Should You Play the 3 Laughing Lions Slot?
If you want to add a Chinese-themed online slot to your collection, 3 Laughing Lions might fit the bill. Personally, I loved the vibrant and elegant design, 5,000x maximum payout potential, and Free Spins round. However, the high volatility may not appeal to everyone.
Things We Like
Four different bonus payouts: multiple chances to win
5,000x maximum payout, not a bad payday at all
Lots of distinctive features helped keep gameplay flowing
Uniquely elegant and classy theme
Things to Consider
Not the most dynamic Free Spins round
High volatility makes payouts relatively rare
How to Place Your First Bet on 3 Laughing Lions?
While 3 Laughing Lions has plenty of familiar features, the core betting mechanic is different from most other online video slots. Thanks to a unique interface, the method to place a bet is slightly different.
As the game started, my eyes automatically went below the reels where the betting and spin buttons usually are. However, on the 3 Laughing Lions slot, these controls are on the right side of the game screen. Don’t worry – it is a small adjustment, and within seconds, I was comfortable using the interface. To make it even easier, follow the 5 easy steps below to make your first bet:
Choose an online casino that has 3 Laughing Lions in its game lobby, like those recommended on this page.
After registering an account and heading to the slots lobby, click on the game thumbnail to open the game. Wait for the slot to load.
When the game opens, you will see the game grid and reels.
On the right of the reels, there is a coin icon that opens the Bet Settings.
Here, you can customize your “Total” bet by using +/- signs to change the coin value. There are also “Bet Presets” and the ability to set the minimum or maximum wager.
Once you set the bet amount, click the “Play” button to spin the reels.
My First Moments Playing This Slot Machine
When I fired up the 3 Laughing Lions slot for the first time, I was instantly won over by the breezy design and smooth visuals. This Chinese-themed slot has a bright and vibrant feel, making it a pleasant game to play long sessions on. I was initially concerned that the reels were too small on the interface or that uncommon UI choices would become frustrating. Luckily, I quickly forgot those worries as 3 Laughing Lions won me over quickly with its slick gameplay and interesting features.
3 Laughing Lions: A Relaxing Slot Experience
I rank 3 Laughing Lions as one of the most welcoming online slots I have seen. The airy theme evokes a feeling of wide open spaces while mixing seamlessly with the overall Chinese theme. As this is a 2024 launch, 3 Laughing Lions has the latest cutting-edge graphics. Northern Lights uses high-definition visuals with the slot’s symbols and waving Chinese dragon mascots above the reels. Plus, the bouncy soundtrack is elegant and immersive.
There is a real sense of space, with the Chinese town backdrop providing a really relaxing setting. Despite the openness of the theme, I never felt that the reels were too small. Symbols are expertly rendered and look graphically top-notch on the reels. Speaking of the reels, 3 Laughing Lions has 5 reels along with 3 rows and 30 paylines. You can adjust your bet amount from just 0.01 to 40 per spin, making this an ideal slot for budget players.
A Traditional Chinese Story to Set the Scene
3 Laughing Lions sees you situated in a traditional Chinese village, locked deep in the mountains set amongst cherry blossom trees, rolling hills, and a waterfall with a bridge. On top of the reels sit the Laughing Lions themselves, but they look more like dragons to me. I really like that Northern Lights has splashed colour about the reels and backdrop but has not gone overboard.
All colours pop vibrantly from the screen, but it is impressive that the colours are elegant and lend to the overall chilled-out vibe of 3 Laughing Lions. To win, you need to get between 3 and 5 matching symbols. Low-value symbols are 10, J, Q, K, and A, and they pay between 0.3x and 1x your bet for 5 of a kind.
High-value symbols are the green flower, book, hand fan, blue flower, and Koi fish. Hitting 5 identical examples of any of these symbols returns between 1.5x and 10x your stake.
Let’s Talk About the Bonus Games You’ll Find
In terms of features, 3 Laughing Lions is one of the most stacked slots I have seen for some time. It has a bunch of features that add plenty of excitement to your regular gameplay, like the Chest Symbol, Wild Symbols, Lion Scatter Symbol, Power Combo Free Spins, and Lucky Lantern Pot Bonus. There is a lot going on, and this game is never boring, so let’s take a look at the available features:
Chest Symbol
Chest Symbols can land on reels 1 and 5 during a regular spin. Hitting 2 of these symbols will help you uncover benefits, including options that are other bonuses. Wild Reels will turn the reels wild, while 2 Lanterns open the bonus round. There is also the random Chest Reward, which is available even if you only land 1 Chest Symbol.
Wild Symbols
I was really happy with the wild symbol mechanics on 3 Laughing Lions. These symbols can appear anywhere on the reels, including during Free Spins. Wild are each of the colours lions that sit above the reels. So, the Green Lion adds more wilds, while the Blue Lion adds a 2x multiplier to the wilds.
Lion Scatter Symbols
As for the red lion, it serves as the scatter symbol. I found that this symbol lands frequently, and you’ll need 2, 3, or 4 to open bonus rounds. When the Blue Lion lands on the reels, it will also randomly open Free Spin and add a 2x multiplier to wild symbols.
Power Combo Free Spins
The Power Combo mechanic is one of Northern Lights’ standout features and a popular series of slot games. In my experience, I rank 3 Laughing Lions as one of the premier Power Combo games. This feature activates when you get more than one Lion scatter symbol.
It is worth noting that this is a random trigger feature, so there is no guarantee of free spins. Although, if you activate the Power Combo, you will get 5 Free Spins for one scatter. Spin 8 additional free times with 2 Lion Scatter symbols and 11 free spins when you get 3 symbols. You can also gain 3 additional freebies every time the Lion Scatter lands.
Lucky Lantern Pot Bonus
3 Laughing Lions also has a full bonus round that triggers when you have 2 Lanterns during the Chest symbol feature. Doing this opens the Lucky Lantern Por bonus, which shows 12 Lanterns, each hiding the Grand, Major, Minor, or Mini Pot prizes. Your job is to choose symbols and get 3 matches to win the specific pot. The Mini Pot pays out 10x, the Minor pays out 100x, the Major pays out 1,000x, and the Grand Pot pays out 5,000x.
Some Technical Considerations About 3 Laughing Lions
Alongside making hundreds of spins on the 3 Laughing Lions slot, I have also been through all the game documentation. Northern Lights rates the game as high volatility, and after my gameplay, I agree with the rating. You sometimes need to be patient to trigger wins, and the base game can be quite dry in terms of payouts. However, if you are patient enough, it is possible to trigger the features, free spins, and bonus rounds to win bigger prizes.
The default RTP for 3 Laughing Lions is 96.07%. That is slightly above the 96% average for online slots and means, on average, the game pays out £96.70 for every £100 spent. However, after my sessions with the game, I found that the high volatility offsets the RTP. It is also important to note that this game has variable RTPs (94%, 92% and 86% also available). I recommend checking with your casino site to see which RTP version it offers before you start spinning the reels for real money.
Why Do I Think 3 Laughing Lions Stands Out?
If you like a smooth slot game with a relaxing vibe that still does not compromise on features, 3 Laughing Lions is for you. I really enjoyed firing the game up and immersing myself in the chilled-out theme and easygoing design. Still, 3 Laughing Lions is a very capable slot when it comes to serious reel spinning.
Because there are loads of features, you are never far away from an exciting spin. However, one downside is the high volatility, which means those spins do not always turn into big payouts. Nonetheless, the low betting limit of 3 Laughing Lions means you can afford to be patient and wait for the bonus features to trigger and deliver big payouts.
3 Laughing Lions FAQs
5,000x your stake is currently the biggest potential payout on the 3 Laughing Lions slot. To get this win, you need to trigger the Lucky Lantern Pot Bonus and then match 3 Grand Pots.
3 Laughing Lions was developed by Northern Lights, a game studio that is owned by iGaming software giant Games Global (formerly Microgaming).
It is worth remembering that 3 Laughing Lions – like all online slots – is a game of luck, and you cannot guarantee wins. Still, if you make smaller bets and are willing to be patient, you can potentially trigger a bonus and claim big wins.
Yes, if the online casino you choose has an app. Otherwise, you can simply enjoy playing 3 Laughing Lions on iOS and Android through your mobile browser.
James Hall
Contributor & Games Expert
Fact-checked by Julia Attard
Senior Author & Online Casino Expert