How to Play Dragon Link Slot Machine
Written by: Filip Gromovic Reviewed by: Nashon Khamala
Read time: 6 minutes
The size of video slots available in any reputable online casino can be overwhelming, but your vision should never waver from Dragon Link. Developed and operated by Aristocrat, this is a unique game comprising four different machines linked by a progressive jackpot. Perhaps, its unpopular features are the reasons a lot of new players want to know more about how to play Dragon Link.
Other slots feature progressive jackpots, but the sizes are often no match to how much the grand prize of Dragon Link can swell. Although the games have different themes, their play styles are similar. Without further chitchat, let’s take a deep dive into Dragon Link slot machine how to play.
Getting Started with Gameplay
The four games that first chained together to form Dragon Link when it launched in 2017 are Autumn Moon, Panda Magic, Happy & Prosperous and Golden Century. Each of them maintains the standard 5 reels x 3 lines setup, with each spin offering 25-50 pay lines. This diversity helps it to attract a diverse team with varying audiovisual tastes. The developer has added six new variations to the roster, including:
- Genghis Khan
- Golden Gong
- Spring Festival
- Silk Road
- Peacock Princess
- Peace & Long Life
The unique themes of the different games pay homage to historical characters or Chinese folklore. In line with other Aristocrat casino slot machines, Dragon Link features Blackjack symbols (K, Q, J, 10 and 9) with lower payout values. The symbols with higher payout in each of the games are different. For example, in Happy & Prosperous you will find golden Buddha icons, flowers, and bowls as the higher-paying symbols, while in Panda Magic you will find tigers, bears and boats. Golden Century has flags and a terracotta army.
Dragon Link’s denominations traditionally include numbers (e.g.1c, 2c, 5c, 10c) and those with monetary symbols (€/$1 and €/$2). It appears many players are having a hard time understanding this feature. Perhaps, that is the reason, a lot of new players, especially those who are not used to Aristocrat’s winning combinations, are searching for clues on how to play Dragon Link slot.
The lowest bet size on Dragon Link per spin is €/$0.5 on the 1c denomination, while the highest wager is €/$50 on the €/$2 denomination – but there are lots of options between. Playing on 1c denomination allows you to play the maximum 50 paylines – but it also offers the least progressive jackpot payout. The highest progressive jackpot is possible with the maximum bet. Dragon Link features a «max bet» button. With a single click, this option automatically wagers the maximum number of credits and paylines allowed for each spin, depending on your denomination.
To work out the bet size per spin, multiply the denomination by the number of credits and dividing by 100. E.g. for 1c denomination and 250 credits, the bet size will be €/$2.5. It is important to mention that raising the denomination will lower the number of lines you pay but increase your progressive jackpot.
Special Features and Bonus Rounds
The «Hold and Spin» feature is an important feature that players searching for how to play Dragon Link slot machine are eager to understand – and we will unpack it here. Hold and Spin is not entirely new. Other Aristocrat games, including Lightning Link, have this feature. However, Dragon Link polished it with stunning audiovisual cues. You’ll trigger it when you land six fireballs. All the fireballs have distinct numerical values that are tied to your denomination (like €/$5 or €/$50) or progressive words like MINI, MAJOR and so on.
Triggering the Hold and Spin bonus grants you three spins. Land a fireball during this time and the counter will reset to three. However, if you run out of spins without landing a fireball, the bonus round ends. The bonus round increases your chances of winning and your win is a sum of all the fireball values. To spice things up, you can trigger free games within the Hold and Spin session.
Free Games
The most gameplay variation in the games that make up Dragon Link can be found in the Free Games. Players activate this bonus by landing three or more Scatter symbols in a single spin. The exact number of Scatters you’ll need to activate a free game and the number of free spins you’ll get will depend on the Dragon Link variant. What constitutes a scatter symbol varies too – just like how the free game plays.
| Dragon Link Game | What Scatter Does |
| Panda Magic and Happy & Prosperous | Eliminates low-value symbols |
| Golden Gong and Silk Road | Unlocks growing wild |
| Peacock Princess and Spring Festival | Activates a large figure in the middle |
| Peace and Long life and Genghis Khan | Unlocks multiplying wild |
| Autumn Moon and Golden Century | Initiates a feature called «doors reveal» |
Playing Online vs Land-based Casinos
Playing free slots online has its pros and cons. The first benefit is the plethora of games from different developers at your fingertips. You can easily switch from one game to another without leaving the comfort of your bedroom. You have the luxury of play time (day or night, it’s up to you). Also, there are lots of free games you can play for the fun and thrill of watching the rolling reels until you are ready to play with real money.
If you are used to playing slot machines in traditional settings, transitioning to online play may take some getting used to. The human connection and live performances that characterize brick-and-mortar casinos remain hard to recreate in online settings.
Nevertheless, the thrill and possibility of making much money without geographic boundaries is what’s driving the rise of a new generation of players, particularly from countries where traditional gambling settings are either unlicensed or hard to find. Online casinos are also doing their part by enticing new players with a long list of bonuses, including welcome and first deposit bonuses – often absent in traditional settings.
Casinos Where You Can Try Dragon Link Slot
Conclusion
If you have read this far, you should know how to play Dragon Link. One way you can infuse some excitement and anticipation each time you play is by changing the denomination. It is important to mention that the outcome of every spin is independent in Dragon Link. That means landing a winning combination is a random occurrence. So play for fun and you will never be disappointed.
Filip Gromovic is a senior slots reviewer here at FreeSlots99 with over five years of experience evaluating the latest drops in the world of iGaming.
Being a slot fan himself, Filip approaches slot ratings just the way we like it – professionally, but also from a player’s standpoint.
That enables him to give his unbiased take on the slot’s features, gameplay and design, while only recommending top-tier releases to our readers.
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Having served FreeSlots99 for more than 5 years as a senior content editor and reviewer, Nashon Khamala has extensive knowledge in game slots and iGaming.
His membership in the Editorial Freelancers Association helps him deliver content that reaches both editorial excellence standards and an engaging information level.
By using his expertise in slots games combined with player-focused analysis, Nashon delivers a professional evaluation of slot features and player experiences in his reviews.
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