Barb’s Best Bet: Celebrate Oktoberfest With Big Winnings From Bier Haus Slot

Barbara Nathan Updated on October 5, 2018

Fall is Oktoberfest season. That makes it the perfect time of year to try your luck on the slot game aptly called Bier Haus.

Besides offering an authentic sample of what this festive occasion is all about, this fun-filled game is probably as close to celebrating in a German Bierhaus as you can get without actually going to one.

If you have the time and inclination, going to a real Oktoberfest celebration is highly recommended, too, especially if you have never been to one. Trust me, there’s nothing like it. There’s a lot more than beer drinking going on — food, music, dancing, and conviviality heighten the fun and help make the night special and memorable.

While the biggest and best party is in Munich, there are probably other great Oktoberfests very close to where you live. Not sure if the rowdy Oktoberfest atmosphere is for you? Play the Bier Haus online slot game, and it will almost certainly change your mind and whet your appetite for the real thing.

In all probability, you’ll have so much fun that afterward, you’ll want to keep the party going at home. No problem — it’s as easy as playing Bier Haus again!

Of course, practice all things in moderation, and that goes for drinking as well as gambling.

More reasons to play Bier Haus

Powered by WMS

Bier Haus is an online video slot game powered by WMS Gaming. With five reels, four (rather than the usual three) rows, and 40 fixed paylines, and wild and scatter symbols to boot, there are lots of possibilities for winning combinations.

WMS, also known as Williams Interactive, is a well respected and highly experienced provider that has been manufacturing casino games since the 1990s. Originally its focus was on land-based games, later developing games for the online market as well. In fact, the NJ online casino version of Bier Haus is very similar to the land-based casino version.

In 2013, WMS was acquired by Scientific Games.

Exceptionally high RTP

Bar tabs can mount quickly, and the same goes for extended playing sessions on many online slot games.

However, Bier Haus is a lot friendlier to your bankroll than you may think. The minimum bet per spin is only 40 cents, so this is a game that small players can dabble in comfortably with no worries. Or, if you want to bet more, you also have plenty of options. However, the maximum bet is only $18, which is a lot more reasonable than some slots where you can bet $100 per spin or more.

Best of all, the return to player rate (RTP) is a very impressive 96 percent. This is important because it not only means that many of your spins will be winning ones but even when you’re not winning, the negative swings probably won’t deplete your bankroll.

No progressive jackpot, but more frequent wins instead

Bier Haus does not offer a progressive jackpot. However, most players won’t mind because the easily triggered free spins bonus feature can be quite lucrative. In fact, according to the manufacturer, the maximum payout possible is 250,000 coins.

Of course, winning that amount, or any other life-changing sum of money is highly unlikely. However, this is a game where small bettors have a very good chance of finishing a playing session over $100 ahead, which is already a very good reason to celebrate.

Also, keep in mind that most progressive jackpot slots have a built-in cost of a lower RTP. In other words, all the while that you are chasing the elusive progressive jackpot, the wins that do come your way may be too few and too small to keep you from depleting your bankroll.

You’re very unlikely to encounter that kind of problem with Bier Haus.

Where can you play the Bier Haus NJ online slot game?

For your convenience, Bier Haus can be played either on your computer or on current iOS and Android mobile devices.

Furthermore, as an NJ player, the chances are your favorite online casino offers it. Choose from any of the following NJ gambling websites or read the NJ online casino reviews:

Calling all party lovers

The manufacturer has done a great job picking symbols that fit right in with the Oktoberfest party theme.

From the minute you log in to the site, you can’t help but feel part of the gang calling for the buxom blonde barmaid to refill your glass so you can keep toasting your good fortune. And more likely than not, you’ll soon be celebrating right along with everyone else in the crowd, except what hopefully will be pouring into your cup repeatedly will be something better than beer — big winnings!

The reels are set against a background of dark green, but there is nothing somber at all about this game. The extra-large brightly colored symbols, which frequently appear stacked, remove any doubt in your mind that there’s a party going on. Even on non-winning spins, the buzz of lively conversation and clinking of glasses in the background puts you in a celebratory mood.

More importantly, just like when you’re watching your favorite team methodically move the ball down the field and you know it’s only a matter of time till they score a touchdown, you have the same sense that something big is going to happen.

Then, as soon as it does, especially if you’re awarded the Free Spins bonus round, you’ll be on top of the world.

You’re sitting there awestruck as the win meter keeps mounting, while upbeat accordion music is playing in your honor and shouts of “Wunderbar!” fill the air. There’s no doubt about it. Suddenly you’re the envy of everyone in the Bier Haus.

Bier Haus symbols

Regular symbols

Most of the game’s regular symbols are beer or autumn related.

Among them, the highest paying symbol is the jovial man sporting a mustache and green hat holding a beer. He has a big smile on his face, and so will you, especially if you get five across a payline, which will reward you with 500 coins.

The other themed regular symbols include an accordion, medieval German village, beer barrel, beer mug, acorn, and autumn leaves. The four lowest-paying symbols are the four playing card suits: spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds.

Winning combinations are formed by getting three or more matching symbols appearing from left to right across a payline, starting with the reel farthest to the left.

Special symbols

In addition to all of the above, keep your eye out for the following special symbols because those are the ones with the potential to contribute to your biggest payouts.

Wild symbol

It wouldn’t be a wild Oktoberfest party without a wild symbol, any more than there can be a Bier Haus without beer steins.

So the decision to make a set of three beer steins the game’s wild symbol makes perfect sense. As such, it substitutes for all other symbols on the reels to help form winning combinations except the feature and gold feature symbols (described below). Therefore, while for other bar patrons one beer too many is not a good thing, for you, the more of these, the merrier!

Feature and Gold Feature symbols

These are the game’s scatter symbols, and a pretty barmaid does double duty as both. The difference is that when she is carrying three beer steins, it becomes an even more valuable Gold Feature symbol.

Five or more of either or both of these symbols simultaneously appearing anywhere on the reels will trigger the Free Spins Feature. Depending on how many scatter symbols show up, your reward can range from a minimum of five free spins all the way up to 80!

Free Spins Feature

Many other slots only require three scatter symbols anywhere on the reels to trigger the bonus round.

But don’t worry. With four rows of five reels (20 available spots) instead of the usual three rows of five reels, plus the fact that the scatter symbols often land stacked, you’ll get at least the requisite five to appear sooner than you think.

If only the minimum five feature and/or gold feature symbols show up, you will get five free spins. However, for each additional feature symbol or gold feature symbol that also lands, you will receive five more free spins.

The way you can get 80 free spins is if either symbol or any combination of the two fill all five reels on all four rows (five free spins for the first five feature or gold feature symbols, then five more free spins for each of the additional 15). Not likely, but it’s possible.

Why the free spins pay so well

The Free Spins Feature is the only special feature that Bier Haus has to offer. This may come as a disappointment to action-loving slot players who enjoy the added thrill of having a lot more going on like multipliers, expanding wilds, avalanches, and multiple games within games. However, what this game delivers instead of all those bells and whistles is superior quality.

During the free spins, each gold feature symbol that contributed to the free spins is replaced by the beer steins wild symbol, which then becomes a persistent (sticky) wild, remaining in that position until all the free spins are completed. This greatly increases the opportunity for multiple winning combinations, some of which may have huge payouts.

Meanwhile, the regular wild symbol and Feature and Gold Feature symbols are still in place as well. In a word, things can really get crazy.

For example, at any point during your initial free spins, the feature can be retriggered. Your free spins could wind up lasting a very long time.

My own results playing Bier Haus

I played the game in demo mode betting a hypothetical $4 per spin.

I decided ahead of time that I would end my session as soon as I triggered and completed the free spins feature. Sticking to that rule, all three sessions were winning ones, but my first session was the best.

I didn’t win 80 free spins, but the 30 I did win initially — plus five more while the free spins were in progress — were enough to give me a win of $570! Not a bad return at all betting 10 cents a line.

My only regret was that it was play money.

Is Bier House NJ online slot worth your time?

Even though, as mentioned, all three times I played this game I won, don’t read too much into these results because anything can happen.

But more importantly, even in sessions where you’re not having much good luck, the very high rate of return on this game is still working in your favor.

Another thing that’s great about Bier Haus is that somehow it strikes just the right balance of avoiding becoming overly complicated while still being highly entertaining. Any slot game that can integrate those two qualities so seamlessly and give you good bang for your buck at the same time is worthy of your consideration.

That’s why Bier Haus is my current pick for Barb’s Best Bet.

The next best thing to enjoying a real Oktoberfest in person is experiencing a virtual one online. Bier Haus lets you do just that. Also, if for any reason, you’re feeling down in the dumps, Bier Haus (the game, not necessarily the beer) is a surefire way to perk up your mood. Pretty soon, you’ll be joining the crowd in a rousing chorus of “Wunderbar!”