Buffalo is an online pokie produced by Aristocrat that has been a favourite at NZ online casinos since it was released in 2008. It has a 5x3 reel layout and 243 ways to win, plus medium to high volatility and an RTP of 94.85%. With a top payout of 300x your stake and maximum bet of $1,200 per spin, it boasts a maximum potential prize of $360,000.
You can play the Buffalo pokie for real money by following the straightforward steps below:
Buffalo has a North American wildlife-inspired theme, which still looks good despite the pokie launching back in 2008. It has a simple sunset prairie backdrop and animal symbols including a wolf, an eagle and of course, the buffalo.
There’s a total of 13 symbols that can appear on the reels when you play Buffalo. The standard symbols are divided between the low value classic card symbols (9, 10, J, Q, K and A) and the high-value animals, including the deer, wolf, puma, eagle and buffalo. The buffalo is the highest-paying symbol in the game, awarding 300x your bet if five land in a payline.
There are also two special symbols: the gold coin scatter that awards both a payout and up to 20 free spins, and the sunset wild, which can substitute for other symbols in the middle three reels.
| Symbol | 2 symbols | 3 symbols | 4 symbols | 5 symbols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 50x | 200x | 250x | 300x |
| Eagle | 20x | 80x | 200x | 250x |
| Puma | 20x | 80x | 200x | 250x |
| Wolf | 10x | 40x | 100x | 150x |
| Deer | 10x | 40x | 100x | 150x |
| A | - | 10x | 60x | 140x |
| K | - | 10x | 60x | 140x |
| Q | - | 5x | 40x | 120x |
| J | - | 5x | 40x | 120x |
| 10 | - | 5x | 20x | 100x |
| 9 | 2x | 5x | 20x | 100x |
| Coin (Scatter) | - | 2x and 8 free spins | 10x and 15 free spins | 20x and 20 free spins |
Buffalo’s old-school video pokie vibes means the bonuses centre on wilds and the free spins bonus. While they’re simple, they still offer exciting ways to boost your wins.
Landing three or more coin scatters triggers up to 20 free spins. During free spins, wild multipliers can appear to double or triple your payout, while getting two scatters again rewards you with an extra five free spins. Free spins can be retriggered up to 999 in total.
The sunset wild can appear on any spin in the middle three reels to replace other symbols and help create winning combinations.
Buffalo has a return to player (RTP) rate of 94.85%. This was high by the standards of 2008, but now falls below the average for online pokies of 96%.
Aristocrat has given the slot a medium to high volatility rating, meaning wins tend to be infrequent but down the larger end of the scale when they do land. In other words, it’s a game that requires you to be patient with your bankroll.
As the Buffalo pokie uses random number generator (RNG) software, there’s no way to “beat” the game or guarantee winning spins. That said, following the tips below can improve your chances of a fun play session:
While the online Buffalo pokie remains popular, there have since been other releases in the series that are also worth checking out. Consider trying the following similar pokie games:
Despite its age, the Buffalo online slot has gone through several updates to keep it fresh. Thanks to its integration with HTML5, the game runs seamlessly on mobile casinos and apps, allowing you to play it where and when you like via your smartphone.
Buffalo is a classic pokie with nice features and graphics along with an eye-catching top payout, and its massive range of betting limits makes it a suitable title for players of all budgets. However, we mainly recommend it for the nostalgia, as more modern releases boast better and bigger payout rates and in-game bonuses that leave Buffalo’s gameplay feeling restrictive by comparison.
Overall, Buffalo is still fun enough to play so that we confidently rate it as having largely stood the test of time.
Laura is a writer who focuses on both the iGaming and land-based gambling sectors. With years of experience covering the New Zealand market, she’s always seeking the latest updates and insights into the gambling world. A keen backgammon player, Laura particularly enjoys writing about the newest pokie releases and legislation changes.
If you enjoy playing Buffalo, make sure to check out our reviews of other popular real money pokies available at top casinos in New Zealand:
