Armadillo Artie Slot: Retired Game Review and Alternatives
What the cartoon armadillo slot offered, who made it and the best similar slots you can still play today
Armadillo Artie Ratings
Armidillo Artie has been rated by our slots review team and scores an awesome 88% based from the category ratings overall.
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What Happened to Armadillo Artie?
Armadillo Artie was a cheerful cartoon slot set in the deserts of Texas. It starred Artie, a friendly armadillo, along with a bunch of desert critters. With its banjo music and fun Bowling Bonus, it was a popular choice at many casinos for years.
Today, though, the game seems to have faded away. We couldn’t find it listed by any of the companies that now own the studio behind it. Independent slot sites also report that the game is no longer available to play. Because of this, we’ve updated our review to explain what the game was like and where to find similar slots.
| Original studio | Chartwell Technology |
| Later owners | Amaya, then NYX Gaming, then Scientific Games (now Light & Wonder) |
| Status | No official game page or demo found |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows, 25 paylines |
| Theme | Cartoon armadillo in the Texas desert |
| Main features | Expanding Wild, free spins and the Bowling Bonus |
Who Made Armadillo Artie?
Our original review credited Armadillo Artie to Amaya. However, the full story is a little more complicated.
The game was first made by Chartwell Technology, a Canadian casino software company. In 2011, Amaya bought Chartwell. Later, Amaya bought PokerStars and became The Stars Group. Along the way, in 2015, it sold Chartwell and another studio, Cryptologic, to NYX Gaming.
Then, in 2018, NYX was taken over by Scientific Games. Today, that company is known as Light & Wonder. To learn more about its slots, see our WMS and Scientific Games page.
Armadillo Artie passed through several owners over the years. Older games like this often get retired when studios change hands.
Theme and Design
Armadillo Artie had a bright, cartoon style that was hard not to like. The game was set among sandy canyons and cacti in the Texas desert. Artie and his desert friends brought plenty of personality to the reels.
The symbols matched the theme, with a bull, a snake and a cactus among them. Some symbols also showed famous sights, such as the Grand Canyon. Meanwhile, lively country banjo music played in the background, adding to the fun, laid-back mood.
How Armadillo Artie Worked
Based on our original review, Armadillo Artie used 5 reels, 3 rows and 25 paylines. You won by lining up matching symbols across the paylines. It also had three main features, which we explain below.
Expanding Wild
Armadillo Artie himself was the Wild symbol. He stood in for most other symbols, apart from the special bonus symbols. Even better, when Artie landed on reels 2 to 5, he expanded across the reels. This turned the symbols to his right into Wilds too, which could lead to some big wins.
Free Spins
The Sheriff’s Star was the free spins symbol. Landing three Sheriff’s Stars on reels 2, 3 and 4 gave you 10 free spins.
During the free spins, wins paid both ways, from left to right and from right to left. This gave you more ways to win on every spin. However, the free spins couldn’t be retriggered.
Bowling Bonus
The Bowling Bonus was the game’s most fun feature. It could only start during the free spins, when two Bowling Ball symbols landed on reels 2, 3 or 4.
In the bonus, Artie curled up into a ball and became the bowling ball himself. You had three rolls down the bowling alley. For each roll, you chose a direction, and Artie knocked down a random number of pins. Knocking down all the pins could win you a multiplier of up to 30x.
RTP and Betting
Our original review listed Armadillo Artie’s RTP at 95%. RTP stands for “return to player”. It’s the share of all bets a slot pays back over millions of spins. For example, a 95% RTP means the game pays back around $95 for every $100 bet over the long run.
Since we can’t find an official source for the game today, we can’t confirm these figures. If you’re looking for slots with a high RTP that you can still play, take a look at our list of the best paying slots.
Can You Still Play Armadillo Artie?
It’s unlikely. We couldn’t find an official game page or demo, and independent slot sites report that the original game is no longer available. Some sites also list a different game with the same name, but we haven’t been able to confirm it with the studio.
If you do find a game called Armadillo Artie at a casino, check its help screen before you play. That way, you’ll know exactly which version it is, along with its RTP and rules.
Slots to Play Instead
If you enjoyed Armadillo Artie, these slots offer a similar mix of fun characters and Wild West adventure:
- Birds On A Wire, a cheerful cartoon slot from Thunderkick, with funny birds and growing multipliers.
- Wild West Bounty, a slot that takes you back to the frontier.
- Desperados Wild Megaways, a Wild West slot with thousands of ways to win.
You can also browse our full slot reviews section for more games.
Pros and Cons
What We Liked
- Fun cartoon theme with lots of character
- Expanding Wild that could fill the reels
- Free spins that paid both ways
- Unique Bowling Bonus with up to 30x multipliers
Drawbacks Today
- No official game page or demo available
- Unlikely to be found at casinos
- RTP and rules can’t be confirmed
- Free spins couldn’t be retriggered
Topboss Group Verdict
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Armadillo Artie still available?
Probably not. We couldn’t find an official game page or demo, and independent sites report that the original game is no longer available.
Who made Armadillo Artie?
The game was first made by Chartwell Technology. Chartwell was later owned by Amaya, then NYX Gaming, and finally Scientific Games, now known as Light & Wonder.
What was the Bowling Bonus?
The Bowling Bonus started during free spins when two Bowling Balls landed. Artie rolled down a bowling alley three times, and knocking down all the pins could win a multiplier of up to 30x.
How did the free spins work?
Three Sheriff’s Stars on reels 2, 3 and 4 gave you 10 free spins. During the free spins, wins paid both ways, but the free spins couldn’t be retriggered.
What can I play instead of Armadillo Artie?
We recommend Birds On A Wire for its cartoon fun, plus Wild West Bounty and Desperados Wild Megaways for a Wild West theme.
T's & C's Apply. New Depositors Only
T's & C's Apply. New Depositors Only
Automatically credited upon 1st Deposit (min £10). Max Bonus £25. Game: Big Bass Bonanza, Spin Value: £0.1. WR 10x Bonus (only Slots count) in 30 days. WR 10x free spin winnings (only Slots count) within 30 days. Max bet is 10% (min £0.10) of the free spin winnings and bonus or £5 (lowest applies). Bonus Policy applies.
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