Wildhound Derbyby Play'n Go

Screenshots

Greyhound racing is a time honored pastime in the United Kingdom. It’s also very strongly tied with gambling.

Many British punters got their start by betting on these small but extremely fast dogs.

A day at the dog track is one of gambling’s oldest traditions.

Developer Play’n Go has now created a video slot homage to dog racing called Wildhound Derby.

Theme

Well, it’s right there in the name, innit? This effort is all about dog racing. And to that effect the background is an actual dog track.

It’s pleasant night and the race is about to start. Excited fans have taken their seats and the suspense is palpable.

Which dog will win? There are four of them. Braveheart, Daring Dex, Beadle’s Teabag, and Oh my Dog.

Yes, all the names are in the same tradition that racehorses are named. You might be wondering about what “beadle” means and we checked for you – and it’s a church officer like a deacon or a cantor.

But what do teabags have to do with it, we can’t tell you. Maybe it’s just one of those British things.

On the technical side…

…there’s nothing to worry about. This is Play’n Go and by now they’ve have proven their expertise in creating eye-catching and modern graphics. You will find them here too, styled in the vein of a live sports TV.

Betting Options and Functions

While the dogs run on the track, punters play on a 5x4 grid with 30 fixed paylines. There’s no surprises here.

And all the options we expect from a modern release are here too. Set everything to automatic and gaze at the screen without pressing any buttons. It’s your life and it’s your choice.

Or make the animations go faster by using the handy quick spin option.

Now when it comes to bets…

…the lowest stake is 10 cents, but the maximum bet can be turned up all the way 100 euros.

Special Features

Now this is where things get interesting. It all starts with the extra spins mode, and so far so familiar.

And…

…just when you think you have it figured out – it’s actually a dog race.

You get to choose one of the four dogs (It’s Beadle’s Teabag for us, obviously) and then they will race across the grid.

The start at reel 5 and they move one reel at a time when the golden hare symbol is one the same reel as them.

Extra spins continue until one dog is the victor and goes past the first reel.

If you chose the wrong dog…

…don’t worry. You will still get all your winnings from extra spins.

But:

Should you guess correctly you will get an amazing prize. It comes in the shape of a Winner’s Wheel.

You spin and…

…it can multiply your entire extra spins winnings up to a massive x15!

Or by less, but a multiplier is still a multiplier.

Our Take

It’s a day at the dogs, as they call in the United Kingdom. And what a day it is!

This video slot version of a favorite punter pastime hits all the right notes.

But what it does best is turn the race itself into a gameplay mechanic. It’s a very clever and innovative approach, but that is what Play’n Go does best.

No matter if you like dog racing or not, this is a more than solid effort that will definitely engage and entertain you.