Spring is all about starting anew. The balmy weather and beautiful sight of new flowers in bloom and trees that have been bare for so long finally showing their true colors have us up and about early in the day to take it all in.

We also feel more energized so we don’t really mind less enjoyable activities like filing our tax forms, spring cleaning, and decluttering.

Playing slots on our favorite NJ gambling websites is an enjoyable activity or at least it should be. So, with that in mind, if you’re tired of the same old slots and not having much luck with them either, now is the perfect time to spring into action and try some newer games instead.

I’m not suggesting that you give up those old favorites entirely. But a change in the routine and adding some other games to the mix, may be just what you need to start winning again. The three slots described below are a great place to start.

Shikibu by Konami

Whenever the Japan-based slot maker Konami comes out with a Japanese themed game, you know the symbols are going to look authentic. The game was inspired by a woman named Murasaki Shikibu, who wrote The Tale of Genji back in the 11^th century.

But no need to know Japanese medieval history to enjoy this unusual slot. Stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and rewarding twists and turns will keep you mesmerized to the screen for a long time.

Shikubu isn’t technically brand new since it was released in 2016. However, it wasn’t added on several NJ gambling websites like Resorts, Mohegan Sun, and PlaySugarHouse until April, 2019. So there’s a good chance, this game is new for you as well.

Shikibu has five reels, three rows, and 30 fixed paylines. Large symbols suggestive of good luck like a Geisha girl and turtle pop out at you against the gold background.

Wild symbol

The game’s NJ online casino bonus wild symbol is a golden lotus, and this is one symbol you definitely want to see. It can only appear on reel 3. But when it does, like all other symbols on reel 3, it comes in pairs, which creates many more winning combinations. On one spin, while betting $6 per spin in demo mode, the entire reel turned up wild! My $6 bet returned over $300!

Free games feature

If three or more Japanese letter character scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels on the same spin, it triggers the free games feature. You get to select which one of the following five options you prefer:

• 20 free spins with a 2x, 3x, or 5x multiplier
• 10 free spins with a 5x, 8x, or 10x multiplier
• Mystery Choice: both the number of free spins and the multiplier are a mystery
• 5 free spins with a 10x, 15x, or 30x multiplier
• 3 free spins with a 15x, 30x, or 40x multiplier

If you want to play it safe, take the 20 free spins with a small multiplier. If you’re more of a risk taker, take 3 or 5 free spins with a big multiplier or the Mystery Choice.

THE STATS

• Five reels/30 paylines
• Bets: 45 cents to $22.50 (fine for small stakes players, but not a high rollers’ game)
• RTP: 96.06 percent
• Maximum payout: $600,000

MORE INFO

• Paired wilds
• Action stacked symbols
• Free games feature with multiplier
• Available at Borgata, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Mohegan Sun, PlaySugarHouse, Resorts

Tiny Treasures by High 5

Amidst the sea of slots with 40, 50, 80, or 100 paylines, Tiny Treasures is a rare find. But how could anyone possibly want to play a slot with only three paylines? Trust me, the Tiny Treasures slot game is anything but boring.

As soon as you get your first big win, which won’t take long, you will want to give a high five to anyone around you. Then it will be right back to the reels to try to keep the winning streak going.

Tiny Treasures has five reels and three rows, which also serve as the three paylines. The setting is a pretty flower garden, and each row is bedecked with a different color flower–yellow for the top row, blue for the middle row, and pink on the bottom.

The colorful array of flowers makes this game a perfect slot choice for spring. But it’s the added presence of fairies, who on every spin can either disappoint you or make your wishes come true, that makes Tiny Treasures the perfect antidote for all your cares and worries.

You’re immediately swept up in the magic of the moment. Nothing else matters but having one or more fairies lining up on the same row with large dollar amounts and turning those lofty figures into instant cash for you!

Tiny Treasures basics

The game’s only symbols are the fairy, the numbers 0-9, and the jackpot symbol. When the fairy appears, which isn’t always, it will only be on reel 1. Usually, she’s only on one row, but sometimes she’ll appear on two or all three rows.

In addition, on any given spin, a number may or may or not appear on any row on reels 2-5. When only one number appears on a row, it will be on reel 5. The next reel where a number might appear would be reel 4, and so on.

The more numbers you see on the same row, the bigger your win–if and only if the fairy, or even better, the jackpot symbol, shows up in reel 1 on the same row. The number displayed on the reels multiplied by your line bet is the amount you win.

It’s frustrating when you see a big dollar amount but no fairy or the fairy shows up on the wrong row. But Tiny Treasures, despite the name, is capable of delivering some huge payouts.

A couple of times my $2 line bet ($6 total) in demo mode returned over $200. However, it’s possible to win a lot more. If you hit the jackpot, you can win up to 10,000x your line bet multiplier!

THE STATS

• Five reels/3 paylines
• Bets: 60 cents to $60 (at Golden Nugget, may vary on other websites)
• RTP: 96.0%
• Maximum payout: $300,000 (at Golden Nugget)

MORE INFO

Available at Caesars, Golden Nugget, Mohegan Sun, Pala, PlaySugarHouse, Resorts

Mercy of the Gods by NetEnt

The last game in this trio of top slots to play this spring is a new progressive jackpot slot from NetEnt called Mercy of the Gods. It is so new, in fact–just released January, 2019–that for now, BorgataCasino.com is the only NJ gambling website offering it.

Mercy of the Gods takes you all the way back in time to ancient Egypt. The game has five reels, three rows, and 20 fixed paylines.

Much like other NetEnt online slot games, Mercy of the Gods offers many exciting extras that slot players love. For example, there’s a wild symbol, which can trigger respins and even become a walking wild, and also a scatter symbol. Three,  four, or five of the latter triggers 5, 8, or 12 free spins, respectively.

Gift of Wealth bonus game

The piece de resistance, however, is the Gift of Wealth bonus game triggered by three or more golden heart bonus symbols. This is your one shot at one of three possible jackpots: a Minor Jackpot, Major Jackpot, or mega-size Progressive Jackpot!

Exceptionally high RTP

Unfortunately, most progressive jackpot slots have a lower than average return to player (RTP). This is the price you pay trying to chase the big payout which, let’s face it, is very hard to hit.

Meanwhile, unless you’re careful, because the small payouts you do win are fewer and more far between than you’re accustomed to, depleting your bankroll is a real possibility.

This won’t happen with Mercy of the Gods, with an RTP of 96.64 percent or another similar progressive jackpot slot by NetEnt, Divine Fortune, with an RTP of 96.60 percent.

Two ongoing BorgataCasino.com promotions give you even more ways to win

As if all of the above aren’t enough reason to hurry over to BorgataCasino.com and put Mercy of the Gods to the test, here are two more. Throughout the entire month of April this casino is offering two great promotions centered around this slot game: a daily free spin and a $20,000 sweepstakes with 1,000 winners!

THE STATS

• Five reels/20 paylines
• Bets: 20 cents to $100
• RTP: 96.64 percent

MORE INFO

• Ancient Egyptian theme
• Gift of Life Respins and Gift of Double Wilds
• Gift of Wealth bonus game with a chance to win a Minor, Major, or Progressive Jackpot
• Available at Borgata

If you would like to know more about Mercy of the Gods and also how to opt into the two special promotions on BorgataCasino.com, read here.