Mask Carnival rules and shifting-reel multiplier guide

Mask Carnival is PG Soft catalogue ID 118. The official English source checked here identifies version 1.0 r939e, updated 8 July 2025. It documents a five-reel, four-row collapsing slot with 1,024 ways, shifting extra reels and multipliers that increase when those extra reels are added.

The r939e sheet states 96.70% RTP, medium volatility and a 31.43% overall hit rate. PG Soft advertises a 20,000x theoretical maximum, while its one-billion-spin simulation found a highest exposure of 2,451x. Both values are useful only when their labels remain attached.

Verified r939e specification

Field	PG Soft value	Practical check
Catalogue ID	118	Exact game identity
Starting grid	5 reels, 4 rows	Loaded base layout
Win system	1,024 ways, base bet 20	Consecutive reels from the left
Reel model	Collapsing and shifting	Extra reels during the sequence
RTP	96.70%	Loaded Help value
Volatility	Medium	Supplier classification
Overall hit rate	31.43%	Long-run statistic
Advertised maximum	20,000x	Theoretical ceiling
Simulated exposure	2,451x	Highest in one billion simulated spins
Reference stake	EUR €0.20–€20	Not an NZD operator range

The base five-by-four layout creates 4⁵, or 1,024, ways when a matching symbol occupies all five consecutive reels. A win can also use fewer reels if the paytable awards that symbol for a shorter left-to-right sequence. The base bet of 20 is a stake-unit setting, not a statement that only 20 ways are active.

Collapsing symbols and shifting reels

After a ways win, contributing symbols are removed and the remaining symbols drop. New symbols fill the gaps, and the refreshed layout is evaluated without another stake. That repeat settlement is a collapse within one paid spin.

Mask Carnival can add extra reels as the sequence develops. The shifting-reel presentation changes the active width and raises the multiplier. The base grid should therefore not be treated as a permanently fixed five-reel stage throughout every winning sequence.

Wild substitutes for all ordinary symbols except Scatter. The official rule sheet does not state that Wild itself triggers a shift; the relevant condition is the extra reel being added. Watch the interface’s reel count and factor rather than inferring a shift from artwork or a dramatic animation.

Multiplier changes in the main game

At the start of a paid spin, the multiplier is x1. During that spin, every extra reel added increases the multiplier by one. One extra reel produces x2, two extras produce x3, and so forth, assuming the interface begins from the documented x1 state.

The increment belongs to the active paid spin. It is not a permanent account upgrade and resets for the next wager. The factor should be matched to the settlement round shown in history, because earlier wins may have occurred before later reels were added.

A good audit lists the grid width and multiplier for each collapse: five reels at x1, six at x2, seven at x3, for example. Then compare each round’s ordinary ways award with the factor active at that time. Do not multiply all displayed factors together.

Free Spins Feature

During a paid spin, Scatter symbols are collected until that spin ends. Three Scatters trigger ten free spins, and each additional triggering Scatter adds two more. The feature begins with a x2 multiplier.

Inside free spins, every extra reel added increases the multiplier by two, rather than one. Starting at x2, one added reel produces x4 and two added reels produce x6 if the display follows the documented progression.

The bonus also introduces +1 symbols. Each +1 symbol visible on the reels awards one additional free spin. That is different from a Scatter retrigger: the +1 symbol extends the counter directly. Record the number of +1 symbols and the counter before and after the award to verify settlement.

The source does not publish a maximum number of additional reels, a cap for the final multiplier or a distribution of +1 symbols. Those details should not be invented from an animation or inferred from a short preview.

RTP components and hit rates

The theoretical 96.70% is divided into 66.21% main game and 30.49% Free Spins Feature. These are long-run contributions to the complete model, not separate return guarantees. A particular feature can settle far above or below its theoretical contribution.

PG Soft reports a 31.43% overall hit rate, with 30.92% assigned to the main game and 0.51% to free spins. A hit can be smaller than the stake. Consequently, the statistic cannot be read as a 31.43% probability of profit.

The listed presentation frequencies are Big Win at 1 in 531, Mega Win at 1 in 2,169 and Super Mega Win at 1 in 3,088. The supplier bands are x20–x35, x35–x50 and x50 or above. These are animation labels, not chances of reaching either maximum figure.

The two maximum-win figures

The 20,000x advertised maximum is the theoretical model cap. The 2,451x simulated exposure is the largest result observed in PG Soft’s one-billion-spin run. The gap does not prove that the theoretical limit is false; it shows that a finite simulation did not approach it closely.

At a €0.20 reference stake, 2,451x is €490.20 and 20,000x is €4,000 by multiplication. Those examples merely explain the units. They do not confirm an NZD range, operator cash limit or realistic expectation.

An editorial comparison should state the source type beside each value. Avoid a single unlabeled “max win” field when the supplier provides both design and simulation evidence.

Worked shifting sequence

Imagine the base grid pays 1.4x at five reels and x1. Symbols collapse, a sixth reel enters and the next ways result is 2x at x2. Another collapse adds a seventh reel, raising the factor to x3, and an ordinary award of 1.5x forms. A simple round calculation gives 1.4 + 4 + 4.5 = 9.9x.

The wrong approach is to multiply x1 × x2 × x3 and apply x6 to the entire accumulated result. Each settlement uses the factor active for that round unless the loaded Help or history explicitly states a different aggregation method.

During free spins, the same two added reels would increase the starting x2 factor by two each, reaching x6. If two +1 symbols also land, the free-spin counter should gain two. The multiplier and spin-counter effects are independent and should be recorded separately.

Scatter collection timing

The wording says Scatter symbols are collected during a main-game spin until that spin ends. In a collapsing game, Scatters can therefore appear across different rounds of the same paid spin and contribute to the trigger count. They are not necessarily required to land together on the initial grid.

This feature is easy to misread from one screenshot. A final grid may show fewer than three Scatters even though earlier collapses supplied the rest. The on-screen collection meter or complete recording is needed to verify how the trigger was reached.

Once the paid spin ends without three collected Scatters, the temporary collection state should not be assumed to carry into the next paid spin. Check the loaded interface if a counter appears to persist, because that could indicate another version or feature state.

Stakes, denomination and controls

The r939e package lists bet sizes 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1, levels one through ten and a default EUR range from €0.20 to €20. This title’s reference maximum is lower than many PG Soft examples, which is why provider-level ranges must never replace game-specific evidence.

An operator can configure another currency or range. Record the final total bet and currency sign. Converting €0.20–€20 into NZD would not prove the deployment’s actual minimum or maximum.

The controls section describes Auto Spin with optional balance and single-win stop thresholds, plus Turbo Spin. These tools affect pacing and session management, not RTP, ways or the shifting-reel algorithm. Their presence must be checked in the loaded client.

Mobile presentation and evidence

PG Soft lists iOS, Android, HTML5, macOS and Windows and recommends a 1080-by-2340 portrait reference. Because the active grid can widen, a narrow phone must scale extra reels without hiding the multiplier or +1 counter.

Capture the full frame after each shift. If the outermost reel is cropped, use the game’s History view to avoid understating the active ways or missing a winning symbol. A complete evidence set also includes the title/version screen, RTP, total stake and currency.

Studio platform support is technical evidence only. It does not prove that the title is enabled for a New Zealand account or that a specific operator offers the same settings.

Demo and New Zealand availability

This review embeds no Mask Carnival demo. Its two commercial links are sponsored external routes and do not verify title availability.

The official catalogue and r939e PDF establish the title’s supplier rules. They do not prove New Zealand access, availability at 22Bet, NZD support or account eligibility. A current authenticated lobby and its terms are required for those claims.

A public preview can be used to inspect Help and animation. It remains separate from operator deployment evidence, and it should not be described as locally available real-money play.

Who may like the structure

Mask Carnival may suit readers who prefer a visible spatial progression: the grid widens, the multiplier rises and +1 symbols can extend the bonus. Each change has an on-screen state that can be documented.

It may be less suitable for someone who wants a fixed-width grid, simple paylines or a published distribution for reel expansion. Medium volatility is not a promise of moderate losses in every session. Use predetermined money and time limits; the responsible gambling guide lists controls and support.

r939e verification checklist

Confirm catalogue ID 118, version 1.0 r939e, 96.70% RTP, medium volatility, five-by-four starting grid, 1,024 ways, collapsing symbols, shifting extra reels, +1 multiplier step per added reel in the main game, three-Scatter collection trigger, ten starting spins, x2 bonus start, +2 per added reel in free spins, +1 spin symbols and the loaded currency.

Use the PG Soft catalogue guide for source priority. The editorial methodology explains statistical labels, and the corrections policy accepts documented differences from the checked build.

FAQ

What RTP does Mask Carnival r939e state?

The official document states 96.70%. Compare it with the loaded Help screen.

How does the main-game multiplier rise?

It starts at x1 and increases by one for every extra reel added during the paid spin.

What changes in free spins?

The feature starts at x2, each added reel increases the factor by two, and every +1 symbol awards one extra free spin.

How are free spins triggered?

Three Scatters collected during one paid spin award ten free spins. Each additional triggering Scatter adds two.

Is the maximum 20,000x or 2,451x?

20,000x is the advertised theoretical cap; 2,451x is the highest exposure in one billion simulated spins.

Is Mask Carnival confirmed for New Zealand?

No. Supplier documents verify the game, not operator or territorial access.

Sources

• PG Soft Mask Carnival r939e game-information PDF
• PG Soft official game catalogue
• PG Soft catalogue methodology
• Corrections policy

How to verify the version you can actually open

A provider page proves that a title exists and describes the supplier's intended rules. It does not prove that a casino accepts players in New Zealand, that the title is enabled for a particular account, or that the highest published RTP is the version in the lobby. Treat availability, operator eligibility and product configuration as three separate checks.

Start with identity, then configuration

Open the game only through the authenticated casino lobby. The information or help panel should identify PG Soft, the exact title and the active mathematical return. Compare the reel or grid layout, paylines or cluster rules, named features and symbol behaviour with the official product material. Similar artwork or a matching title is not enough when the help file is missing or inconsistent.

When the supplier publishes several RTP values, report all of them as configurations. Do not assume the highest option is deployed. RTP is a theoretical long-run measure across a very large number of rounds; it is not a refund rate for one player and cannot predict the next result. Volatility is different: it describes how unevenly results are distributed on the provider's scale.

Read stake controls as money, not interface decoration

Provider sheets often quote a reference range in euros. That range does not establish New Zealand-dollar support or the limits in a specific account. Before a paid round, identify the total amount that will leave the balance. If the interface separates denomination, coins and lines, verify the combined total. If Extra Bet is active, calculate its full cost before pressing spin.

Feature-buy prices are multiples of the current bet, not promised returns. A 100x purchase at a $1 stake costs $100; at a $2 stake it costs $200. Availability can vary by market and some mathematical configurations may not support the control. If the live help does not explain the price, delivered feature and active RTP, leave the option unused.

Keep simulation figures in their proper scope

A game sheet may publish a maximum result observed in a large simulation. That is not automatically the contractual maximum payout and never describes a likely session. Preserve the provider's wording, sample size and configuration. Check the live rules for a binding cap and the operator terms for any separate payout limit. Do not turn an extreme result into a promotional headline.

Audit a disputed round

If an animation freezes or a connection drops, do not repeat the wager immediately. Reopen the game through the authenticated lobby and inspect round history. Record the time, total stake, balance movement and round identifier. The result can be settled by the gaming system even when the device never displays the final animation. Send evidence through verified operator support; never disclose a password, recovery phrase or one-time code.

Read the paytable as a calculation document

The paytable should explain what creates a win, which symbols substitute, where special symbols can land and how multiple awards combine. For line games, confirm direction and active paylines. For cluster games, confirm adjacency, minimum group size and the order of collection. For respins, identify what remains locked, what resets the counter and what ends the feature. A graphic effect can illustrate those rules but cannot replace them.

Separate addition from multiplication. Several prize values may be added before a multiplier applies, while reel-specific multipliers can sometimes multiply together only when each reel participates in the same win. Reconstruct one low-stake result from game history. If the arithmetic cannot be matched to the help file, stop and ask the operator rather than guessing.

Do not confuse hit frequency with a profitable round

Provider sheets can publish hit frequency or category probabilities. A hit simply means a round returned a qualifying amount; it can be smaller than the stake. “Big”, “Mega” or “Epic” thresholds are provider reporting categories, not promises. They are useful for comparing mathematical versions only when definitions and samples are the same.

Random outcomes do not become due after a long gap. A feature that appeared repeatedly in a demo or marketing clip has no obligation to repeat in a funded session. Previous rounds do not create a debt from the next random result.

Confirm market and device behaviour independently

A title can exist in the supplier catalogue while an operator disables it for a territory, currency, device or bonus. Language localisation is not evidence of legal availability. Confirm the operator's identity, accepted countries and current lobby separately from the provider review.

On mobile, verify that balance, total bet, feature state and help remain visible without overlap. On desktop, check that browser zoom does not hide a purchase control or change the apparent denomination. Mathematical configuration should not change merely because the screen changes; if the help shows another RTP, treat it as a different deployment and record it.

Keep a compact evidence record

For any fact used in a review, save the title, provider, official URL, document date when available, access date and exact territorial scope. For a live session, add the operator domain, Game ID, RTP, currency and a non-sensitive screenshot of the help panel. This makes later corrections possible when a supplier updates a sheet or an operator changes configuration.

Missing information should remain missing. Do not estimate an RTP from results, convert a euro reference range into an operator's NZD limit, or treat another casino's configuration as evidence. A transparent “not confirmed” is more useful than a precise-looking number without the correct source.

Use limits that survive the feature design

Collection meters, expanding grids, sticky symbols and near misses can make a session feel unfinished. Unless the rules explicitly preserve progress, the visible state has no value after the round or feature ends. Set a money limit and time limit before launch, count feature buys immediately, and stop at the limit even when a meter appears close to an upgrade.

No random game is an income plan. Do not borrow, use essential funds or raise the stake to recover a loss. If play stops feeling recreational, use timeout, deposit-limit or self-exclusion tools and consult the site's responsible gambling guide.