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Hula Moolah Review

March 6, 2025

On 21 January 2025, Powderkeg Studios launched a new Hawaiian-themed online slots game that has unique gameplay mechanics. The Hula Moolah feature has an innovative multiplier collection system, with middle reels that have expanding wilds as well as 576 ways to win. The RTP of the base game is 94.43%, but bonus buy options raise it to 95.117%.

In addition to the famous Hula Moolah Feature, which offers variable multipliers ranging from 1x to 25x with upgrade opportunities, players can use unique scatter symbols to generate 8–12 free spins. The game has a significant maximum win potential of 4,343,610 credits.

Engaging gameplay loops are produced by the creative incorporation of bonus features, especially when the Hula Moolah Feature activates during free spins. Through contemporary, stylized images, the design approach respectfully depicts the Hawaiian heritage.

Graphics and Theme

There are an ocean of slots that feature Hawaiian culture, but this one from PowderKeg Studio is refreshing. Rather than displaying postcard pictures that one would expect, the colours are vibrant, and the visuals highlight the culture of Hawaii while still using a modern approach.

The lead female character, who is the highest-paying symbol, has dignity that is only emphasized by the elements of her traditional headdress. Other tropical symbols to look out for are the exotic fruits, local sea creatures, and letters with leafy designs. Tiki torches can also be found during the free spins round. Wilds are a scary mask (named TIKI) that disappears into the volcano at the top in a puff of smoke once it has served its purpose. Should you purchase the Hula Moolah feature, expect the volcano to erupt and TIKI to come hurtling towards your screen as you are transported to another stone mask graphic, where all your spins will occur in a bed on molten lava.

The sounds are soothing waves and beating drums as the reels spin, making it one of the more pleasant soundtracks to listen to. Any bonus rewards have a catchy and celebratory sound attached to it that is still pleasant to the ears.

Technical Details

The foundation of the Hula Moolah slot game is a system that has 576 ways to win on five reels and four rows going from left to right. Three rows display all five reels, with the top row only using the three middle reels. Via ten billion simulated spins, Hula Moolah has reached an RTP of 94.43%. Players looking for higher RTP ranges can take advantage of two Bonus Buy options that give them RTPs of 94.446% and 95.117%.

The volatility is medium and the minimum and maximum bets are £0.50 and £100, respectively. The maximum win is 4,343 X the stake, with free spins that are in-game as well as promotional, not to mention the buy-in bonus feature.

Symbols and Payout

Depending on symbol hierarchy and combinations, payouts range from 0.4x to 8x the bet. Wilds only appear on the middle reels (2, 3, and 4) and have three positions they can expand into vertically, creating further opportunities to win via different combinations.

Hula Moolah Features

In the base game. TIKI is the Wild symbol that replaces everything but the bonus icon. TIKI sacrifices himself as he hurtles towards the volcano in the hopes of pleasing the gods and triggering the Hold & Spin feature.

Free Spin Bonus

If a player gets three to five bonus symbols, they are immediately awarded eight to twelve free spins. During free spins rounds, TIKI is sizzling hot and appears far more frequently, trying to activate the Hold & Spin feature. Should you land bonus symbols during the free spins round, a retrigger is activated. On average, the free spin win is around 32.88 x the stake, with the hit rate during a free spin round being 1:129.29. The odds of getting a Hula Moola Feature during a free spin round are around 1:38.4.

Hula Moolah Feature

This is the much-hoped-for Hold & Win mechanic in Hula Moolah that, when activated by certain symbols in either the base game or during the free spins round, creates a dynamic gameplay that is entirely new.

In order to prepare for a collector-style bonus where multiplier characters and enhancement elements can land in any location, the feature first clears the reels. The participatory aspect of the various special symbols is what makes this so interesting. A continuously changing grid of possible wins is produced by adjacent upgrade symbols, which can raise multiplier values by 1x to 5x from their starting values of 1x to 25x.

Multipliers can be upgraded on Lava Pools, whether they are diagonal, vertical, or horizontal, through Tiki Sacrifices. This can occur on any number of tiers randomly, but the more a multiplier is valuable, the more the increases are as well. Sound confusing? We’ll explain:

  • 1. Upgrades of Tiki Sacrifices and Lava Pool’s multipliers mean that another Tiki Sacrifice can be triggered.
  • 2. These Tike Sacrifices can upgrade multipliers by exploding on themselves and Lava Pools that are adjacent.
  • 3. This may cause chain reactions that make Lava Pools upgrade a few times, over and over, creating the opportunity to win significant sums.
  • 4. When Tiki Sacrifices explode, they dig through all the Lava Pools adjacent to them looking for bigger and bigger multipliers, with the maximum being 25x the stake.
  • 5. A player can restart the spin counter by landing another Tiki Sacrifice or a new Lava Pool.
  • 6. The Hula Moolah feature ends once the Lava Pools have taken over your grid or the spins have come to an end.

Game Rules for Hula Moolah Slot

All payments and plays are voided if the game is misused or malfunctions.

Once the highest amount is won, any additional wins will not be paid out, and the game is concluded.

Any games that are not completed within 30 days will end automatically and any wins will be paid into your PokerStars casino account.

An active game will not allow bets to be changed.

If a player presses Autoplay, then spins will continue until the Autoplay Stop button is pressed, any bonus features are triggered, or the player conditions are met.

Final Verdict

The slot market is overrun with many exotic, tiki-based, or island-themed slot games, yet Hula Moolah stands out with its setup and game mechanics. This is displayed mostly through its Hula Moolah feature, which has a significant amount of multipliers and upgrades.

The layout of 576 ways in the base game ensures engagement from players, while the high-medium volatility and maximum win of over 4,300x the stake could also make for an interesting game. The base RTP of 94.43% may be just below industry average, but the bonus options mean that this slot provides satisfying alternatives that will meet most player preferences.

FAQs for Hula Moolah Slot

1. What is the theme of the Hula Moolah Slot?

The Hula Moolah Slot has a tropical Hawaiian theme, featuring vibrant visuals, hula dancers, tiki masks, and other island-inspired symbols.

2. Does Hula Moolah have any bonus features?

Yes, Hula Moolah includes bonus features such as free spins and the Hula Moolah Feature. This bonus includes upgrades and multipliers that can be retriggered (like the free spins), leading to potential significant wins. The best part is that the Hula Moola Feature can happen within a free spins round.

3. How many reels and paylines does the game have?

The Hula Moolah Slot typically features a standard layout of five reels, and the number of paylines is 576.

4. What is the minimum and maximum bet in Hula Moolah?

The minimum and maximum bet amounts will vary depending on the online casino where you are playing the game. At Pokerstars, it is between £0.50 and £100.

5. Is Hula Moolah available on mobile devices?

Yes, Hula Moolah is designed to be compatible with mobile devices, allowing players to enjoy the game on smartphones and tablets. PokerStars has a site that is optimised for use on any Android or iOS device. You can also download the PokerStars app from Google Play or Apple App Store.

Written By
Dean McHugh

Dean is a freelance content writer who writes for various Digital Media Companies and independent websites all over the world. He has worked in and around the sports betting and iGaming industries for over 20 years.