Buffalo is Aristocrat’s best-known slot series and one of the most common games on US casino floors. The original Buffalo is a 5-reel, 1,024-ways penny game built around free games with stacked buffalo symbols and multiplying wilds, and it has spawned a long line of sequels such as Buffalo Gold, Buffalo Grand, Buffalo Link and the Buffalo Stampede games. You can also play several Buffalo titles at state-licensed online casinos.
Buffalo at a glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Maker | Aristocrat |
| Layout (original game) | 5 reels, 4 rows, 1,024 ways to win |
| Main feature | 8, 15 or 20 free games for 3, 4 or 5 gold coin scatters |
| RTP (online original) | About 94.5% to 94.85%, depending on the version |
| Where to play | Most US casinos; state-licensed online casinos in some states |
| Last checked | November 2026 |
How the original Buffalo plays
Buffalo pays wins left to right on adjacent reels, so there are no paylines to pick. With 1,024 ways, almost any spin that lines up matching symbols on the first three reels pays something. The stacked buffalo is the top regular symbol, followed by animals such as the eagle, wolf and elk, with card ranks filling out the lower pays.
Three, four or five gold coin scatters award 8, 15 or 20 free games. During free games, sunset wilds on reels 2, 3 and 4 carry a 2x or 3x multiplier, and multipliers from more than one wild combine, up to 27x. More scatters during the bonus add extra free games. That is where the game’s bigger wins come from: a screen full of buffalo with two or three multiplying wilds can pay hundreds of times the bet.
If you hear “BUFFALOOOO” across a casino floor, someone has just landed a strong buffalo win. The call is part of the game’s sound package and one reason the machines are so easy to find.
The Buffalo family
Aristocrat has kept the series going for well over a decade, adding new versions on top of the same core of buffalo symbols, coin scatters and free games. The best-known titles include:
- Buffalo Gold: plays like the original, but golden buffalo collected during free games turn other symbols into extra buffalo, which makes full screens of buffalo more likely as the bonus goes on.
- Buffalo Grand: adds a bonus wheel, triggered by three bonus symbols, that can award multipliers, free games or one of several progressive jackpots, topped by the Grand.
- Buffalo Stampede: a line that Aristocrat continues to extend, most recently with Buffalo Mega Stampede Grand.
- Buffalo Link: adds a Hold & Spin feature to the Buffalo theme, with Grand, Major, Minor and Mini jackpot prizes.
- Buffalo Diamond, Buffalo Chief and Buffalo Ascension: newer versions that put their own bonus twists on the same base game.
Each version feels familiar to a Buffalo player but changes how the bonus works, which is a big part of why the series has lasted. Aristocrat has even opened a Buffalo-themed bar at the Rampart Casino in Las Vegas. If you like this style, other Aristocrat slots use a similar ways-to-win layout.
Jackpots and bet size
The original Buffalo has no progressive jackpot. Its top results come from free games with stacked buffalo and multiplying wilds. Newer games such as Buffalo Grand and Buffalo Link add jackpot features, and those machines are usually the large, brightly lit cabinets placed in prominent spots.
On games with a jackpot, some prizes may require a higher bet level, so read the help screen before you play. Check how slot bet sizing affects what you can win, and see our guide to progressive slots for how shared jackpots work. A machine advertising a large jackpot does not tell you its payback percentage, and casinos set that within the limits their regulator allows.
Volatility
Buffalo is a penny-denomination game at heart, and like most penny video slots it is volatile: long dry spells are normal, and much of the return comes from the free games. The steady stream of small ways wins keeps a session going between bonuses, which is why many players treat it as a game for entertainment value rather than a quick win.
Playing Buffalo online
Aristocrat’s Buffalo games reached licensed US online casinos in New Jersey in 2023, starting with BetMGM, and versions such as Buffalo Gold Max Power have followed. Real-money online slots are legal only in states that have authorized online casino gaming. Many sites also offer a free demo, which is the easiest way to learn the free games before betting real money.
Buffalo is a fixture on lists of the most popular slot machines.
Buffalo FAQ
Who makes the Buffalo slot machine?
Aristocrat, the Australian slot maker, makes Buffalo and all of its sequels.
How do you trigger free games on Buffalo?
Land three, four or five gold coin scatters for 8, 15 or 20 free games. During free games, sunset wilds on reels 2 to 4 multiply wins by 2x or 3x, combining up to 27x.
What is the RTP of Buffalo?
The online version of the original game is listed at about 94.5% to 94.85%, depending on the version. Land-based machines are set by each casino, so their return can differ.
Which Buffalo game has a jackpot?
The original does not. Newer titles such as Buffalo Grand and Buffalo Link add jackpot features.
Slots are entertainment, not a way to make money. Set a budget before you play, and if gambling stops being fun, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.