Play The Ultimate 5 in New Zealand

The Ultimate 5 builds its main respin feature around Money symbols that must connect before they pay. Released by Pragmatic Play on 7 February 2022, the safari-themed online pokie has 5 reels, 3 rows and 20 fixed paylines. Its second bonus uses random level-ups to remove low-paying symbols from Free Spins.

The Ultimate 5 Game Overview

The Ultimate 5 fills the reels with five African animals and five card ranks. Standard wins run from the left across adjacent reels, while a special line containing all five different animals pays 100x the stake. The fixed-line setup means all 20 patterns participate in every spin.

The Ultimate 5 separates its features through Diamond Scatters and Sun Money symbols. Diamonds open Free Spins, while three Money symbols across the middle reels activate Hold & Spin Super Boost. Triggering either feature is random and cannot be forced by spin speed or wager changes.

The Ultimate 5 Key Game Details

• Developer: Pragmatic Play
• Release date: 7 February 2022
• Game category: Video slot
• Theme: African safari and the Big Five
• Layout: 5 reels x 3 rows
• Paylines: 20 fixed paylines
• Standard win rule: 3 or more matching symbols from left to right
• Special animal win: 100x stake for all five animal symbols on one payline in any order
• Main features: Hold & Spin Super Boost, level-up Free Spins and Wild symbols
• Free Spins trigger: 3, 4 or 5 Scatters award 8, 10 or 12 spins
• Free Spins extensions: 2, 3, 4 or 5 overlay Diamonds add 2, 4, 6 or 8 spins
• Fixed prize tiers: Mini 25x, Minor 50x, Major 75x, Maxi 100x and Mega 500x
• Maximum win: 5,000x stake
• RTP listed by Wildz: 94.50%
• Volatility: High, rated 7/10 on the platform scale
• Published bet range: 0.20 to 100 units per spin
• Demo play: Available
• Supported formats: Desktop and mobile

The Ultimate 5 is listed at Wildz with an RTP of 94.50%, high volatility at 7/10 and a top result of 5,000x the stake. Its Mini, Minor, Major, Maxi and Mega awards are fixed multiples rather than progressive pools. The active information panel should be checked because game configurations and stake denominations can vary between markets.

How Does The Ultimate 5 Work?

The Ultimate 5 forms most wins with three or more identical icons beginning on reel one. Each result is checked against 20 fixed paylines, so there is no option to reduce the number of active patterns. The five-animal line is an exception to matching-symbol rules because it accepts one of every premium animal in any order.

The Ultimate 5 scales prizes with the selected stake but leaves the underlying random probabilities unchanged. A higher bet does not make Scatters, Money symbols or Wilds appear more often. Every spin is resolved independently of the wins or losses that came before it.

The Ultimate 5 Hold & Spin Super Boost

The Ultimate 5 opens Hold & Spin Super Boost when a Money symbol lands on each of reels 2, 3 and 4. The triggering trio moves to the centre of an otherwise empty 5x3 grid, where 3 respins begin. Any newly landed Money symbol locks and restores the count to three.

The Ultimate 5 links touching Money symbols horizontally and vertically. Once linked, all values in that group step upward, but isolated symbols pay nothing at the feature’s conclusion. The player cannot select the landing cell or the direction of a link, and extra respins do not ensure the grid will fill.

The Ultimate 5 Fixed Prize Levels

The Ultimate 5 includes five named fixed awards within the Money-symbol ladder. Mini is 25x, Minor 50x, Major 75x, Maxi 100x and Mega 500x the stake. Lower cash values can rise towards these levels when connected groups expand.

The Ultimate 5 carries a jackpot type of none in gameservice. That classification means the tiers do not grow with network turnover and are not funded by other pokies. Their appearance remains part of the round’s random symbol generation.

The Ultimate 5 Free Spins

The Ultimate 5 gives 8, 10 or 12 Free Spins for 3, 4 or 5 Diamond Scatters. The trigger also carries an initial payment of 5x, 25x or 50x the stake. Random level-ups remove the 10 first, followed by J, Q, K and A, and each removal spin includes a guaranteed Wild.

The Ultimate 5 can add more spins through small Diamond overlays. Landing 2, 3, 4 or 5 of them adds 2, 4, 6 or 8 Free Spins. Removing lower symbols changes the available reel set, but it cannot guarantee that a premium win or another extension will follow.

The Ultimate 5 Wild and Animal Combination

The Ultimate 5 depicts its Wild as a tree against a bright sunset. It substitutes for normal pay symbols but not for Diamonds, Money symbols or the five individual animals in the mixed-animal award. The limitation preserves the separate conditions for the 100x line.

The Ultimate 5 awards 100x the wager when buffalo, rhino, elephant, leopard and lion occupy one payline in any sequence. This differs from a five-of-a-kind result and cannot be completed by a Wild. Changing the stake alters the dollar amount only, not the chance of landing all five.

The Ultimate 5 RTP

The Ultimate 5 has a Wildz-listed RTP of 94.50% for the relevant MGA version. RTP expresses a long-term theoretical average across many game cycles rather than a promised return for a short session. Individual play may produce a result well above or below the figure.

The Ultimate 5 has been released with alternative mathematical settings elsewhere, making the in-game panel the authoritative check for the loaded build. The percentage does not rise because a customer chooses a larger stake. Recent outcomes also have no ability to push the game towards its theoretical average on the next spin.

The Ultimate 5 Volatility

The Ultimate 5 receives a 7/10 volatility rating on the Wildz scale, placing it in the high band. Players can therefore encounter pronounced changes in balance and irregular gaps between stronger payouts. Volatility describes the distribution of results, not the quality of the next spin.

The Ultimate 5 combines that risk profile with two bonuses capable of ending very differently from one trigger to another. Predetermined money and time limits are useful controls for high-volatility pokies action. Continuing after losses cannot make the game compensate for an earlier sequence.

The Ultimate 5 Maximum Win

The Ultimate 5 limits any complete game sequence to 5,000x the stake. The same ceiling covers ordinary spins, the evolving Free Spins round and Hold & Spin Super Boost. Further theoretical values are not added after the maximum has been reached.

The Ultimate 5 converts 5,000x into a cash amount using the wager placed for that game cycle. The stated maximum is rare potential rather than an expected outcome. No playing strategy, session length or stake progression can guarantee the cap.

How to Play The Ultimate 5 in New Zealand

The Ultimate 5 begins with a stake choice and a review of the paytable before the reels are spun. All 20 lines remain active automatically, and the rules screen identifies the Scatter, Wild and Money symbols. Players can also examine how linked groups and Free Spins levels function before using real funds.

The Ultimate 5 should be played only by adults who meet the operator’s verification and location requirements. A budget, time limit and loss limit can be selected before starting. These responsible-play controls reduce exposure but never influence which symbols appear.

Can You Play The Ultimate 5 on Mobile?

Yes, The Ultimate 5 runs on supported mobile phones and tablets. The online pokie’s reel screen and 15-position respin board resize to suit smaller displays without changing the 20 paylines. Desktop and mobile versions retain the same feature rules within the same mathematical build.

The Ultimate 5 requires a stable browser session so completed results can be recorded correctly. Swapping devices does not restart the random sequence or make a bonus more likely. The stake display should be checked again whenever a session is reopened.

Can You Play The Ultimate 5 for Free?

Yes, The Ultimate 5 offers demo play using non-cash credits. The mode lets players observe the five-animal line, random symbol removals and Money-link upgrades before deciding whether to wager. Demo balances and winnings cannot be withdrawn.

The Ultimate 5 practice results have no predictive value for real-money pokies play. A strong demo sequence does not increase or decrease the chance of the same feature appearing later. Real-money limits and account conditions should be reviewed independently.

The Ultimate 5 in New Zealand

The Ultimate 5 can be accessed through an online casino that carries Pragmatic Play and accepts customers under the applicable rules. Players must be 18 or older, satisfy identity requirements and follow the casino’s terms. The loaded game panel provides the specific RTP, stake range and feature rules.

The Ultimate 5 is offered during a period in which New Zealand’s new online-casino licensing framework is being implemented. Customers can review operator information, account controls and dispute procedures before depositing. A familiar game title does not remove the need to check the business supplying it.

New Zealand Rules for The Ultimate 5

The Ultimate 5 falls within the online-casino framework administered by the Department of Internal Affairs. The Online Casino Gambling Act 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026 and requires online casino gamblers to be at least 18 years old. The Act establishes licensing, consumer-protection and harm-minimisation duties.

The Ultimate 5 players should note that the system includes transitional implementation dates, with key provisions taking effect on 1 December 2026 and the licensing regime continuing into 2027. Identity, age and responsible-gambling checks can form part of account access. Limits manage participation but cannot change the random outcome of a spin.