Last updated: May 2026. Comparison based on side-by-side test sessions at the casinos that stock both titles plus IGT's product pages for each.
IGT released the original Fortune Coin as a land-based S2000 / Game King cabinet, then later ported it online. Years afterwards they released Fortune Coin Boost — a successor that keeps the visual identity, the Hold & Win architecture, and the four-tier jackpot ladder, but rebuilds the math underneath. The two games look similar in the casino lobby, share a symbol set, and even share some animations — but the volatility, bet ranges, and bonus pacing are materially different. This article puts them side by side, with the specific goal of answering "which one should I play?" for Aussie pokie players who've found both tiles and aren't sure which to launch.
Important framing: this article covers the original Fortune Coin as the primary subject. Fortune Coin Boost is referenced for comparison only — it's not the same game as the one this site's other articles describe. Our full Fortune Coin review sits with the original. If you've landed here from a lobby search and aren't sure which tile you saw, the original is what most of the AU online catalogue lists simply as "Fortune Coin"; Boost is the newer variant explicitly labelled "Fortune Coin Boost".
Quick links▶ Play Fortune Coin (Original) · 🆓 Demo · 🎁 Welcome Bonus
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Headline comparison
| Spec | Fortune Coin (Original) | Fortune Coin Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | IGT | IGT |
| Original release | Land-based S2000 / Game King | Newer follow-up |
| Grid | 5×3 | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 243 ways | 243 ways |
| RTP | ~96.2% | ~96.0% (varies by deployment) |
| Volatility | Low to medium | Medium to high |
| Min bet (AUD) | A$0.60 | Often higher (varies) |
| Max bet (AUD) | A$600 | Varies |
| Signature feature | Fortune Coin Bonus (Hold & Win respins) | Coin Bonus with "boosted" reveal multipliers |
| Jackpot tiers | Mini / Minor / Major / Grand (fixed) | Mini / Minor / Major / Grand (fixed; payouts may scale differently) |
| Free spins | Yes — 8 / 15 / 25 spins | Yes — structure differs in Boost |
| Stacked wilds | Yin-Yang wilds on reels 2-4 | Similar wild placement, sometimes enhanced |
| Bonus Buy | No | No |
| Demo | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | iOS, Android, browser | iOS, Android, browser |
The architectural similarity is deliberate. IGT didn't reinvent the wheel — they took a proven Hold & Win design and tweaked the variance dials. Where the original is gentle and atmospheric, Boost is built to deliver bigger payouts per bonus round at the cost of less frequent triggers and higher per-spin variance.
The case for the Original
Why the original Fortune Coin is still the right pick for most players:
- It's the canonical version. Two decades of land-based familiarity. When AU players say "Fortune Coin" they almost always mean the original.
- Lower volatility = longer sessions. Low-to-medium variance lets a A$100 bankroll last through a comfortable evening of play.
- More frequent Fortune Coin Bonus triggers. Roughly 1 in 90-110 spins vs the longer trigger gaps on Boost.
- Lower minimum bet. A$0.60 is one of the more accessible minimums in the IGT online catalogue.
- Simpler emotional arc. Each bonus round feels self-contained. You're not chasing compounding mechanics.
- Broader availability. Stocked at every AU-friendly casino that carries IGT. Boost is sometimes missing from smaller catalogues.
- Better demo accessibility. The original is the default demo tile everywhere we tested.
If you want the steady, recognisable, "I'll be at this for an hour" pokie experience, the original is the right pick.
The case for Boost
Why Boost earns its own following:
- Higher per-bonus payouts. When the Fortune Coin Bonus does trigger on Boost, the average payout is larger because the boost mechanic amplifies coin reveals.
- More dramatic visuals. The boost animations and feature audio are punchier than the original's restrained pluck.
- Higher ceiling on big sessions. The compounding boost effect lets exceptional bonus rounds reach significantly higher multiples than the original's Hold & Win ceiling.
- Refreshed UI. Boost's mobile interface is more modern; the original feels like a land-based port (because it is).
- For players who've worn out the original. If you've spun thousands of original-Fortune-Coin sessions and want a familiar-but-fresh challenge, Boost provides it.
If you've played the original heavily and want a higher-variance variant that still feels like the same game family, Boost is the natural next step.
Mechanical differences in detail
Hold & Win architecture — both games use it. Same coin-locking, same 3-respin counter that resets on landings. Boost layers a "boost multiplier" on top of certain coin reveals that the original doesn't have.
Coin value reveals — both reveal cash amounts or jackpot symbols. Boost's reveal pool can include higher cash values than the original's, contributing to bigger average bonus totals.
Jackpot Picks tiers — same 4-tier structure (Mini / Minor / Major / Grand) in both. The payout multipliers can vary between deployments; some Boost builds award higher Grand values than the original.
Free Spins — both games have a separate Free Spins round triggered by scatters. Boost's free spins structure has more modifiers (random reel transformations, possible re-trigger sequences) where the original keeps free spins cleanly to "8/15/25 with enhanced wild rate".
The biggest difference: variance tuning. The original is deliberately low-to-medium volatility for long, atmospheric play. Boost ramps up to medium-to-high for a chase-oriented experience.
Volatility feel comparison
Both games are part of the same IGT family, but they feel materially different over a 60-minute session:
Original variance shape:
- High hit frequency in base game.
- Frequent Fortune Coin Bonus triggers (~1 in 100 spins).
- Most bonuses pay 5-30× stake.
- Big bonuses (100×+) uncommon but not rare.
- Grand jackpot rare; clip-worthy moments uncommon.
Boost variance shape:
- Slightly lower base-game hit frequency.
- Fewer Fortune Coin Bonus triggers (~1 in 130-150 spins typically).
- When bonuses hit, they pay more on average (15-50× typical, with bigger spikes).
- Higher-tier jackpots more reachable per session.
- More dramatic individual bonus moments.
Over a 60-minute session, the original produces more bonus moments at lower stakes; Boost produces fewer bonus moments at higher stakes. Same long-run RTP, different short-run feel.
Which one for which player
Pick the Original if:
- You want the classic land-based Fortune Coin experience.
- You prefer longer sessions over higher peaks.
- You're brand new to IGT or to Hold & Win pokies.
- You enjoy a steady rhythm of frequent small bonuses.
- You have a smaller bankroll relative to your bet size.
Pick Boost if:
- You've played the original heavily and want more variance.
- You prefer fewer but bigger bonus moments.
- You're chasing higher jackpot ceilings.
- You enjoy the visual punch of modern slot art.
- You have bankroll headroom for higher variance.
Play both if:
- You enjoy A/B testing variance feel within a single design family.
- You have bankroll for both sessions.
- You want to feel the original's restraint and Boost's punch in alternating sessions.
Bankroll planning across both
A clean allocation for someone playing both:
- 60% original — main game, more session-stable, lower variance buffer needed.
- 40% Boost — variety, higher-variance sessions, requires bigger per-session buffer.
If you play both at the same bet size, expect Boost sessions to bust faster on bad nights and pay bigger on good nights. The original is the steadier partner; Boost is the volatile one.
Where can I play both?
Among our four featured casinos, the picture is uneven. Boost is a newer release and sometimes the smaller brands haven't added it yet.
| Casino | Original Fortune Coin | Fortune Coin Boost |
|---|---|---|
| Vegasnova | Yes | Yes |
| Joe Fortune | Yes | Yes |
| GreatSlots | Yes | Sometimes (check lobby) |
| CasinoRocket | Yes | Yes |
Joe Fortune has historically been the best for the IGT side-by-side catalogue. If you want to play both in the same session, that's the casino to test first.
RTP differences
Both games run in the ~96.0-96.2% RTP range, but Boost has more deployment variance — some casinos run Boost at 95.6% or 95.0% variants. The four featured casinos all run the certified default on both games as of our May 2026 verification, but always check the in-game info panel.
The "is Boost better" question
It depends entirely on what you want.
Better at producing a steady, long-session experience? No — the original is better at that.
Better at producing a dramatic single-session story? Yes — Boost's variance shape produces more memorable peaks (and deeper troughs).
Better RTP? Neither — both sit in the same ballpark; deployment variant matters more than which game.
More mechanically interesting? Subjectively yes — Boost layers more modifiers into its bonus rounds.
The "right" game? Whichever matches your session goal that night.
Will IGT release Fortune Coin 3?
We're not seeing official confirmation, but the pattern of land-based-cabinet → online-port → boosted-online-sequel that IGT has used for Fortune Coin suggests there's room for further iteration. Whether a third entry would be a "Fortune Coin Mega" / "Fortune Coin Grand" / "Fortune Coin Boost 2" remains speculation. Watch IGT's product page for announcements.
Try both — see which fits you▶ Play Fortune Coin (Original) · 🎁 Welcome Bonus
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Quick FAQ
Is Boost better than Original? Not "better" — different. Newer, higher-variance, more modifiers. Original is more measured.
Do both games share the same jackpot pool? No — separate games, separate jackpot tier structures (though the four-tier architecture is the same in both).
Can I claim the welcome bonus on either game? Yes — most casinos' welcome offers apply across the IGT catalogue, including both Fortune Coin titles. Read the specific bonus terms.
Which has the higher ceiling? Boost generally awards higher Grand tier payouts than the original.
Are the bonuses transferable between the games? No — separate games with separate bonus rounds. Welcome offer applies to your casino account, not per-game.
Which has better graphics? Boost has the more recent art. The original's art is dated but instantly recognisable.
Is the original worth playing in 2026? Absolutely — for atmosphere, accessibility, and bankroll-friendly sessions, it's still the default IGT recommendation.
Should I read the rest of this site for the original or Boost? The rest of this site is about the original Fortune Coin. If you're researching Boost specifically, treat the rest of our articles as context-only and verify Boost's specs in-game.
About this comparison
Side-by-side testing across the casinos that stock both titles in April-May 2026. Minimum 100 spins on each game per casino, with at least 2 bonus rounds triggered per game. Visual and mechanic differences cross-checked against IGT's product pages for both titles.
Gambling responsibly. Playing two similar games in one session is a fast way to lose track of total exposure. Track your bankroll across both games, not per-game. AU support: gamblinghelponline.org.au · BetStop · 18+ only.
Further Reading
Related reading in this guide: