Brooklyn Bootleggers (Quickspin) Slot Review

Brooklyn Bootleggers: Slot Overview 

Quickspin delves into the shadowy world of Prohibition-era America with Brooklyn Bootleggers, an atmospheric online slot set against the backdrop of 1930s New York. Released on August 12, 2023, this title draws inspiration from the era of speakeasies, gangsters, and illegal booze runs, placing players in the heart of bootlegging turf wars. 

Brooklyn Bootleggers pairs its moody, film noir visuals with a simple yet highly potent feature set, most notably the Lock Up mechanic and Tip Off Free Spins. Played on a 5×3 reel layout with 10 fixed paylines, it offers a max win of 10,000x, medium-high volatility, and a default RTP of 96.25%, making it a compelling option for players looking for escalating cash prizes and feature-driven gameplay. 

While it shares some DNA with scatter/prize ladder games like 9 Masks of Fire, Quickspin has added a twist—players must first unlock specific areas of the grid before accessing its top-tier rewards. This “frame-first, symbols-second” requirement adds a layer of anticipation that distinguishes it from more straightforward formats.

Design and Graphics 

Brooklyn Bootleggers is steeped in noir stylings, delivering a moody, cinematic experience evocative of 1930s gangster films. The reels are set beneath an elevated train line in misty Brooklyn, flanked by shadowy architecture and dim streetlamps. On-screen characters—clearly modeled after mobsters and corrupt cops—add to the gritty ambiance.The symbols include stylized low-pays (stars, spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts) rendered like vintage playing cards, and four mid-level character symbols resembling gangsters, detectives, and molls. The Badge scatter symbol, adorned with a polished metal sheen, plays a central role in feature triggering, while the Wild symbol mimics the highest-paying character. 

Everything from the game UI to the sepia-toned color palette reinforces its prohibition-era theme. It’s immersive without being overwhelming and strikes a nice balance between thematic storytelling and clarity.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Brooklyn Bootleggers is a 10-payline video slot with traditional left-to-right win evaluation and a modern feature twist. Base wins occur by matching 3–5 identical symbols across one of the 10 lines, but the real interest lies in the Lock Up and Free Spins features. 

Symbol Wins: 

Low pays (card suits): Up to 10x the bet for 5 of a kind. 

Medium pays (4 character symbols): 20x to 200x the bet for 5 of a kind. 

Wilds: Substitute for all symbols except the scatter and adopt the highest symbol’s payout when making a winning line.

Sound and Music 

The audio is straight out of a gangster flick. Expect slow jazz riffs, distant traffic hum, and the clinking of bottles and coins in the background. When the reels spin, there’s a metallic clatter that reinforces the industrial, underworld tone. 

Wins are punctuated with subtle audio cues—short trumpet blasts or cash register sounds—that avoid being distracting while still feeling rewarding. The free spins round introduces a slightly more intense musical track, adding to the suspense as players chase escalating Lock Up prizes. 

The soundtrack is not just ambient noise; it’s a well-integrated element that enhances the gritty urban aesthetic of the slot.

Bonus Features 

The Lock Up 

Brooklyn Bootleggers’ signature mechanic, The Lock Up, can trigger randomly during base play or is guaranteed during free spins. When active, a frame appears around a 3×3, 4×3, or 5×3 area of the reels. If 4 or more wild or medium symbols land within the framed area, a cash prize is awarded based on the number of matching symbols enclosed. 

The prizes follow a ladder structure:4 to 15 medium/wild symbols in the frame trigger escalating payouts from 2x to 10,000x the stake. 

Lower rewards like 2x, 4x, and 7x keep early wins interesting, but once players unlock the 4×3 or 5×3 frame size, the big multipliers (500x, 1,000x, 5,000x, and 10,000x) come into play. 

The twist here is that landing the right symbols is only effective if the Lock Up frame is already active—a sharp deviation from typical prize ladder slots. 

Tip Off Free Spins 

Triggered by landing 3, 4, or 5 Badge scatter symbols, this round awards 10, 15, or 20 free spins respectively. During this mode: 

The Lock Up Frame is active on every spin. 

The frame starts at 3×3 and can expand to 4×3 and then 5×3 by landing 3+ scatter symbols during the feature. 

Each retrigger also awards 3, 5, or 7 additional spins. 

This persistent frame system increases the odds of landing big payouts and adds a satisfying sense of progression. 

Buy FeatureFor those who prefer instant action, the Tip Off Free Spins can be purchased for 60x the bet, with a RTP of 96.65%. This is a well-priced bonus buy considering the potential for large multipliers once the Lock Up frame grows to full size.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Players can spin Brooklyn Bootleggers with a minimum bet of €0.20 and a maximum of €100, giving it a flexible range for low-stakes and high-roller players alike. 

Key payout data: 

RTP: 96.25% (base), 96.65% (buy feature) 

Volatility: Medium to high 

Max win: 10,000x the bet 

Wins in the base game can feel modest at first, but the Lock Up feature creates anticipation for those sudden, hefty paydays.

Conclusion 

Brooklyn Bootleggers delivers an intriguing fusion of classic gangster themes and modern slot mechanics. Quickspin has masterfully implemented the Lock Up mechanic, a twist on the familiar “fixed prize ladder” format that feels fresh and compelling. The prerequisite of framing symbols before cashing in adds tension and drama, though some players may find it more frustrating than fun if symbols land but frames don’t. 

The Tip Off Free Spins elevate the core mechanic by making the frame permanent and expandable, allowing for those high multiplier wins that slot fans chase. Combined with smooth gameplay, striking visuals, and a jazz-tinged audio package, this is one of Quickspin’s more unique 2023 entries. 

That said, its max win potential of 10,000x makes it competitive with most high volatility slots, even if it doesn’t always feel like a powerhouse in regular play. It’s a well-crafted, theme-rich experience that rewards patience and offers the kind of slot storytelling that’s both engaging and nostalgic. 

In summary, if you’re a fan of mob dramas, enjoy 9 Masks of Fire-style payout ladders, or want a slot that does more with its bonus system than scatter and spin, Brooklyn Bootleggers is well worth stepping into the shadows for. Just keep your eye on the Lock Up frame—it might make or break your score.