Smash the Pig Slots

Smash the Pig is an online video slot by IGT consisting of 5 reels, 3 rows, and 20 fixed paylines.

It is a very colorful slot that’s fun to play but not meant to be taken too seriously. There’s no storyline or relatable theme, but that’s the whole point. Outside of the game, the premise makes no sense–i.e., smashing images of pigs is not something any sane person would contemplate, But once you start playing, the more pig images you get the chance to smash, the more money you make. So in that context, it makes perfect sense.

A product of IGT

IGT, which is short for International Game Technology, has been in the casino game manufacturing business for decades. Many of its slots, including Smash the Pig, were created initially for land-based casinos but later adapted for online and mobile slots play. Today IGT is one of the leading developers, manufacturers, and distributors of high quality slots, table games, and gaming software for land-based and online casinos all over the world.

A simple, straightforward slot

IGT released the online version of Smash the Pig in 2017. Compared to some of the newer slots, with their flashy design, intricate configuration, cinematographic quality animations multiple games within games, and many ways to win, this game pales. In fact, even some of the most frequently incorporated extra features like a wild symbol and free spins with multipliers are missing.

But if you’re a player who couldn’t care less if a slot lacks a storyline, fast paced action, and high-tech bells and whistles and prefer simple slots that stick to the basics, Smash the Pig is your kind of game. With some slots, you have no idea what to expect until you’re already well into the game, but with Smash the Pig, the title says it all.

The object of the game is to try to win big cash prizes by repeatedly smashing pigs.

Cartoon-like pigs and a bouncy hip-hop tune accompanying big wins fit the quirky theme. It’s the type of slot that will have you smiling even when you’re not winning.

Where Smash the Pig falls short

On the other hand, partly because it’s a highly predictable and relatively uneventful game and partly because the return to player isn’t great, Smash the Pig doesn’t have as much replay appeal as some other entertaining online slots. It is more the type of game you might want to try once out of curiosity or return to on occasion because it’s such a good mood lifter than one that is likely to make your top 10 list.

Smash the Pig does not have a progressive jackpot. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be a big concern because the same can be said about most online slots. Also, progressive jackpot slots, as a rule, produce winning combinations with decent payouts less frequently than the best non-progressive jackpot slots. Players with limited bankrolls who want to give themselves the best chance to win know this and look for games that they think can give them the best bang for their buck.

Unimpressive RTP

Smash the Pig has a published return to player (RTP) ranging from 92.15% to 96.17%, for an average of 94.20%. This is below average for Pennsylvania online slots. You can still win, but the biggest wins will most likely come in the Pig Smashing Bonus, which is hard to trigger. Another bonus feature called Pick A Pig is easier to trigger but likely to be less rewarding.

The problem is that while you keep spinning, hoping three scatter symbols will land so you can proceed to the bonus, your bankroll could take a serious hit. During the base game, unless you’re very lucky, the combination of many spins coming up empty and most of the “wins” only giving you your money back or less will have your balance moving in the wrong direction. If and when you finally trigger the bonus, the deficit might already be too big to overcome.

One consolation for those with limited bankrolls is that the low volatility of this slot minimizes the likelihood of wild swings in your bankroll. So even when you’re luck isn’t great, you can stay in the game longer.

Smash the Pig bet size

Smash the Pig can be played either in demo mode or for real money. Either way, all 20 paylines are always in play.

When playing for real money, the minimum bet per spin is only 20 cents, while the maximum is a hefty $400. Your line bet, which is also your coin size, is 1/20 of your total bet. If you choose to play in demo mode, the bet range might vary depending on where you are playing.

Smash the Pig symbols

Smash the Pig is a simple game. It includes eight regular symbols and two bonus symbols.

Pay both ways feature

As with most online slots, to produce a winning combination, three or more matching symbols need to line up adjacently (horizontally or diagonally) on consecutive reels. However, in most online slots, winning combinations can only be formed from left to right, starting with the reel farthest to the left. Smash the Pig pays both ways–from left to right and right to left. Winning combinations can be formed either from left to right starting with reel 1 or from right to left starting with reel 5.

The pay both ways feature produces more frequent payouts. But what’s not so great is that most of these wins are very small. Much more often than not, you only get back the amount of your bet or less.

Regular symbols

The four higher paying regular symbols, in descending order of value, are as follows:

• Smash the Pig logo
• Stack of cash
• Bronze coin
• Hammer

The four lower paying symbols are the playing cards jack through ace.

If you’re lucky enough to have five Smash the Pig logo symbols line up across a payline, you will be paid 10,000x your line bet. At the other end of the spectrum, five jacks across a payline will return only 25x your line bet.

Smash the Pig pay table

Special symbols

Pig scatter symbol

Three or more single pigs with a dollar sign appearing anywhere on the reels simultaneously will trigger the pick a pig bonus.

Smashing bonus scatter symbol

This symbol consists of the word ‘bonus’ appearing under a group of three pigs. Three or more appearing simultaneously anywhere on the reels will trigger the pig smashing bonus.

Smash the Pig bonus features

Pick a pig bonus

Upon triggering this bonus, you will be asked to pick one pig to reveal one of the following prizes:

• Multiple of 1-20x your bet
• Multiple of 1-15x your bet plus a chance to pick another pig
• Triggering the pig smashing bonus (see below)
• All available rewards

Pig smashing bonus

You can trigger this bonus in either of two ways: by winning it in the pick a pig bonus or by having three or more scattered bonus symbols land on the reels simultaneously in the base game.

The pig smashing bonus features a luck meter. The meter remains empty during the base game but becomes either full or partially full at the start of the pig smashing bonus, depending on how many bonus symbols (3, 4, or 5) show up on the triggering spin.

You’re presented with eight pigs, and your task is to pick one at a time to smash. With each smash, you win a new prize (a 1-20x bet multiplier), but at the same time, less luck remains in the luck meter. You keep picking and smashing until either the meter becomes empty or you smash five pigs, whichever comes first. If you have smashed five pigs and still have enough luck in the meter to keep going, the three remaining pigs will run off and eight new pigs will appear, and the bonus round continues.

How I fared in demo mode

In two out of my three playing sessions (betting $10 per spin in one and $20 per spin in the other), I triggered the pick a pig bonus, winning 10x my bet and 1x my bet respectively. Neither win was enough to offset my loss in the base game.

However, when I increased my bet to $40, I triggered the more lucrative pig smashing bonus in which I smashed eight pigs and won $1,280.

The bottom line

If you want to give this game a shot and can afford to bet big, that might be your best bet. However, those with limited bankrolls should play this slot mainly to have fun rather than empty out their piggybanks in the hope of winning a fortune.