Santa Paws Slot Review by Microgaming
Arctic animals celebrate Christmas, with two wilds and 12 free spins at 7x
Santa Paws Slot Ratings
Santa Paws has been rated by our slots review team and scores an awesome 81% based from the category ratings overall.
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Santa Paws Slot Overview
Santa Paws is a cute Christmas slot from Microgaming, set in a magical winter wonderland at the North Pole. If you thought only people celebrated Christmas, this game proves otherwise. Here, the animals of the Arctic have taken over the festive season.
A big polar bear plays Santa, while an orca with antlers and a red nose stands in as Rudolph. The other animals take on the roles of Santa’s helpers and visitors. The graphics are cartoon-style and cheerful, and gentle Christmas tunes play as the reels spin.
Based on our original review, Santa Paws plays on 5 reels and 3 rows, with 20 paylines. It keeps things simple, with two wilds, free spins with a 7x multiplier and an optional gamble feature. That makes it an easy, relaxed choice for the festive season.
Santa Paws at a Glance
| Developer | Microgaming (now supplied by Games Global) |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows, 20 paylines |
| Wilds | Santa Paws polar bear and Rudolph the orca |
| Scatter | Penguin with a present |
| Free spins | 12, with all wins multiplied by 7x |
| Other features | Gamble feature |
| Top line win in our original review | 4,000x your line bet |
| Current status | Not confirmed by Games Global |
Theme and Graphics
Santa Paws is set in a snowy Arctic scene, with the soft hum of the ocean in the background. When the reels spin, cheerful Christmas melodies take over. The overall mood is calm, cosy and easy to enjoy.
The symbols are all animals dressed up for Christmas. A white rabbit decorates a tree, an owl carries a present and a sea lion balances two gifts. A wolf mailman delivers letters to the North Pole. Meanwhile, a penguin with a present acts as the scatter.
The polar bear is the star of the show. He wears a Santa hat and carries a sack full of gifts. As a result, the game feels like a children’s Christmas story. If you’d like a more modern festive slot, Stakelogic’s Mystical Santa Megaways has bigger features and more ways to win.
Paylines, Betting and RTP
Based on our original review, Santa Paws has 20 paylines across five reels. Our older review didn’t list a bet range or RTP. Since Games Global doesn’t publish public game pages, we couldn’t confirm either figure today.
Many games also come in more than one RTP version, and the casino chooses which one you play. For that reason, open the game’s help screen before you spin. Our guide to RTP and online slots explains what the number means in plain English.
Santa Paws Symbols
Santa Paws Wild
The polar bear Santa is the top wild. He stands in for every symbol except the penguin scatter. Our original review said five of him on a line paid 4,000x your line bet.
Rudolph Wild
The second wild is Rudolph, an orca whale with antlers and a red nose stuck on his head. He also replaces every symbol except the scatter. Five Rudolphs on a line paid up to 1,000x your line bet in our original review.
Penguin Scatter
The penguin with a present is the scatter. It can land anywhere on the reels, and three or more trigger the free spins.
Animal Symbols
Our original review listed the wolf mailman as the best regular symbol. He paid up to 750x your line bet. The rabbit, owl and sea lion pay less.
| Symbol | Role | Top pay in our original review |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Paws (polar bear) | Wild | 4,000x line bet |
| Rudolph (orca) | Wild | 1,000x line bet |
| Wolf mailman | Regular symbol | 750x line bet |
| Penguin | Scatter | Triggers free spins |
Santa Paws Bonus Features
Santa Paws keeps its features simple. Here’s what you’ll find:
- Free spins: 12 free spins with a 7x multiplier on every win.
- Two wilds: both help complete winning lines in the main game and the bonus.
- Gamble feature: an optional chance to double or quadruple a win.
Free Spins
Land three or more penguin scatters anywhere on the reels to trigger 12 free spins. During the round, every win is multiplied by 7x. That’s a big boost, and it’s where the game’s best wins usually come from.
A 7x multiplier is a generous boost for such a simple game. As a result, even modest line wins can turn into a decent payout during the bonus. It’s the main reason players come back to Santa Paws.
Gamble Feature
After any win, you can choose to gamble. A face-down Santa Paws card appears. Guess the right colour to double your win, or the right suit to quadruple it.
A wrong guess, though, means you lose the whole win. So, it’s best to gamble only small amounts, or to skip it altogether.
How to Play Santa Paws
Santa Paws is one of the easiest Christmas slots to learn. Follow these steps:
- Check the help screen: look at the RTP and bet limits at your casino.
- Set your stake: choose your bet using the controls.
- Spin the reels: press Spin, or use Autoplay if your casino offers it.
- Watch for penguins: three or more start 12 free spins with a 7x multiplier.
- Collect or gamble: after a win, keep it or try the gamble feature.
Is Santa Paws Good for Beginners?
Yes, it’s one of the friendliest Christmas slots for new players. There are only a few symbols to learn, and the rules fit on a single help screen. You don’t need to track meters, collect symbols or pick between bonus modes.
The free spins are also easy to understand. You land three penguins, you get 12 spins, and every win is multiplied by 7x. That’s it. As a result, it’s a good way to learn how scatters, wilds and multipliers work.
What Happened to Microgaming’s Games?
Microgaming was one of the oldest names in online slots. In recent years, its game catalogue moved to Games Global, which now supplies those titles to casinos. Our Microgaming page explains the change in more detail.
Games Global’s website doesn’t include a public list of games. So, for older titles like Santa Paws, we can’t check whether they’re still offered. Some older Microgaming slots are still around, while others have quietly disappeared from lobbies.
What We Changed in This Review
- Status note: we’ve added a note explaining that we couldn’t confirm the game’s status with Games Global.
- Figures: we’ve marked the paytable and features as coming from our original review.
- Layout: we’ve tidied up the review into our standard format, with a clearer explanation of each feature.
Playing Santa Paws on Mobile
Santa Paws is an older game, so whether it runs on your phone depends on the version your casino offers. If it loads in your mobile browser, the simple cartoon graphics should be easy to see.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cute, gentle Arctic Christmas theme
- Two different wild symbols
- Generous 7x multiplier in free spins
- Very easy to learn
Cons
- Current status not confirmed by Games Global
- No RTP figure available
- Basic graphics by today’s standards
- Only one main bonus feature
Our Verdict
Santa Paws is a simple, sweet Christmas slot that’s easy to enjoy. The animal characters are charming, and the 7x multiplier gives the free spins a real lift. It’s an older game, though, and we couldn’t confirm that it’s still offered. If you find it at your casino, check the help screen first, then enjoy a relaxed festive spin.
Similar Slots to Try
For more classic Microgaming festive fun, see our reviews of Secret Santa and Ho Ho Ho. Like Santa Paws, we couldn’t confirm their current status, so check your casino’s lobby first.
If you enjoy older-style slots in general, our Reelin and Rocking Classic Slot review covers a simple retro game. For festive games we could confirm are still listed, see our Christmas-themed Video Slots guide.
Santa Paws FAQs
Who made Santa Paws?
Microgaming made Santa Paws. Its games are now supplied by Games Global.
Is Santa Paws still available?
We couldn’t confirm this, as Games Global doesn’t publish a public game catalogue. Check your casino’s lobby before you sign up.
How do I trigger the free spins?
Land three or more penguin scatters anywhere on the reels. You’ll get 12 free spins with all wins multiplied by 7x.
How many wilds does Santa Paws have?
Two: the Santa Paws polar bear and Rudolph the orca.
What is the RTP of Santa Paws?
Our original review didn’t list one, and we couldn’t confirm it today. Check the help screen at your casino.
Remember to set a budget before you play, especially over the busy festive season. For tips on staying in control, visit our responsible gambling page.
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