Area Vegas’ Area Link slots have been popular for a while now. Area Link Luck is a Celtic-themed slot based on the mechanic. It has a charming theme even if you’re not a fan of Irish slots, and I’m saying that as a player who hates them. But, from time to time, the leprechauns can weave some magic on the reels and deliver a great slot such as this one.

Area Link Luck is a medium-volatile Irish slot with an RTP of 96.45%. It has 50 fixed paylines and winning potential that trumps similar releases of its kind. There may not be any leprechauns in person, but you have their magical hats and the unmissable pot o’ gold. Three of them, to be exact. As you can guess, they are directly linked to the jackpot prizes displayed on the left side of the screen.

While most slots of its ilk play and look alike, Area Link Luck does things differently. That’s because of the Area Link feature or jackpot special, which is linked to the coin symbols and lucky charm upgrades. The slot doesn’t shy away from its Celtic influences. The upgrades are just the beginning. There’s a bonus round where you can play on a double array of reel sets with multipliers in the mix that make it more than worth your while.

You can try Area Link Luck for free at the best online slot sites. Of course, you’re welcome to play for real money returns as soon as you make a deposit.

Area Link Luck is a full-on Irish/Celtic slot. That’s evident from the greenery and familiar symbols on the reels. You have a leprechaun hat and shoes, magic mushrooms, frothy mugs of beer, and harps. Above the reels are the mentioned pots of gold. These are filled with lucky coins, which can be upgraded and awarded the jackpots, but more on that later.

The layout is easy to read, even if you’re a beginner. The controls are on the right side, while the jackpot values are on the left. You can easily access the game’s guide to check the paytable and how the features work. But it’s better to read my Area Link Luck review below and see what playing the slot firsthand is like.

There are plenty of things to look forward to in Area Link Luck, but before that, it’s crucial to learn how to play a slot, which isn’t hard at all. The first thing you need to do is place a bet. Options range from 20c to $50 per spin, consistent with most jackpot slots. Hit the spin button when ready, and let’s ride this Celtic adventure.

Winning combinations are formed for three or more matching symbols from left to right on the reels. The rainbow wild pays the most – 10x for 5 of a kind. It’s followed by the leprechaun’s hat and shoes, then the harp, beer, mushroom, and the card royals. The wild substitutes for other symbols in winning combinations, as always.

From time to time, you’ll see green, red, and purple coins landing on the reels. They do nothing and can’t play the wild role, but they are collected in the color-matching pot above the reels. That brings us to the eponymous feature – Area Link. Each coin (or coins) that lands has a chance to trigger the Area Link bonus game and determine the lucky charm upgrades.

Here’s the thing about Area Link Luck – it doesn’t have a bonus spins round. However, it does have another bonus feature, one that might even be better. When triggered, the Area Link feature starts with three respins, much like a Hold & Win bonus. Pot symbols are locked during the bonus, but landing pots on the reels resets the tally back to three. All pots carry a cash prize or a jackpot value. Filling all the positions awards the Grand jackpot, which is worth 5,000x the bet.

As mentioned earlier, the coins can also upgrade the lucky charms. These are in play in the bonus round. The coin that triggers the bonus round determines the lucky charm upgrade, too.

• Red lucky charm upgrade: awards a random multiplier (x2, x3, x5) on each spin. Gold pots are multiplied when they lock into place for the first time.
• Green upgrade: unlocks the green pots, which collect all cash prizes and/or jackpots on the screen. When done, a golden pot replaces the green one.
• Purple upgrade: awards a second Area Link reel set. The features play independently of each other.

Even though I’m not a fan of Irish slots, I have to say this one impressed me. It’s all about the Area Link feature, which can award big cash prizes or jackpots. It’s not a ground-breaking feature – it mostly works like a Hold & Win bonus. But it’s definitely an upgrade thanks to the lucky charm upgrades, and it's more than worth your time.

It may be odd that there are no base game features, as most modern slots have them. But the Area Link feature triggers randomly and can land on any spin, giving you the opportunity to hit impressive wins.

The Area Link Luck slot RTP is 96.45%. That’s excellent for a medium volatile slot. The maximum win you can land is 5,000x the bet.

I loved everything about Area Link Luck. It’s a real lucky charm and a very positive slot overall with the selection of colors and the cheerful soundtrack. The Area Link feature has been upgraded with lucky charm features that increase your chances of hitting a few big wins. If that wasn’t enough, you have four jackpots to win during the feature. This is one that raced to the top of my favorite Irish slots, and I doubt anyone can top it anytime soon.

If you’re in for more Celtic spinning action, choices are aplenty at top online casinos. You can try Playtech Origins’ Cash Collect Leprechauns Luck. Try Area Link Piggy Bank or Area Cash Thor for more Area Link slots.