheerful children who remind us of the need to find satisfaction in contentment.
This well-made Vegas selection is worth playing, especially if the objective is to earn profit. Its stacked wilds, free spins scatters and 5 high-paying jackpots put you in a position to score impressive payouts. Read the reviews in this guide to learn how to play Dancing Drums online for fun and rewards.
Another Asian oriental masterpiece from Scientific Gaming, the Dancing Drums pokies casino machine (as it’s known in Australia) has a 5×3 grid, 96.09% RTP of the lucky drums game, medium variance and a max win of 250,000 coins. Players can bet between $0.88 and $220, an accommodating range that suits both high rollers and those on a budget.
The default number of win lines is 243. However, it is possible for you to increase it to as much as 7776 betways. You just need to activate the FS bonus round to be in control of your line choice. Apart from the FS round, there are other nice features to maximize, including substituting wilds and 5 wholesome jackpots.
| Software Provider | SG Gaming/Light and Wonder |
| Release Date | 2017 |
| RTP | 96.09% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Max Win | 250,000 |
| Reels x Rows | 5×3 |
| Minimum – Maximum Bet | $0.88 – $220 |
| Features | FS bonus round, jackpots, wild, scatter |
| Number of Paylines | 243 to 7776 |
| Themes | Asian, Chinese, oriental, wealth, gold coins, happiness |
It is common knowledge that all of SG Gaming’s Dancing Drums pokies casino installments focus on wealth, happiness and good luck. Well, the whole idea actually began with this original pioneer release. This selection was where the drums first beat to our dancing pleasures and the delighted little kiddos originally shared their enchanting laughs.
Draped in red and gold colors, the elements of Chinese touch in this title are undeniably lucky. The famous cultural golden lion features as one of the high-paying symbols. Other major characters include voyage ships, gold vases and shiny coins.
The title’s gold characters represent wealth and materialism, while the babies are the symbol of happiness and contentment. Every spin immerses you into the story while presenting you with the opportunity to land hefty prizes.
We are a bit intrigued with this title design and would love to know what motivated the developer’s choice. Yes, the graphics and animations look fly and are on point. However, the fact that the grid presentation is in portrait option does raise an eyebrow. It is not exactly bad but given the fact that we are used to most casino games and slots being expressed in landscape view does make this particular selection quite unique, especially with its unique ways to win. Obviously, that was what the developer was aiming for, integrating elements of Chinese culture into the game. Whether the move is a hit or miss depends on each player’s perspective. We personally do not have a problem with it at all.
On launching the game, you directly enter a grid window with a red background. You will find different kinds of symbols on the reels as expected. At the top of the screen are various jackpot icons whose values are influenced by your deposit amounts. There is also a Real Money balance meter to show how much cash you have left.
Check the right side of the screen to access the Bet and Spin menus. The Autospin button lets you set a consecutive number of spins, saving you the stress of manually hitting the Spin icon. Use the Paytables menu to check out the game instructions and payout system.
The title’s music is actually quite great. It is a nice upbeat Chinese tone that Light and Wonder fans would love. We also find the animated effects quite enthralling. Color lines and lightning splashes often appear on the grid when you hit combinations.
Dancing Drums slot machine is pretty much a Megaways design. We understand that the developer does not state it as such, but 243 to 7776 Betways are mega lines.
The original base grid has 243 win lines and register combinations when players hit a 3-of-a-kind to 5-of-a-kind matching symbol. All combinations start from the left reel and move to the right, potentially leading to a fortune. This rule applies to all 11 regular characters and the drum scatter. Actually, we recommend that you watch out for the scatter in the online slot as it pays the highest amount and can trigger the free spins’ bonus.
For the regular symbols, there are 5 high-tier and 6 low characters. The big payers are the gold pot, gold vase, ship, coins and lion. Lion is the most rewarding of the big 5. At the bottom of the chain are the other 6 characters, which are basically cards – A, K, Q, J, 10 and 9. It is important to clarify that the so-called low-tier card characters are not exactly poor payers. They are quite impressive and contribute to building your profits in the long term.
There is a wild character that can substitute regular symbols to complete wins, enhancing your gamble experience. However, it only appears on reels 2, 3 and 4. So there is that. Also, it plays a major role in setting off the jackpot mode.
Ultimately, after launching the game, you just need to determine your bet amount, take a look at how each symbol pays and spin the reels. You can discover how it all works at FreeSlots99. Complete your registration with the platform and play Dancing Drums Try out free slots before you decide to play for real. instantly without cash. However, if you want to win cashable prizes, you need to fund your account and spin in the real money version, especially if you’re aiming for the jackpot bonus.
The scatter and the wild are the two main bonus characters in the Dancing Drums slot. Both play major roles in activating the two unique features the title offers.
Free Spins Round: Land 3 or more scatters on the base grid simultaneously to activate the FS. Just before you access the bonus, you have to determine which variant you want. There are 4 versions of the bonus in the dancing drums slot review, each with a unique FS count and fixed number of betways.
If you choose this option, the system will randomly select any of the 4 modes above for you. It is the ideal choice for those who love to leave certain things to the universe.
Your bonus starts once the FS mode becomes active. All rules on the standard grid are maintained in this welcome promo round. The wilds still substitute regulars to complete combinations while high-tier symbols run rampage, delivering super payouts during your gamble.
Manage to land at least two drum scatters on the grid to get 3 extra free games. Consistently hitting such combinations will keep the FS game running. It only ends when your count finishes and you are unable to land two or more drums on the reels.
Every time a wild lands on the grid, you stand a chance of activating the jackpot feature. It is a totally random process, but there needs to be at least one wild on the grid for the possibility to play dancing drums slot. The word MACAU will appear on the reels on feature activation in the demo mode.
Once the feature becomes active, a new screen with 12 secret coins instantly covers the grid. Each coin has a unique jackpot icon, representing the Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Diamond pot.
Your job is to tap on the coins on your screen to unveil their icons while you play for real. Once you get 3 icons of a specific jackpot in the best online casinos, its prize becomes yours, including the mini jackpot. Let’s say you hit 3 Diamond icons on your screen, the machine will instantly pay the money for the jackpot.
Players who activate the jackpot are assured of winning at least one pot.
We had no issues wagering on Dancing Drums, which boasts an exciting gameplay experience. The betting denomination is expressed in coins/credits. You have to determine the number of coins to activate, and the monetary equivalent will show in the Total Bets window. Players can stake between $0.88 and $220, a nice range irrespective of their budget.
There are several important terms you need to be aware of regarding getting rewards in this game. Each payline only delivers the win of the highest-of-a-kind combination for a particular symbol. It is possible to hit more than one combination with a single spin. If this happens, the machine will add up the winnings and pay them as a whole.
It is also essential to note that malfunctions will lead to voided spin. Of course, this barely ever happens. As a precaution, you should play the Dancing Drums free slots version at FreeSlots99 to see how it performs before you win real money.
Dancing Drums slot machine has a nice 96.09% RTP and offers a chance to win real money. This value is just slightly above the industry average in terms of decimals. It is a great percentage because it puts players in a position to earn profits over time. Nevertheless, you should understand that this number is theoretical and does not determine how a couple of game rounds may go.
The title’s volatility is on the medium scale. Win sizes and the rate at which they land are balanced. This variance is the ideal choice for those who do not want extreme fluctuations in winning patterns.
A nice RTP and medium variance make Dancing Drum the model title for both new and established gamers who desire fun and side rewards. Also, the fact that there is the possibility of triggering jackpots does make every spin worth it.
All of the five jackpots in the Dancing Drums pokies casino game are highly rewarding. The Bronze is the smallest but still has the potential to pay hundreds of dollars. Activating the Silver, Gold or Platinum pots could see you earn thousands of dollars. The most ambitious players can definitely aim for the Diamond pot, which is capable of paying $250,000.
The $250,000 mark is the highest win possible for this online games. Once reached, you receive your reward and the title restarts.
This game’s jackpots are particularly unique because they are not so difficult to trigger. An opportunity arises whenever a wild appears on the grid.
There are a lot of reasons to play Dancing Drums online. Its jackpots, free spins features and symbols are top-notch, giving players a real chance to make a profit. We like its high RTP value and how easy it is to trigger its biggest bonuses, especially with the minor jackpots.
We do not have much to complain about this selection. It is an ideal SG design with excellent graphics and animations. You only need to join a quality casino to play it and enjoy the progressive features. FreeSlots99 offers excellent choices where you can start playing it. You can access the title here, as well as hundreds of other top slots. The platform does not have a no games download requirement, allowing you to play directly on its website.
Contact: 1-800-662-HELP
Contact: Refer to the website for local numbers.
National Council on Problem Gambling
Contact: 1-800-522-4700
Filip Gromovic is a senior slots reviewer here at FreeSlots99 with over five years of experience evaluating the latest drops in the world of iGaming.
Being a slot fan himself, Filip approaches slot ratings just the way we like it – professionally, but also from a player’s standpoint.
That enables him to give his unbiased take on the slot’s features, gameplay and design, while only recommending top-tier releases to our readers.
More info on Filip Gromovic
Having served FreeSlots99 for more than 5 years as a senior content editor and reviewer, Nashon Khamala has extensive knowledge in game slots and iGaming.
His membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association helps him deliver content that reaches both editorial excellence standards and an engaging information level.
By using his expertise in slots games combined with player-focused analysis, Nashon delivers a professional evaluation of slot features and player experiences in his reviews.
More info on Nashon Khamala
