The Money Train idea
The base game exists mostly to trigger the bonus. Inside it, you get a set number of respins, and each new symbol resets the count. Special symbols then add, multiply or collect values on the grid.
Feature buys
Buying the bonus costs a fixed multiple of your bet. It's a single large wager with a wide range of outcomes. Many buys return less than they cost.
What to check first
| Item | Where |
|---|---|
| Buy price | In-game buy menu |
| RTP of the buy | Info panel |
| Max win | Info panel |
Our review
Read the Money Train 4 review for the round in detail.
A walk through a Money Train bonus
The bonus starts on a grid with a few coin symbols already in place. You get a small number of respins. Every time a new coin or special symbol lands, it locks in and the respin count resets. The round ends when you run out of respins or fill the grid. At the end, every value on the grid is added up and paid.
The special symbols are what make it interesting. Some collect the values of other symbols. Some add a value to every symbol on the grid. Some multiply a single value. The best rounds come when these roles combine, and the worst rounds end after a few dead respins with almost nothing on the board.
Persistent symbols
The Money Train games are known for persistent symbols. A normal collector or payer acts once, when it lands. A persistent one acts again on every respin for the rest of the round. Get one early, and the board can snowball. Get none, and the round can be thin. That gap between good and bad rounds is the main reason the series is so volatile. The Money Train 4 review explains each role in detail.
Feature buys, step by step
- Open the buy menu in the game.
- Read the price as a multiple of your current bet.
- Check the info panel for the RTP of the buy, which can differ from the base game.
- Decide how many buys your budget can cover, and stick to that number.
Base game or buy?
The base game in Money Train slots exists mostly to trigger the bonus, and it can take a long time to do so. That's why many players buy. Buying doesn't make the game better value. It moves the whole cost into fewer, larger bets, so your session gets shorter and the swings get bigger. If you'd rather spin into the round slowly, drop your bet size so the budget lasts.
Relax Gaming and other studios
Relax is also known for distributing games from partner studios, so you may see its name on slots that don't share the Money Train style. If you want to compare respin bonus rounds with other mechanics, the providers overview and the high-volatility list are good next stops. Set a deposit limit before you start. The house edge applies to every spin and every buy.
Reading the Money Train info panel
Before you play any game in the series, open the rules pages and look for four things: how the bonus triggers in the base game, what each special symbol does, the RTP for the base game and for the buy, and the maximum win. Relax sometimes lists the buy RTP separately, and the two can differ. Write down the date you checked, because studios can update their games.
Comparing Money Train with other bonus styles
Money Train rounds are a board that fills up over a set of respins. Compare that with tumble games like Gates of Olympus, where multipliers build during a chain, or with collector games like Big Bass Bonanza, where a wild collects fish values on reels. All three save most of the value for the feature. Money Train concentrates it most, which is why its rounds swing hardest.
Money Train compared across the series
Each Money Train sequel keeps the respin board and adds or reworks special symbols. Later games tend to add more roles and higher caps, which usually means more volatility. If you've played an earlier game, don't assume the new one behaves the same. Read the rules page for the symbol list, because that list is the game. Check the lobby for which versions Stake currently offers.
Before you play
Treat every bet as money you can lose, and every buy as a single large bet. Set a deposit limit in your account settings first. If you'd like to learn the round without paying for it, a demo, where one is offered, is the best place to watch a few boards fill up. You need to be 18+, or older if the legal age where you live is higher. Stake.com isn't open in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ontario, or the other places on its prohibited list, and that list can change, so check the availability page first. Gambling can be addictive.
FAQ
Is Money Train 4 the latest in the series?
It's the newest we've reviewed. Check the lobby for later releases.
Does Relax make other styles?
Yes, though Money Train is its signature.
Are feature buys worth it?
They're a fast way to spend. Treat each as a large bet.
Why do Money Train rounds vary so much?
The result depends on which special symbols land and when. Early persistent symbols can snowball, and their absence leaves a thin board.
Where do I find the buy price?
In the game's buy menu, as a multiple of your current bet.