Money Train 5: a slot review from Relax Gaming
A 5×4 grid, 40 fixed paylines, RTP of 96,10%, high volatility, a cap of 50 000× (or 100 000× in Ultra Mode), and the Ticket & Stations bonus round with five station stages.
The fifth part of the train series Relax Gaming: 5 reels with 4 rows each, 40 paylines, RTP of 96,10%, high volatility. The base game leans on standard line wins and the Nuclear Wild feature, while the top, the Ticket & Stations bonus round with respins, multiplier accumulation, and gradual station unlocking all the way up to Station 20. The win cap depends on the mode: 50 000× the bet in the standard version and up to 100 000× in Ultra Mode, and inside the bonus itself a separate cap of 50 000× applies. Below is a breakdown of the mechanics, symbols, bonus, and buy rules, so you know exactly what the screen is showing while you play.
What is Money Train 5
It's a train-themed video slot: the reels are styled as train cars, and the characters look like masked bandits in hats. The grid is always 5 reels × 4 rows, with 40 paylines fixed and active on every spin. The provider, Relax Gaming, is the same studio behind the previous entries in the series.
Gameplay splits into two distinct modes. The base game plays like a regular high-volatility slot: wins are counted against the paytable, the Nuclear Wild fires up now and then, and bombs expand into full Wild reels. The bonus round is a separate mode with value accumulation, respins, and gradual station unlocking. Most of the payout potential is concentrated there, and the Buy Feature is built around it.
The demo version works well for getting a feel for the pace and seeing what a bonus launch looks like. Demo results and real-money play are driven by the same random number generator, so the demo doesn't predict the outcome of paid sessions.
The game board and interface elements
The centerpiece of the screen is the 5×4 grid. The game logo sits above it, decorative train parts with graffiti are visible on the sides, and the control panel runs along the bottom. To the left of the reels are the Enhanced Spin and Game Modes switches; to the right, the state counters. The exact layout can differ slightly between devices, but the main blocks stay the same.
On the bottom panel, left to right, you'll find: the menu button, the current bet (Bet), the bet decrease and increase buttons, the central Spin button, the last spin's win window (Win), and the account balance (Balance). Below the main panel you'll see the Buy Feature / Supercharge indicator as a round yellow button with a lightning bolt.
If extra modes are available in your version, they show up as a vertical strip to the left of the reels. The screenshot shows three cards labeled Bonus, Super Bonus, and Ultra Super Bonus with numbers next to them. Those cards belong to the Supercharge menu, which is where Buy Feature and Bonus Reels are launched. The Buy Feature prices in the game rules are listed as multipliers of the base bet: Free Spins, 100×; Ultra Free Spins, 250×; Super Free Spins, 500×; Ultra Super Free Spins, 2 000×.
What's displayed around the reels
Below the reels on the left, the current bet size is shown, with the "−" and "+" buttons next to it. In the center sits the large round Spin button, which starts the next round. Two numbers are displayed on the right: the last spin's win and the current balance. Above the reels is the spin win indicator: when the win is big, the digits appear large and light up.
With Quick Spin active, green arrow symbols appear on the panel to mark the accelerated mode. When Autoplay is on, the screen shows how many auto spins remain. These indicators exist so you can always tell which mode the game is running in and stop it manually if needed.
Bet and basic settings
According to the provider's data, the betting range runs from 0,10 to 20,00. The exact limits and currency depend on the casino, the market, and the version, so before starting a spin it's worth checking the current bet table with your chosen operator.
All 40 paylines are active by default; you don't need to enable them separately. The bet size is locked in at the moment the spin starts and doesn't change until the round ends. If the balance drops below the selected bet, the game automatically lowers it to the maximum allowed level; that behavior depends on the market and the operator's specific rules.
How to change the bet
You change the bet size with the "−" and "+" buttons to the left and right of the Bet value. Each press shifts the bet one step down or up. Once you've picked an amount, it's locked until the end of the current spin, even if you change your mind mid-round.
It's handy to check the total stake before hitting Spin: some features, such as Enhanced Spin, add their own 50% on top of the base bet, and the total cost of the round goes up. If you plan to use the Buy Feature, keep in mind that its price is calculated from the base bet, not from the bet with Enhanced Spin included.
Autoplay and stopping
If Autoplay is available in your version, it launches from a separate button and lets you pick the number of auto spins. Quick Spin is switched on in the same place and shortens the overall spin time: the arrow symbols on screen turn green when the speed-up is active.
Autoplay and Quick Spin don't raise your winning chances and don't change the RTP; they're purely convenience tools. You can stop the auto spins manually with the corresponding button, after which the game returns to normal manual mode.
How wins are formed
Wins are counted left to right, starting from the leftmost reel. On each active line, only the highest combination pays, and results across different lines are added together. The payout size is determined by the paytable and depends on how many identical symbols land in a row.
The paytable shows values as bet multipliers. For example, five identical symbols of the top character give 20× at one bet and 50× at another; those are two different levels displayed in the paytable. The exact figures depend on which bet the table happens to be showing when you open it.
There's no cascade mechanic in the base game: once the winning lines are counted and the total is shown on screen, the round ends. Cascades and respins are bonus-round territory, not the main game.
Winning combinations and cascades
In the base round, each spin is a self-contained event. Once the reels stop, the game checks all 40 lines, picks the highest combination on each, and adds them up. The total then appears in the Win window and is added to your balance right away.
There are no cascades in regular spins: symbols don't vanish, and new ones don't drop in from above. It's worth keeping this mechanic separate from the bonus round, where completely different logic applies; there, symbols stay in their positions and accumulate values from spin to spin.
Symbols and their role
The game has four tiers of paying character symbols and four low-paying suit symbols. The high symbols are four bandits in hats, each with its own color and value. The low ones are a red heart, a yellow heart, a green clover, and a blue diamond.
Below is the full multiplier table as it appears in the paytable. Values are given for the two bet levels visible in the screenshots of the rules.
| Symbol | 5 identical | 4 identical | 3 identical |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character 1 (green hat) | 20× / 50× | 6× / 15× | 1,2× / 3× |
| Character 2 (blue hat) | 40× / 100× | 8× / 20× | 1,6× / 4× |
| Character 3 (yellow hat) | 16× / 40× | 4× / 10× | 1× / 2,5× |
| Character 4 (dark hat) | 18× / 45× | 5× / 12,5× | 1× / 2,5× |
| Red heart / red suit | 10× / 25× | 2× / 5× | 0,4× / 1× |
| Yellow heart | 8× / 20× | 2× / 5× | 0,4× / 1× |
| Green clover | 7× / 17,5× | 3,5× / 3,5× | 1× / 1× |
| Blue diamond | 6× / 15× | 3,5× / 3,5× | 1× / 1× |
| Wild | 40× / 100× | 8× / 20× | 1,6× / 4× |
The Wild's multipliers match the second-tier character, so five Wilds on a line pay the same as five identical bandits in blue hats. That's a detail worth knowing: the Wild doesn't just substitute for a symbol, it's also a winning combination in its own right.
Regular and high-value symbols
The paytable is the easiest way to compare payouts, because it shows multipliers rather than absolute amounts. That makes it quick to see how much more valuable the premium symbols are than the cheap ones: for instance, five red hearts at one bet pay 10×, while five bandits in blue hats pay 40×, a fourfold difference.
The absolute win amount depends on the bet size. If the bet is 1, then 40× is 40 in convention units, and if the bet is 0,10, the same 40× turns into 4 units. The multiplier is identical, but the final amount is always calculated from the actual bet on the round.
Special symbols
The Wild substitutes for all symbols on the reels except the bonus symbol. That's its only function in regular spins: it helps complete a line but doesn't trigger the bonus on its own. The separate case is Nuclear Wild: it's a feature, not an ordinary symbol. When it triggers, crosshairs (Crosshairs) lock onto positions, affecting up to 5 reels, and place Nuclear Bombs on them.
If the bombs land in a winning combination, they detonate and turn into full Wild reels. An expanded reel counts as 4 positions and substitutes for every symbol in its column. Those are the very "explosive wins" the game highlights on big hits.
The bonus symbol is a separate marker that launches the Ticket & Stations round. It can't be replaced by the Wild, so activating the bonus requires original bonus symbols specifically, no substitutions.
RTP, volatility, and game parameters
The key parameters are gathered in the table below. They apply to the standard version; in Buy Feature and Enhanced Spin the RTP may differ slightly.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Provider | Relax Gaming |
| Grid size | 5 reels × 4 rows |
| Paylines | 40 (fixed) |
| Theoretical RTP | 96,10% |
| Volatility | High |
| Minimum bet | 0,10 |
| Maximum bet | 20,00 |
| Maximum win (Standard) | 50 000× the bet |
| Maximum win (Ultra Mode) | 100 000× the bet |
| Buy Feature | Available via the Supercharge menu |
The bet range is given according to the provider's data. In a real casino, the minimum and maximum bet, as well as the currency, may differ: this depends on the market, the license, and the version. Before starting a spin, it's worth checking the current bet table with your chosen operator.
How to read RTP and volatility
RTP is the theoretical return percentage over the long run, calculated across millions of spins. A figure of 96,10% means that on average the slot returns 96,10 units out of every 100 wagered. It's a statistical convention: over a short session of dozens or hundreds of spins, the result can be anything.
Volatility describes the character of the win distribution. High volatility means the game pays out less often than low-volatility slots, but individual wins can be large, especially in the bonus round. A typical session looks like a stretch of "empty" spins and rare noticeable hits, so it makes sense to budget your session bankroll with a buffer.
Neither RTP nor volatility predicts the outcome of any specific spin. That's a fundamental limitation of the random number generator: every round is independent, and previous results don't influence the next ones.
The Ticket & Stations bonus round
The bonus round is called Ticket & Stations and is a separate mode with its own logic. There are no regular line wins here: instead, special symbols appear on the 5×4 grid, each carrying its own multiplier value. The goal is to collect as many valuable symbols as possible before the respins run out.
The round starts with 3 spins. Every time a new symbol lands on the field, the spin counter resets back to 3. The streak continues as long as new symbols appear on the reels; as soon as a spin passes "empty" with no new symbol, the round ends.
All values in the bonus are displayed as bet multipliers. That means a figure of 5 on a symbol is 5 bets, not 5 credits. The final win of the round is calculated as the sum of all values on screen multiplied by the bet. If the accumulated total reaches 50 000× or more during the bonus, the round is forcibly ended with a payout of 50 000×; this rule applies even inside Ultra Mode, which has its own overall limit of 100 000×.
How the bonus is triggered
The round is triggered by three or more bonus symbols anywhere on the reels. Bonus symbols don't need to line up on a payline; their position on the grid doesn't matter, only their count. Once the condition is met, the base game stops and the Congratulations screen appears with a launch message.
The bonus symbols that triggered the round reveal their values: each shows a multiplier from 1× to 10× the bet. These starting values become the first "stones" in the accumulation. Then the respin series begins, during which new symbols with their own functions can land on the field.
Ticket Master deserves a separate mention. It's a special bonus symbol that plays a role in triggering the Super Bonus. If it appears among the triggering symbols, it performs its action before the first spin, that is, before the regular respin series begins.
Persistent symbols and value collection
The bonus round uses the concept of Persistent Symbols. They stay in their positions until the end of the round and re-trigger their effect on every new spin. Collector, Payer, Sniper, Collector Payer, Necromancer, Arms Dealer, and Bomber can all act as Persistent symbols.
The chance for Persistent Symbols to appear opens at Station 5. Up to that station, special symbols fire once and leave; after it, there's a probability they'll "stick" and keep working. It's one of the key turning points of the bonus: from the fifth station on, value accumulation picks up noticeably.
The Collector is the basic value gatherer. It collects all visible values on the reels and adds them to its own. The Collector Payer works similarly but with an extra step: it picks from 3 to 5 target symbols, adds their values to its own, and then pays its updated value to each target. Combined with Persistent Symbols, these features turn a single bonus spin into a chain of interactions.
Stations, multipliers, and the end of the round
The round progresses through stations, and each unlock changes the rules. Free Spins and Ultra Free Spins start at Station 0, while Super Free Spins and Ultra Super Free Spins start at Station 15, meaning they begin right away with a serious set of features.
Station 5 opens the chance for Persistent Symbols to appear. Station 10 unlocks and activates an extra row, growing the grid from 5×4 to 5×5, and more room for valuable symbols appears on it. Station 15 opens the chance for Bomber and Pyromancer to appear. Station 20 unlocks and activates the Permanent Payer, the most powerful persistent symbol.
Within the round, special symbols fire in a fixed order: first top to bottom, and within each row, left to right, with Ticket effects always applied last. Understanding this rule matters when you want to predict how several symbols landing at the same time will interact.
The round ends in one of two ways. If no new symbol appears on the field during the streak, the respin counter drops to zero and the game exits to the main mode with a payout of the accumulated sum. If the accumulated total reaches the bet's 50 000× or exceeds it, the bonus is forcibly ended with a payout of exactly 50 000×; this rule applies in both versions and belongs specifically to the bonus game.
Multipliers in the bonus mechanic
Two different concepts are used in the bonus round, and they're easy to confuse: the multiplier of an individual symbol and the round's overall multiplier. A symbol's multiplier is the number written on the icon itself: 1×, 5×, 10× for regular bonus symbols and larger figures for special features. It tells you how many bets that symbol is "worth."
The round's overall multiplier is the sum of all visible values on the field at the moment the bonus ends. The screenshot shows TOTAL WIN ×21, meaning that at the moment of the frame, 21 bets have accumulated on the grid in the form of symbols. When the round finishes, that figure becomes your win.
These two concepts don't add together. When, say, the Bomber multiplies all visible values by 2×, it doesn't double the "overall multiplier ×21"; it recalculates each individual value on screen. After that, the game sums everything on the field again and shows the updated TOTAL WIN. That's why the overall figure grows in jumps: after every special feature fires, the TOTAL WIN is recalculated from scratch.
The bonus cap is 50 000× the bet. That means the TOTAL WIN can't go past this mark: if the sum of values on the field would formally exceed it, the round closes with a payout of exactly 50 000×. In Ultra Mode the game's overall limit is higher (100 000×), but inside the bonus this rule keeps working.
Buying the bonus and alternative modes
The Buy Feature is only activated through the Supercharge (SC) menu in the base game. That means buying your way into the bonus round isn't a separate Spin button but an item in a special menu. The theoretical RTP of all Buy Features is 96,50%.
Four purchase options are available:
- Free Spins, entry into the regular bonus round, costing 100× the base bet.
- Ultra Free Spins, entry into the ultra version with a win cap of 100 000×, costing 250× the base bet.
- Super Free Spins, a start right at Station 15, costing 500× the base bet.
- Ultra Super Free Spins, a start at Station 15 plus a cap of 100 000×, costing 2 000× the base bet.
Separately in the Supercharge menu are Bonus Reels and Ultra Bonus Reels, modes in which regular paying symbols are removed from the reels and only bonus symbols remain. Bonus Reels are played at 10× of the base bet, and Ultra Bonus Reels at 25× of the base bet. In both modes, the chance of entering all bonuses increases, and the theoretical RTP is 96,10%.
Buying the bonus is a bet on a single feature, not a guarantee of profit. The Buy Feature price is multiplied by the base bet: at a bet of 1, Free Spins will cost 100, and Ultra Super Free Spins, 2 000. The availability of the Buy Feature depends on the market and the version: in some jurisdictions this option is disabled.
Enhanced Spin is another alternative mode, activated by a separate button in the base game. It adds 50% to the base bet and more than doubles the chance of triggering the Free Spins Bonus Round. Ultra Enhanced Spin does the same but for Ultra Free Spins. The RTP of both modes is 96,10%. Some features may be restricted by bet size due to maximum exposure limits, so the full set of options isn't available at every bet level.
Maximum win: how to read the cap
The slot has two different caps, and it's important not to mix them up. The standard maximum win is 50 000× the bet. That covers the regular base game and most bonus rounds. In Ultra Mode the cap is higher, 100 000× the bet, and that rule extends to all features, not just the base game.
Inside the bonus round, an additional rule applies: if the accumulated total reaches 50 000× the bet or exceeds it, the bonus is forcibly ended with a payout of exactly 50 000×. This rule works in both the regular version and Ultra Mode: even with a game cap of 100 000×, the bonus round itself closes at 50 000×. So the practical ceiling of a single bonus is always 50 000×, while 100 000× is the game-wide limit in Ultra Mode.
The cap relates to the bet, not to an absolute balance amount. If the bet is 1, then 50 000× is 50 000 in convention units, and if the bet is 0,10, the maximum win becomes 5 000. The figures on screenshots of individual wins (for example, 2.40 or TOTAL WIN ×21) show the specific result of one spin or one bonus and have nothing to do with the game's overall cap.
Similar slots and further reading
This is a mechanics-dense slot, and before playing for money it's useful to explore it in different formats. The demo mode shows all the features without risking your wallet, and it's a convenient place to watch how often the bonus triggers and what the end of a round looks like. On a separate page with detailed launch instructions you can try the game in demo.
The mobile version differs from the desktop one only in element layout: the grid becomes a bit larger, the controls are regrouped for a touchscreen, and the logic and paytable stay the same. Details on launching on a smartphone are in the material on how to launch the slot on your phone.
A separate page breaking down probabilities, bankroll size, and typical session scenarios in a high-volatility slot will help you work out the odds and strategy on your own. It's worth doing before moving to the paid version: understanding RTP, volatility, and how the bonus works lowers the risk of unrealistic expectations.
For those who have already got a grip on the mechanics and are ready to play for money, the page with the rules for playing with real money will come in handy: it covers legal restrictions, choosing a casino, and bankroll management.
Responsible gaming
This is an entertainment product for adults. The game is not a source of income, and it's worth treating it as a leisure expense, not an investment. High volatility means a session can end without a big win even after a series of bonus triggers.
Before you start playing, it's useful to set your own limits on time and budget. Most casinos let you set a deposit limit and a session limit right in your account settings. If control over your play starts to slip, for example, you're spending more than planned, or you're returning to the slot right after a losing session, that's a signal to stop.
Help is available from organizations that support players. Anonymous consultations operate in most countries, and there's no reason to feel embarrassed about reaching out: it's ordinary medical and social help, not a sign of weakness.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- A maximum win of 50 000× in the standard version and up to 100 000× in Ultra Mode, one of the highest caps among Relax Gaming releases.
- The bonus round with its five station stages, Persistent Symbols, and fixed special-symbol firing order delivers a layered mechanic over the long run.
- The Buy Feature with four entry levels, from regular Free Spins at 100× to Ultra Super Free Spins at 2 000×, lets you pick an entry depth to suit your bankroll.
- Nuclear Wild turns bombs into full Wild reels, giving the base game rare but noticeable payout spikes.
Cons
- High volatility means long stretches without noticeable wins even with Enhanced Spin enabled, so the session bankroll needs a buffer.
- Inside the bonus round, the ceiling is effectively limited to 50 000× even in Ultra Mode, which narrows the difference between the versions over the long term.
- Buy Feature and Bonus Reels may be unavailable in some markets and at certain bet sizes due to maximum exposure limits.
- A minimum bet of 0,10 and a maximum of 20,00, a comparatively narrow corridor next to some of the same provider's other slots.
Key factors to weigh: RTP of 96,10% (96,50% in the Buy Feature), high volatility, and a maximum win of 50 000× / 100 000× in Ultra Mode. Taken together, the slot lands in the top segment of the Relax Gaming lineup: the win cap and multi-stage bonus mechanic are noticeably richer than in most of the provider's releases, while the RTP matches the series' standard level.
FAQ
What is the RTP of Money Train 5?
The theoretical RTP of the standard version is 96,10%, the Buy Feature 96,50%, and Enhanced Spin and Bonus Reels 96,10%. It's a long-term statistical figure, not a guarantee of return in any specific session.
What is the maximum win in Money Train 5?
In the standard version it's 50 000× the bet, and in Ultra Mode 100 000×. Inside the bonus round a separate rule applies: upon reaching 50 000×, the bonus is forcibly ended with a payout of that amount.
How is the bonus round triggered in Money Train 5?
You need three or more bonus symbols anywhere on the reels; a line combination isn't required. Once triggered, a respin series begins with value accumulation and gradual station unlocking.
How much does the bonus cost to buy in Money Train 5?
Free Spins 100×, Ultra Free Spins 250×, Super Free Spins 500×, Ultra Super Free Spins 2 000× the base bet. All prices are given as bet multipliers, and Buy Feature availability depends on the market and the version of the game.