Play Demo
Nine paylines. A 1700s tavern. A criminal underbelly hiding behind the bar. Tap House sounds like a setup that should write itself, but Arcadem’s 5×3 slot plays it safer than its theme promises. The standard sessions are quiet, built around a flat paytable where all four themed symbols pay identical amounts. The real shift arrives when three scatters send you into a stripped-back 3×1 free spins round where highwaymen, pistols, and gold coins replace the tavern regulars entirely.
Three scatter symbols landing anywhere on reels 1, 3, and 5 trigger 10 free spins. The format switches completely. The 5×3 grid collapses to a single-line 3×1 reel populated by six new high-paying symbols that don’t appear during regular play. Gold Coins and the Pistol sit at the top of the bonus paytable, followed by the Cutlass, Barman, and Highwayman. The wild symbol’s value jumps dramatically in this mode, paying €22,500.00 for three of a kind at a €9.00 stake compared to €2,700.00 for five of a kind during standard play.
When two scatters land on two of the three eligible reels (1, 3, and 5), the remaining reel that missed may respin automatically, giving you a second shot at completing the trio. This doesn’t trigger every time two scatters appear, but when it does, it softens what would otherwise be a frustrating near-miss.
The wild replaces all symbols except the scatter. During standard play it functions as a straightforward substitute across the nine paylines. In the free spins round, it becomes the highest-value symbol on the 3×1 reel by a significant margin.
The nine fixed paylines covering Tap House’s 5×3 grid leave noticeable gaps in reel coverage compared to games running 20 or more lines. That sparse layout shapes the entire feel of standard play. Wins form left to right across matching symbols on consecutive reels, and only the longest combination per symbol on each line pays. Simultaneous wins across separate paylines add together.
Bets range from €0.09 at minimum (one cent per line) up to €18.00 per spin. The BET selector adjusts the total stake, and autoplay runs a set number of spins automatically. Scatters are the only symbols that pay regardless of position, landing exclusively on reels 1, 3, and 5. The info screen confirms an RTP of 94.50%, and Arcadem describe the volatility as medium to high, with the free spins round pushing it higher due to the concentrated 3×1 format. Maximum win sits at 4,200x.
Values shown at a €9.00 total bet.
| Symbol | x3 | x4 | x5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild | – | – | €2,700.00 |
| Bar Stool | €45.00 | €180.00 | €900.00 |
| Pint | €45.00 | €180.00 | €900.00 |
| Patron | €45.00 | €180.00 | €900.00 |
| Barmaid | €45.00 | €180.00 | €900.00 |
| Symbol | x3 | x4 | x5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace | €27.00 | €90.00 | €180.00 |
| King | €27.00 | €90.00 | €180.00 |
| Queen | €27.00 | €45.00 | €90.00 |
| Jack | €27.00 | €45.00 | €90.00 |
| Ten | €27.00 | €45.00 | €90.00 |
| Symbol | x2 | x3 |
|---|---|---|
| Wild | – | €22,500.00 |
| Gold Coins | €45.00 | €900.00 |
| Pistol | €45.00 | €900.00 |
| Cutlass | €45.00 | €450.00 |
| Barman | €45.00 | €450.00 |
| Highwayman | €45.00 | €450.00 |
The standard paytable is unusually flat. All four themed symbols share identical values at every tier, removing the thrill of landing one premium icon over another. The free spins paytable concentrates its value at the top, with the wild paying 2,500x at a €9.00 stake for three of a kind on the single payline.
Tap House buries a genuinely interesting free spins transformation inside an otherwise underwhelming package. The 3x1 bonus round with its highwayman theme and concentrated paytable is the strongest element, but flat standard play, below-average RTP, and an overbearing soundtrack hold the overall experience back.
The violin hits before anything else, an aggressive folk melody that dominates the soundscape from the first spin. It aims for atmospheric, lands closer to overbearing, and after a few minutes of our review session we switched the audio off entirely. That’s a shame, because the visual design underneath has moments of quality. The playing cards use illustrated royal figures rather than generic font treatments, and the tavern backdrop has warmth to it, all wooden beams and amber light. But the overall art direction sits in an uncertain space between medieval and Irish-folk that never fully commits to either.
Regular play across the nine paylines is sparse. The flat paytable removes any symbol hierarchy, so every themed icon that lands carries exactly the same weight. There’s no moment of recognition when a particular premium symbol appears, no differentiation between a Barmaid and a Pint beyond the art. Combined with nine paylines on a 5×3 grid, large sections of each spin go uncovered, and the gaps between wins stretch noticeably.
Players interested in dual-format slots where the bonus round transforms the grid and paytable entirely. The 3×1 free spins round with its concentrated symbol set and dramatically higher wild value is the standout element. The second-chance scatter respin adds a thoughtful safety net for near-miss triggers. If the tavern and medieval theme appeals and you value a free spins round that feels genuinely different from standard play, this demo has something to explore.
Anyone expecting regular play to hold their attention between bonus triggers. The 94.50% RTP is noticeably below the 96% standard, the regular paytable is entirely flat with all themed symbols paying identical amounts, and nine paylines leave too much of the grid uncovered. The audio design is heavy-handed enough that muting the game feels like an improvement rather than a sacrifice. Sessions outside the bonus round lack the variety or payout structure to sustain interest over an extended demo.
Tap House has a strong idea at its centre. The shift from a conventional 5×3 tavern slot to a stripped-back 3×1 highwayman round is a genuine format change that alters everything about how the game plays. The problem is that the journey to get there offers too little to hold you through an extended free play session.
