Hacksaw Gaming has released a new online slot titled Smoking Dragon, expanding its portfolio with a lighthearted, Asian-inspired game built around cascading wins, layered bonus features, and a distinctive cartoon presentation. Set high above the clouds, the game centers on a pipe-smoking dragon that oversees the reels and guards its treasure, offering players a calmer visual tone than many traditional dragon-themed slots while still delivering complex mechanics.

The slot plays on a 5×4 grid and uses a ways-to-win system that provides 1,024 possible winning combinations, paying from left to right on adjacent reels. Players can place bets ranging from $/€0.10 up to $/€100. At its peak setting, the game carries a theoretical return to player of 96.3%. Hacksaw Gaming has positioned Smoking Dragon toward the lower-middle end of the volatility scale, giving it a two-out-of-five rating.

Visually, the game relies on bright colors and friendly character designs. The backdrop features a soft blue sky with drifting clouds, while the symbols include card royals from 10 through Ace alongside five premium animal icons inspired by Asian mythology. These elements contribute to a relaxed atmosphere that contrasts with the high-intensity style often associated with similar themes.

Core Gameplay and Row Cascade System

At the center of Smoking Dragon’s gameplay sits the Row Cascade mechanic. When a winning combination lands, the entire bottom row of the grid disappears. All remaining symbols then shift down by one position, and new symbols fall in from above to refill the top row. This approach differs from traditional cascading systems because winning symbols can remain on the grid and continue contributing to future payouts.

Row Cascades continue as long as wins persist, expand, or reappear after symbols drop. Once the grid produces no further winning combinations, the cascade sequence ends and the spin concludes. This mechanic allows for extended win chains without clearing the entire grid.

The game includes Wild and Epic Wild symbols, both of which substitute for any regular paying symbol. These special icons can appear with additive multipliers ranging from 2x up to 100x. When multiple Wild or Epic Wild symbols participate in the same winning combination, their multiplier values combine before applying to the payout. Epic Wilds gain additional strength during cascades, as their multiplier value doubles each time they remain active through a Row Cascade sequence.

Bonus Symbols and Free Spin Features

Another central feature involves Dragon Egg symbols. When three Dragon Eggs appear on the grid simultaneously, they immediately award an instant prize worth 500 times the player’s bet. After triggering this payout, the eggs remain inactive until removed by cascades, and the game limits the grid to a maximum of three Dragon Eggs at any one time.

Smoking Dragon includes three separate free spin bonus games, each unlocked by landing a specific number of scatter symbols during the base game. Puff of Luck activates with three scatters and awards 10 free spins while preserving the base mechanics. During this round, the chances of landing Wilds, Epic Wilds, and Dragon Eggs increase. Additional scatter symbols can add extra spins, with two awarding two more spins and three awarding four.

Smoldering Riches begins when four scatters land and also starts with 10 free spins. This mode builds on Puff of Luck by introducing a Multiplier Bar outside the grid. The bar displays the minimum multiplier value for all Wild and Epic Wild symbols that appear. It begins at 1x and increases by one level each time 10 Row Cascades accumulate, with possible values rising through several stages up to 25x.

The Fire and Fortune Epic Bonus unlocks with five scatter symbols. It uses the same framework as Smoldering Riches while guaranteeing at least one win and a Wild or Epic Wild on every spin. In this mode, the Multiplier Bar starts at 5x, and scatter symbols no longer appear.

Feature Buys and Market Context

For players who prefer immediate access to the game’s bonus content, Smoking Dragon offers a feature buy menu. Options include spins with increased bonus-trigger chances, spins that guarantee Wilds and Dragon Eggs, or direct purchases of the three free spin bonuses at escalating bet multipliers.

The launch of Smoking Dragon comes as Hacksaw Gaming continues to expand its presence in regulated markets. The developer recently announced a deeper partnership with bet365 in Pennsylvania, making a selection of its titles available on the operator’s platform through Light & Wonder. This expansion underscores Hacksaw Gaming’s broader strategy of distributing its catalog, including newer releases, across major jurisdictions.

By pairing a familiar theme with layered mechanics and a softer visual style, Smoking Dragon adds another distinct entry to Hacksaw Gaming’s growing lineup while maintaining the developer’s focus on feature-driven slot design.