The age-old adage states that crime "crime never pays" and typically this is true. One exception though; you spin the reels of a crime-themed slot and score a winning combination! While no one wants to experience criminal activity when it comes to gaming online (not to worry, Gambling Zone only recommends the best legit sites), crime-themed slot games are incredibly popular with players. Running the gamut of subjects from the iconic cat-and-mouse chase of cops and robbers to crime kingpins, join us as we take a closer look at the crime-themed slot genre.
Crime-themed slot games are a popular subgenre of online video slots which can be divided into further subgenres such as mafia, detective, and so on. In crime-themed slot games players may take the side of good and work as a detective trying to crack the case, or as the criminal themselves and all the dirty deeds which that entails, sometimes slots will even let players decide which side they want to play for. Others place the player in the position of an observer, so they can watch the hilarious escapes of clueless cops and audacious robbers.
As they can include imagery of bank vaults, cash, and so on, cops and robbers and bank robbery-themed slots are probably the most played games of the crime slot genre. However, there are also some scintillating games based on popular movie and TV franchises and even those inspired by iconic criminals of the past such as Bonnie and Clyde and Al Capone.
If the huge popularity of true crime podcasts and documentaries is not enough to prove our fascination with the seedy underworld of crime, then how about all of the iconic fictional detectives like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, or even Nancy Drew, not to mention fabled criminals like the aforementioned Bonnie and Clyde and Al Capone. While we, of course, want to stay as far away from actual crime as possible, our sense of morbid curiosity, the inherent need to snoop, and our love of conspiracy and controversy cannot be denied, and this is the leading reason why crime-themed slot games are so popular, because they help scratch that human itch to know more, right wrongs, or see if they can evade the authorities.
There is a massive range of crime-themed slots out there, so much so that many sub-genres like gangster slots have been formed. This means that within the crime genre players get to experience the subject from whatever angle they choose, whether they want to crack the case, commit the crime, or watch the case unfold. Almost all of the top slot developers have at least a few crime-themed slots on their books, making the genre an ideal starting point to discover new-to-you developers.
Because there are so many possibilities when it comes to the crime genre, developers are given free rein to experiment with unique concepts and innovative bonus features. This means players can try out experimental titles from indie developers with unique art styles, subject matter, or bonus features. On the flipside, this also means players get to experience the work of the best and most well-known developers, and will be able to find a crime slot which includes their favourite features like free spins, progressive jackpots, cluster payouts, and Megaways; all of which comes in the format of a game that is optimised for play on all devices (including smartphones).
With so many crime slots on the market, it can be tricky to find the best ones. At Gambling Zone we have played countless titles and highlight our top picks here.
Not sure where to play Crime-themed slots? We’ve picked the best online slot sites to inspire you.
As we have hinted at, there are hundreds of crime slots out there, however, there are some that stand out from the crowd more than others and have developed cult status with slot fans. Listed below are some of the best-loved crime-themed slot machines out there; but it is important to note that this is by no means an expansive list, so be adventurous and dig through the evidence to discover your favourite crime games.
The NetEnt classic game Jack Hammer slot pits a hero against a villain with comic book-style graphics. More than ten years after its July 2011 release, players still adore the game. The game, which has five reels, three rows, and twenty-five ways to win, is set against the backdrop of a large city called Grand City and tells the tale of legendary private investigator Jack Hammer. Set in the 1930s, this stylish slot has top payouts of 3,000x and includes free spins and multipliers which could be pivotal to catching Jack's nemesis the nefarious Dr. Wuten.
Jack Hammer 2: Fishy Business was released by NetEnt two years after the first game in 2013. Once again the titular private eye Jack Hammer takes centre stage, but this time, with almost four times the number of paylines seen in the original slot (99 vs 25), the stakes are higher and it is more important than ever to serve justice. Events unfold in the same fictional city, known as Grand City, seen in the original game and players can use bonuses like free spins and multipliers to help them crack the case.
Of course, crime never sleeps, and there is a third instalment currently only known as ‘Jack Hammer 3’ in the works.
With the explosive stardom of Pedro Pascal (who plays Javier Peña), more and more viewers have been tuning in to Netflix’s telling of the escapades of Drug Lord Pablo Escobar. Even before this though, Narcos was a popular series, and NetEnt released the officially licensed Narcos slot in 2019. The Narcos slot machine includes five reels, three rows, and 243 ways to win. It also has a Drive-by feature that is triggered at random and involves a cartel thug firing a barrage of bullets onto the reels, turning symbols into wilds. Narcos is a medium volatility slot with an RTP of 96.23%, and the slot includes a free spins bonus round that features walking wilds.
If you are a crime buff then you have probably heard of the infamous San Quentin Prison. Constructed in the 1850s San Quentin is the oldest prison in the state of San Francisco and is now a maximum security men’s prison which houses the only death row in the state. NoLimit City is well-known for dabbling in challenging topics which some developers might view as taboo. This San Quentin slot is inspired by the infamous prison of the same name and is a 5-reel, 243-way prison slot machine which is played at high volatility. This slot packs a punch with its hefty 96.95% RTP and features like Razor Split symbols and other xWays Mystery Symbols may be revealed when Enhancer Cells open. There is also a Jumping Wilds and a Lockdown Free Spins bonus which features Multiplier Jumping Wilds. This all amounts to an insane top payout of 150,000x so while you definitely do not want to be making an unexpected visit to the real San Quentin, you might want to check out visitation hours for the San Quentin slot machine.
Hacksaw Gaming's medium volatile comedic cartoon slot machine, Le Bandit, uses a 6x5 cluster payouts grid. Originating from the Italian word ‘bandito’, Le Bandit is a decidedly French affair, with the titular ‘Le Bandit’ being a cartoon racoon with a variety of disguises, sporting a Poirot-style moustache. Rainbow symbols convert spaces into cash coins and/or unique modifier symbols while winning symbols indicate locations before they are eliminated. In each of the three bonus round tiers, players can win up to 10,000x their total wager.
The famous science fiction novel by H.G. Wells from 1897 serves as the basis for the legendary film from 1933, which inspired the Invisible Man slot machine (and not the 2020 modern retelling). This officially licensed NetEnt slot plays out on 5 reels, and 3 rows and has 20 ways to win. The production value on this slot is incredibly high, with a unique design aesthetic, and characters which come to life with animations. Played at medium-to-high volatility the RTP for this game is 96.3% and players can win up to 1,000x their stake amount. A wide variety of features are included in this game such as Police and Griffin Wilds, Free Spins, Police Spins, and a bonus game called 'Griffin Rage'.
Break Da Bank Again is the follow-up to Microgaming's (now Games Global) hugely successful 'Break Da Bank' slot. Bonus features include wild symbols which turn into multiplier wilds valued up to 25x during the free spins bonus round. While the graphics of course have been updated, this high volatility slot still retains a retro game RTP of 95.43% which would be a little disappointing if it were not for the fact that there are up to 375,000 coins up for grabs in this game.
Accompany Penny on her mission to pilfer the crown jewels in the Beat the Bobbies slot from Eyecon. This is not going to be an easy heist though, as in addition to escaping the long arm of the law, she will also have to get away from the butler, the housekeeper, the postman, and even a British Bulldog. This fast-paced, 243-way slot machine has multipliers and scatter symbols and allows players to choose the volatility of the free spins bonus round and has an overall medium volatility with an RTP of 95.2%.
Five rows, five reels, and a cluster payouts engine with cascading wins characterise the Shadow Order slot machine. Secret societies and conspiracy have become an obsession for many armchair detectives and the Shadow Order slot presents players with a universe of enigmatic secrets, conspiracies, and cyphers. In this 2019 Push Gaming slot, players get to unlock four distinct characters, and each one has a special reel modification to help land winning combinations. There are also free spins with an escalating multiplier which can lead to stunning top wins of 24,204x. The Shadow Order is played with a high level of volatility and has an RTP of 96.78%.
Discover the finest crime-themed slot providers known for delivering top-quality gaming experiences.
NetEnt, which was founded in 1996, has multiple offices across the globe. Regarded as one of the leading developers of iGaming software worldwide, NetEnt already has more than 200 active vendors using their popular games. To produce incredibly enjoyable slot games, NetEnt mostly use game modifications in addition to inventive storytelling and is well-regarded for their officially licensed slot games.
Stockholm, Sweden is home to the fascinating and forward-thinking headquarters of NoLimit City. NoLimit City, which has over 10 years of expertise in the gaming industry, has a dynamic and passionate team of designers, developers, and creatives who are all committed to producing some of the most creative and entertaining online casino games.
Push Gaming is a London-based digital game developer that was founded in 2010. Though it was mostly unknown to UK casino players until recently, Push Gaming's games are now available at some of the best online casinos. The group behind Push Gaming consists of experts who have previously worked for NextGen Gaming and Scientific Games, among other companies. The company specialises in creating HTML5 games, especially online slots, for mobile platforms.
More than 130 vibrant and engaging online slots and table games are available from Eyecon. Because of its wealth of knowledge, the business is able to produce aesthetically pleasing games with extremely intricate artwork. Galactic Girls is one of the games that sticks out for its distinct gameplay. This 7776-way slot machine's mathematical architecture has five enticing features: Expanding Reels, Symbol Replacer, Pays Both Ways, Bonus Prize, and Multiplier.
Games Global (formerly) Microgaming has been at the forefront of online gaming ever since it released the first online casino software in 1994. This business, which has a long history of offering fantastic casino games, is committed to directing the future of online gambling and has a group of titans of the industry on its side.
Prominent online gaming companies use Games Global’s platform solutions, and they also strive to deliver outstanding performance for their clients, bolstered by decades of combined industry experience and cutting-edge platform technology. As one of the original members of eCOGRA (e-Commerce and Online Game Regulation and Assurance), Games Global not only provides its customers with excellent customer service and high-quality technology, but it also creates and maintains standards for responsible gaming.
Here are the most common questions we get asked about Crime Theme slot games.