Champion Raceway Slots Review - IGT Horse Racing Bonus, 5 Paylines & Free Spins

Champion Raceway Slot - Editor's Comment

Champion Raceway is one of those IGT slots that tries something different without overcomplicating the core experience. The base game is a simple 3-reel, 5-payline fruit machine, but the racetrack running across the top adds a layer of anticipation you do not often see in classic-style slots. The graphics are dated by modern standards and the fruit symbols are hardly original, but the horse racing bonus gives the game a genuine point of difference.

The appeal here is the bonus structure. Rather than triggering free spins through scattered symbols alone, you collect coloured ribbons that move the corresponding horse along the track. The first horse to finish determines your reward, which can be a multiplier prize or free spins with increasing multipliers. According to Gambling.com, the blue horse awards 10 free games with multipliers up to 13x, and the top prize during that feature can reach 5,217x your total stake.

It is worth being clear about the RTP. VegasSlotsOnline lists a 92.81% return to player, which is below average for online slots. Gambling.com lists 96.66%, so the two sources conflict. This is not unusual for land-based games adapted for online play, as different versions or jurisdictions can carry different payout percentages. Players should check the specific version available at their chosen casino before playing.

The high volatility means the base game can feel slow, with wins arriving less frequently than on lower-volatility games. The bonus rounds are where the bigger potential lies, but they are not guaranteed to trigger in any given session. Champion Raceway is best approached as an entertaining, distinctive slot rather than a reliable source of regular small wins.

What We Liked

• The horse racing bonus is genuinely different from standard free spins triggers
• Simple 3-reel, 5-payline layout is easy to understand
• Free spins with multipliers up to 13x offer meaningful upside
• Mobile compatible with no loss of features
• Clear, uncluttered interface that works well on smaller screens

What Could Be Better

• RTP is below average according to at least one source
• Graphics and fruit symbols feel dated
• High volatility may not suit all players
• No progressive jackpot

What is the Champion Raceway Slot?

Champion Raceway is a 3-reel, 5-payline slot developed by IGT. It combines a classic fruit machine format with a horse racing theme. The reels occupy the lower half of the screen, while a racetrack runs across the top with five horses ready to run.

The game was released on 10 October 2017 according to Gambling.com. It is playable on desktop and mobile devices, including Apple and Android phones and tablets, with no loss of functionality or features on smaller screens.

The base game uses familiar fruit symbols: lemons, grapes, plums, oranges and watermelons. Winning combinations require matching symbols across all three reels on any of the five paylines. A 3x multiplier symbol acts as a wild, substituting for other symbols and tripling the value of any win it helps to complete.

The distinctive element is the Derby Ribbon feature. Coloured ribbons are overlaid on random symbols as they land. Each ribbon moves the horse of the same colour one space along the track. The first horse to reach the finish line triggers a bonus prize, with the reward depending on which horse wins.

One thing worth flagging: there is also a separate Android app called Champion Spin Slots, a virtual-coin social slots game from developer PonnerHut.com. It is not the same product as IGT's Champion Raceway and does not pay real money.

Champion Raceway Slot Machine At A Glance

The table below summarises the key specifications for Champion Raceway. Where sources conflict, this is noted in the explanation beneath the table.

Note on RTP: The two main sources disagree on the return to player. VegasSlotsOnline lists 92.81%, while Gambling.com lists 96.66%. This discrepancy may reflect different versions of the game or different jurisdictional configurations. Players should check the specific version available at their chosen casino. RTP is a long-run theoretical average, not a prediction of what any individual session will return.

Note on maximum win: Gambling.com lists a maximum win of €500,000.00, while also stating that the top prize during the free games can reach 5,217x the total stake, which at maximum bet would exceed €2.6 million. These figures appear to refer to different scenarios or versions. We have included the €500,000 figure as the headline maximum win from the source, but players should be aware that the free spins feature may offer higher potential according to the same source.

Champion Raceway Slot RTP, Payout and Volatility

Return to player (RTP) is a theoretical measure of how much a slot pays back to players over millions of spins. It is not a guarantee of what you will win or lose in any given session. A game with a 96% RTP will still have losing sessions and winning sessions; the percentage only becomes meaningful over an extremely large number of spins.

For Champion Raceway, the RTP is listed as 92.81% by VegasSlotsOnline and 96.66% by Gambling.com. This is a significant difference. It is possible that the game exists in multiple versions with different payout configurations, or that one source is referring to a different release. Without official documentation from IGT, we cannot resolve the conflict. Players who consider RTP important should look for the specific version details at their chosen casino.

Volatility is listed as high by both sources. High volatility means that wins tend to be less frequent but potentially larger when they arrive. The base game may feel slow, with many spins producing no return. The bonus features are where the larger payouts are concentrated. This profile suits players who are comfortable with longer dry spells in exchange for the chance of a bigger win.

The maximum win is listed as €500,000.00 by Gambling.com. The same source notes that during the free spins feature, the top prize can reach 5,217x the total stake, which at the maximum bet of €500 would be over €2.6 million. This suggests that the €500,000 figure may refer to a different bet level or a different version. We have not attempted to reconcile these figures, as the sources do not provide enough detail.

How to Play Champion Raceway

Champion Raceway is a straightforward game to play, even for those who are new to slots. The controls are simple and the base game follows standard 3-reel mechanics.

1. Set your bet. Use the arrow buttons to adjust your stake. The minimum total bet is €0.25 per spin and the maximum is €500.00 per spin, according to Gambling.com. The bet per line ranges from €0.01 to €100.00.
2. Choose your paylines. The game has 5 paylines. You can choose how many lines to activate, but all wins are calculated based on the lines you have in play.
3. Spin the reels. Click the spin button to start the game. You can also use the Auto mode button on the right side of the screen to spin automatically for a set number of spins.
4. Match symbols. Winning combinations require matching fruit symbols across all three reels on any active payline. The 3x multiplier symbol acts as a wild and triples the value of any win it helps to complete.
5. Watch for Derby Ribbons. Coloured ribbons appear randomly on symbols. Each ribbon moves the corresponding horse one space along the racetrack at the top of the screen.
6. Trigger the bonus. The first horse to reach the finish line triggers a bonus prize. The reward depends on which horse wins, ranging from multiplier prizes to free spins with increasing multipliers.

The game also includes a soundtrack of crowd noise and mechanical reel effects. There is an option to mute the sound if preferred.

Champion Raceway Gameplay, Graphics & Sound

The gameplay in Champion Raceway is split between the reels and the racetrack. The reels take up the bottom half of the screen and operate like a classic fruit machine. The racetrack runs across the top half, with five horses lined up on the left side. As Derby Ribbons land on symbols, the corresponding horse moves one space to the right. This creates a sense of progression that is unusual for a 3-reel slot.

The graphics are basic by modern standards. The fruit symbols are simple and the horses are small, stylised figures rather than detailed animations. The interface is clear and uncluttered, which works well on mobile screens. According to Gambling.com, the clear graphics work really well on smaller screens, and the game is playable on Apple and Android devices with no loss of functionality.

The sound design uses a mix of crowd noise and mechanical reel effects. Gambling.com notes that the noises of a crowd of racegoers mixed with mechanical effects are fun for a while, but some players may choose to turn the volume down. There is a mute option available.

The overall presentation is functional rather than spectacular. Players who prioritise gameplay and bonus features over cutting-edge visuals may find it appealing. Those who expect modern 3D graphics and elaborate animations may find it dated.

Champion Raceway Slot Features

Champion Raceway includes several features that distinguish it from a standard 3-reel slot. The main feature is the Derby Ribbon race, which runs alongside the base game.

Derby Ribbon Race

Coloured ribbons (also called rosettes) are overlaid on random symbols as they land. Each ribbon corresponds to one of the five horses: green, red, yellow, blue and pink. When a ribbon lands, the horse of that colour moves one space along the track. The first horse to reach the finish line triggers a bonus prize. If two or more horses reach the finish line simultaneously, one is selected at random as the winner.

The prize depends on which horse wins. According to AllFreeChips, collecting 15 purple ribbons before any other horse awards 5 free spins with increasing multipliers up to 10x. Collecting 15 blue ribbons awards 10 free spins with increasing multipliers up to 13x. Collecting 15 yellow ribbons triggers a 50x jackpot bonus round. Collecting 15 green ribbons triggers a 100x jackpot feature. Collecting 15 red ribbons triggers a 300x jackpot feature.

Gambling.com provides a slightly different account, stating that the prizes range from 50x the line bet if the yellow horse wins, through to free games with multipliers when the pink or blue horses win. The best outcome is for the blue horse to finish first, awarding 10 free games with wins multiplied by up to 13x. The discrepancy in colour naming (purple vs pink) may reflect different versions or source errors. We have presented both accounts as they appear in the sources.

3x Multiplier Wild

The 3x multiplier symbol acts as a wild, substituting for any other symbol to complete a winning combination. It also triples the value of any win it helps to complete. If two multiplier wilds are part of a winning combination, their values are added together. For example, a watermelon and two 3x symbols would pay 9x the base value, or 900x the line bet.

Scatters

AllFreeChips describes the derby ribbon as a scatter symbol overlay, allowing for wins even when the symbols do not appear in sequential order on a payline. This is separate from the race mechanic, where ribbons move horses along the track.

Bonus Features: Wilds, Multipliers, and Free Spins

Champion Raceway includes wilds, multipliers and free spins, though they are triggered through the Derby Ribbon race rather than through conventional scatter combinations.

Wild Symbols

The 3x multiplier symbol is the wild. It substitutes for ordinary game symbols such as watermelons, oranges, apples, grapes and lemons to complete winning combinations on multiple paylines. It also triples the value of any win it helps to complete.

Multipliers

Multipliers appear in two forms. The 3x wild multiplies wins in the base game. During the free spins feature, wins are multiplied by increasing amounts up to 13x. According to Gambling.com, the top prize during the free games can reach 5,217x your total stake.

Free Spins

Free spins are awarded when the blue or pink horse wins the Derby Ribbon race. The blue horse awards 10 free games with multipliers up to 13x. The pink horse also awards free games with multipliers, according to Gambling.com. AllFreeChips describes a 5 Victory Lap Free Spins feature triggered by 15 purple ribbons, awarding 5 free spins with multipliers up to 10x, and a 10 Victory Lap Free Spins feature triggered by 15 blue ribbons, awarding 10 free spins with multipliers up to 13x.

There is no conventional free spins trigger through scattered symbols. The free spins are exclusively tied to the horse racing bonus.

Other Champion Raceway Features

Beyond the Derby Ribbon race and the multiplier wild, Champion Raceway includes a few additional features that are worth noting.

Autoplay

The game includes an autoplay option, accessed via a small blue button on the right side of the screen. This allows players to set a number of automatic spins without having to click the spin button each time.

Gamble Feature

Gambling.com lists a gamble feature among the slot features. This typically allows players to risk their winnings on a double-or-nothing bet. The sources do not provide specific details on how this feature works in Champion Raceway, so we have not described it further.

Re-spins

Gambling.com also lists re-spins as a feature. As with the gamble feature, specific details are not provided in the sources. It is possible that re-spins are part of the bonus round structure rather than a separate base game feature.

Players who want to understand these features in detail should check the in-game help or paytable at their chosen casino.

Where to Play Champion Raceway

Champion Raceway is an IGT slot, and IGT games are available at a range of online casinos that carry the IGT portfolio. Availability varies by operator and by jurisdiction. This review has not established which operators hold a licence to offer the game in Ireland, so check the licence details of any casino you are considering before depositing.

The sources we consulted list specific casinos where Champion Raceway may be available, but these are affiliate listings and do not constitute a recommendation. Gambling.com lists PartyCasino and Reload Casino among its featured operators. AllFreeChips lists Brasil777 and Lucky Me Slots. These listings are commercial and should not be taken as evidence of licensing, safety or suitability for Irish players.

For Irish players, the most reliable approach is to check the game library at a casino you are considering and search for Champion Raceway directly. If the game is available, you can then review the casino's licence, terms and withdrawal policies before depositing. Our Irish casino reviews section provides detailed information on operators that serve Irish players.

It is also worth noting that the RTP may vary between casinos if different versions of the game are in use. If RTP is important to you, check the game information panel at the casino before playing.

Other Slot Games You Might Enjoy

If you enjoy the horse racing theme and the bonus structure of Champion Raceway, there are several other slots that may appeal. IGT has a large portfolio of classic-style games, and other providers offer similar themes.

• Rainbow Riches: a popular Irish-themed slot with a similar focus on simple gameplay and bonus features.
• Da Vinci Diamonds: another IGT title with a different reel mechanic and free spins.
• Cleopatra: a classic IGT slot with a free spins bonus and a familiar 5-reel layout.
• Classic Slots; our guide to 3-reel and fruit machine-style slots.
• Slot Providers: learn more about IGT and other game developers.

These games share some characteristics with Champion Raceway, such as simple reel layouts or sports themes, but each has its own bonus structure and volatility profile. Availability of any linked game is not guaranteed at every casino.