Wheel-based speciality live games are on a bit of a rising trend these days. Titles like Evolution’s Dream Catcher have proven that there are still new markets to explore in the world of live casinos. They offer a completely new way to experience live table games, and we always enjoy seeing innovation. Now, industry leaders Playtech have decided to enter that ring with 2020’s Adventures Beyond Wonderland game.
Adventures Beyond Wonderland by Playtech is a game show-like live dealer casino game with a big focus on entertainment. It’s based on a slot game bearing the same name, which was released back in 2017. Thematic inspirations aside, though, this release is a completely unique addition to the Playtech roster.
The first thing you’ll notice when you play Adventures Beyond Wonderland online is that it’s quite a spectacle. The set, presenters, and wheel are all heavily stylized after Lewis Caroll’s famous novel. Moreover, the presentation is bolstered by CGI characters like the White Rabbit appearing at times. Overall, the game is a testament to how far streaming technology has come. We can safely say that it raises the bar for all live casino game shows moving forward.
The basic premise is quite similar to the afore-mentioned Dream Catcher or even the Mega Wheel. However, this title stands out with a lot of unique mechanics thrown in to keep things interesting. This opens up the gameplay to more options or even an Adventures Beyond Wonderland strategy.
Much like other games in the genre, the basic gameplay revolves around predicting which number the wheel will land on. The initial wheel has 7 options in total – 1, 2, 5, 10, Magic Dice, 2 Wonderspins, and 5 Wonderspins. Additionally, there are 2 mystery segments on the wheel which do not require a bet.
The numbers are the simplest bet you can make. Simply pick a number for your bet, and if the wheel lands on it your stake is multiplied by the same number. Obviously, the bigger numbers appear on fewer segments on the wheel. The special bets are also fairly rare on the table, but can bring about massive rewards. Here’s the rundown of all Adventures Beyond Wonderland bets, including the probability of hitting one.
Bet | Color | Payout | Segments | Probability |
1 | Yellow | 1:1 | 22 | 40.74% |
2 | Green | 2:1 | 15 | 27.77% |
5 | Blue | 5:1 | 5 | 9.25% |
10 | Pink | 10:1 | 4 | 7.40% |
2 Wonderspins | Orange | Up to 100x | 3 | 5.55% |
5 Wonderspins | Purple | Up to 250x | 1 | 1.85% |
Magic Dice | Red | Up to 250x | 2 | 3.70% |
Mystery Spins | Purple | N/A | 2 | 3.70% |
Let’s move on to the special bets. Firstly, we have Wonderspins. Essentially, the presenter will spin a special Wonderspin wheel either 2 or 5 times, which decides how big your winnings are. Each segment of this wheel increases the multiplier by a different amount, and the bigger multipliers are rarer.
Additionally, a smaller second wheel can bolster some segments with increased multipliers or even additional Wonderspins.
The Magic Dice minigame similarly multiplies your initial bet. Essentially, a series of dice rolls are used to determine this multiplier on a 6x4 grid. You can move up the grid if the dice hit a green arrow, which ultimately results in higher multipliers.
Mystery Round
The mystery round is a bit of an outlier. First of all, it doesn’t require you to place a bet on the Mystery segment. The bonuses are applied to all players who bid a valid bet in that round.
One possibility are the marching card soldiers. As the player, you get to pick one of 4 different cards. The card reveals a multiplier, which is applied to your initial bet and awarded as a win.
Alternatively, the caterpillar will appear and blow some bubbles on the screen. Each bubble will reveal a different multiplier and land on one of the original wheel segments. All players then receive an Adventures Beyond Wonderland free spin. If the wheel lands on a segment you chose, your winnings are multiplied by the number found in the corresponding bubble.
Games like this are kind of hard to judge based on regular standards for top live casino games. They just aren’t made for gamblers who like to tinker with statistics and RTP rates and whatnot.
That said, we quite enjoyed making this Adventures Beyond Wonderland review. It’s a very fun experience unlike anything else we found in a live casino setting before. It’s well designed and entertaining, while also being potentially profitable. What’s not to like?