Quick Summary
- Lightning Storm is a feature-packed Evolution money wheel game show played on a 39-segment DigiWheel.
- Five completely different Bonus games, Hot Spot, Monster Mash, Battery Charger, Fireball, and Lightning Storm, provide plenty of variety.
- Bonus symbols and multipliers change position every spin, making the wheel less predictable and keeping each round interesting.
- The maximum multiplier is an impressive 20,000x. We hit 1,200x ourselves during our test sessions and have also seen other players land results of 5,000x, 1,000x, and 600x.
- The 97.44% Leaf RTP is excellent, but the more exciting Number and Chaser bets have a noticeably lower RTP of around 95.12–95.13%.
- Expert View: Lightning Storm is one of Evolution’s most complete game shows, combining excellent production with five creative Bonus games and genuine big-win potential. The lower RTP on the Bonus-focused bets is its main weakness, but for game-show fans there is a lot to like.
How We Scored This Game
We score every game with the same framework. Four categories, each with its own weight
Where to Play Lightning Storm
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What Is Lightning Storm?
Lightning Storm is a live money wheel game show from Evolution. The main game uses a 39-segment DigiWheel containing numbers 1 to 20 and 19 Evolution Leaf segments.
What makes the wheel unusual is that 20 Bonus symbols are randomly assigned to numbered segments during every spin. Some of these Bonus spots can also receive a 2x–50x multiplier, which boosts the payout if that number triggers a Bonus game.
You can bet on individual numbers or the Leaf, while Storm Chaser and X Chaser automatically cover specific Bonus opportunities. If the wheel stops on a covered number with a Bonus symbol, you enter the corresponding Bonus round.
The basic wheel game is therefore easy to understand, but the changing Bonus positions and multipliers make every spin different.
How to Play Lightning Storm
Place Your Bets
Choose one or more bet spots on the 39-segment DigiWheel. The game has 23 different betting options: The numbers 1 to 20 or the Evolution symbol. You can also choose Storm Chaser or X Chaser for extra coverage.
Spin the Wheel
After the betting time is over, the game host spins the DigiWheel. The bonus symbols are divided on the digiwheel, and some random multipliers (2x–50x) appear on up to 20 wheel segments.
Check the Result
When the wheel stops, see which segment the flapper points to.
Win Instant Cash or Enter Bonus Game
If it stops on a Leaf segment, you get paid instantly. If it stops on a Bonus segment you bet on, you enter that Bonus game.
Play the Bonus and Collect Your Winnings
Each Bonus game has its own way to win multipliers. Some can reach up to 20,000x. Your payout is multiplied and added to your balance.
“Lightning Storm is Evolution’s biggest and boldest live game show yet, with five exciting Bonus games and multipliers up to 20,000x.
Every spin is exciting, and when the big multipliers hit, the rewards can be massive.”
The Wheel
As with the live casino game Funky Time, the Digiwheel is used for the Moneywheel. There are 39 segments on the money wheel, divided as follows: numbers 1 to 20 and 19 segments with the Evolution logo.
During spinning, random multipliers and bonus symbols appear on the wheel.
Betting Options
Players have 23 different betting options. They can bet separately on each number, which includes numbers 1 through 20. If the wheel ends on the number you bet on, the payout is 35 times the bet.
They can also choose to bet on the Evolution Logo, which pays 1:1. The numbered bets are more exciting because they can also give you access to the Bonus games when a Bonus symbol is assigned to the winning number.
You can also choose the options Storm Chaser or X Chaser. With the Storm Chaser bet, you are guaranteed a bet on the number where the Lightning Storm Bonus segment is.
With an X Chaser Bet, you are guaranteed that all numbers with Bonus symbols and a multiplier will be covered by a bet.
Lightning Storm Payouts and RTP
If you only play the Evolution Logo (“Leaf”-Bet), you will play with the optimal RTP of 97,44%. But I don’t think anyone will do that. Most people are in this game for the bonuses.
Bonuses have an RTP of 95,13%, not too bad for a live casino game.
The maximum payout for all your winnings in a game round is €500,000 (or the equivalent in your local currency).
| Betting option | How it works | Payout / Max win | RTP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf | Wins when the wheel lands on one of the 19 Leaf segments | 1:1 | 97.44% |
| Number bet (1–20) | Straight bet on a numbered segment; can trigger a Bonus if a Bonus symbol is assigned to that number | 35:1 or Bonus payout | 95.13% |
| X Chaser | Automatically covers numbered spots that receive both a Bonus symbol and a multiplier | Depends on covered bets | 95.13% |
| Storm Chaser | Automatically places a bet on the number carrying the Lightning Storm Bonus symbol | Up to 20,000x | 95.12% |
The Bonuses of Lightning Storm
The game features five different bonuses. Each spin reveals bonuses on random positions on the wheel, sometimes supplemented with a nice multiplier.
One thing to keep in mind is that much of the Bonus gameplay is RNG-driven rather than physically determined in the live studio, although the host remains part of the presentation.
Hot Spot
Hot Spot is a bonus round similar to the Cash Hunt bonus round of Crazy Time. A giant grid of 12 by 9 segments appears on the screen, displaying multipliers.
Each participant in the bonus game selects their square on the board, and after the choice time is over, the board reveals the multipliers behind the chosen squares.
As an extra winning chance, the host connects two sides of a plug. This causes an electric shock to a certain part of the playing field, increasing prizes in that square.
Monster Mash
Monster Mash takes you into Frankenstein’s laboratory, where the host spins three horizontal reels to build a monster. One reel determines the legs, one the torso, and one the head. Each body part comes with a multiplier.
There are two types of multipliers. Regular multipliers are added together, while Global multipliers multiply the other values. For example, three Regular multipliers of 10x, 10x and 5x result in 25x. But if the torso is a Global 10x and the head a Global 5x, together with Regular 10x legs, the final result becomes 500x (10 × 10 × 5).
There is one more important feature. If Monster Mash received an initial wheel multiplier before the Bonus started, this multiplier is applied to the Regular multipliers before the reels spin. The final Monster Mash payout is capped at 10,000x.
Battery Charger
In Battery Charger, you enter a virtual factory where batteries are coming off a conveyor belt. Each battery is caught and tested for charge by a small rotating disk.
If the battery is charged, you receive the multiplier associated with that battery. There’s also a chance for a 2x to fall in the mix, which multiplies the charge of all batteries with this bonus doubler.
Fireball
The Fireball bonus game takes you to a separate section in the live studio where the live host is waiting. On the screen, you see a giant bin with compartments containing multipliers.
Above the bin hangs a basket where the host places a ball. Right below the ball in the bin is a small pointed elevation.
By pressing a button, the ball falls out of the basket and onto the pointed elevation, causing the ball to bounce randomly in the bin.
Eventually, the ball comes to a stop on a multiplier, which is then multiplied by your bet, giving you your bonus prize.
Lightning Storm
The live dealer takes you to a virtual rooftop of a skyscraper for the Lightning Storm bonus game. On the rooftop stands a gigantic fence with multipliers that will be struck by lightning.
When lightning strikes, one or more multipliers will light up, and these are added together.
The possible multipliers are: 50x, 75x, 100x, 150x, 250x, 500x, 1000x, and 2500x. Additionally, separate multipliers of 2x, 3x, and 5x can be added, which then affect the total multiplier. Here, you can really hit big.
An extra element of this bonus game is that you can accept or decline the bonus. In total, there are 3 lightning strikes with a certain result. If you find the first strike insufficient, you can reject it and get another one.
Note that you can’t go back to the previous one, so rejecting means you can’t claim that bonus anymore. If the bonus is to your liking, you click on accept and receive that multiplier.
Note that other players may choose to continue playing, so you’ll also see the result of subsequent lightning strikes that you can’t claim. All very thrilling and fun.
My Results in Different Sessions
To test the game and different betting approaches, I played five sessions of Lightning Storm. In every session, I started with €50 and played for a maximum of one hour, or until my bankroll was gone.
First session
In my first one-hour session, I decided to play only the Leaf bet, which has the highest RTP in Lightning Storm at 97.44%. I started with €1 and experimented with increasing my stake after a win: €1, then €2, and finally €4 after consecutive wins. After three wins or any loss, I returned to €1.
This betting pattern doesn’t improve the RTP or give you an advantage, but the relatively small stakes allowed me to play for a full hour without putting too much of my bankroll at risk.
After one hour, I finished with a small €2 profit. Financially, the session was fine, but from an entertainment perspective it was easily my least enjoyable test. By betting only on Leaf, I had no chance of entering any of Lightning Storm’s five Bonus games.
Session takeaway: Leaf is the mathematically strongest bet, but playing it exclusively takes away most of what makes Lightning Storm entertaining. After an hour of Leaf-only betting, I wouldn’t personally choose this approach again.
Second session
In my second one-hour session, I focused entirely on the Storm Chaser and X Chaser bets. I used €0.10 stakes, which resulted in a total bet of €1.05 per round.
It took quite a while before I finally triggered a Bonus with a multiplier. By that point, my bankroll had already dropped to €28.95. The Bonus produced a 50x result, but with my small stake, that was worth only €5. Shortly afterwards, I entered the Lightning Storm Bonus and landed 45x, which again wasn’t enough to make a major difference.
I reached several more multiplied Bonuses during the remainder of the hour, but none produced the big result I needed. After one hour, I finished the session with a loss of almost €38.
Session takeaway: The Chaser bets give you a convenient way to target the more exciting Bonus opportunities, but reaching a Bonus or multiplier doesn’t guarantee a big payout. This session showed how quickly repeated bets can eat into your bankroll when the larger Bonus multipliers don’t arrive.
Third session
In my third session, I focused more heavily on the numbered bets, giving myself more opportunities to trigger the Bonus games. The downside became clear quite quickly: the wheel landed on Leaf frequently, and those results didn’t pay anything on my number bets.
Unfortunately, I also didn’t hit a big enough Bonus multiplier to compensate for those losing spins. I started with €50 and finished with a bankroll of just €12.80, resulting in a €37.20 loss.
Session takeaway: Playing the numbers gives you access to the Bonus action that makes Lightning Storm exciting, but frequent Leaf results can quickly reduce your bankroll. Without a strong Bonus win, it can be difficult to recover those losses.
Fourth and fifth session
I combined sessions 4 and 5 because I used the same mixed betting approach in both. Each round, I covered five numbers with 1 unit each and placed 10 units on the Leaf. Occasionally, I also added Storm Chaser and increased my Leaf stake by 3 units.
For me, these were easily the most enjoyable sessions to play. The larger Leaf bet helped balance some of the losing number bets when the wheel landed on Leaf, while I still had five numbers in play for a chance to enter the Bonus games.
In session 4, I reached Lightning Storm twice, including one that started with a 5x multiplier. I then picked the right strike and landed a huge 1,200x result. Session 5 brought another Lightning Storm, although without such a spectacular payout.
Both sessions ended in profit. Session 4 finished €211 up, while session 5 produced a €23 profit.
Session takeaway: Mixing Leaf and number bets gave me the best balance between bankroll stability and Bonus action, and it was certainly the approach I enjoyed most. However, the €211 profit in session 4 was heavily influenced by one exceptional 1,200x hit. The mixed approach didn’t create that win – I was simply lucky enough to land the right Bonus result.
Wrap-Up
We played five one-hour Lightning Storm sessions using different betting approaches. The results varied considerably, which is exactly what you would expect from a game built around random Bonus games and multipliers.
| Session | Betting approach | Result | Key moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leaf only | +€2.00 | Steady session, but very little entertainment |
| 2 | Storm Chaser + X Chaser | −€38.00 | Several Bonuses, but the best results weren’t enough to recover the stakes |
| 3 | Number-focused betting | −€37.20 | Many Leaf results and no big Bonus win |
| 4 | Mix of Leaf + 5 numbers | +€211.00 | Hit Lightning Storm with a 5x starting multiplier and 1,200x final result |
| 5 | Mix of Leaf + 5 numbers | +€23.00 | Another profitable mixed session and one Lightning Storm Bonus |
Across all five sessions, our combined result was approximately €160.80 profit. However, that figure needs some context: one 1,200x Lightning Storm result was responsible for a large part of the overall profit. Without that big hit, the picture would have looked very different.
The sessions also showed us the trade-off between RTP and entertainment. Playing only Leaf produced a small profit and gave us the highest theoretical RTP, but it was easily the most boring session. Focusing on numbers and Chaser bets provided much more Bonus action but also produced our two biggest losing sessions.
Personally, we enjoyed the mixed approach most. Combining Leaf with a selection of numbers kept us involved in the Bonus games while Leaf wins helped balance some losing number bets. Sessions 4 and 5 both ended in profit, but our results shouldn’t be interpreted as proof that this approach is mathematically better.
Expert View: Five hours is far too small a sample to draw conclusions about which betting approach performs best. What our tests do show very well is the character of Lightning Storm: many ordinary results can be transformed by one exceptional Bonus hit. Our 1,200x win turned what could easily have been an overall losing test into a profitable one.
Tips & Strategies for Lightning Storm
Lightning Storm is a game of chance, so no strategy can predict where the DigiWheel will stop or improve the RTP of a bet. The best approach is therefore to choose your bets based on whether you value RTP, Bonus action or bankroll control.
Choose Between RTP and Bonus Action
The Leaf bet has the highest RTP at 97.44%, but it never takes you into a Bonus game. Number bets and X Chaser have a lower RTP of 95.13%, while Storm Chaser is 95.12%.
If RTP is your priority, Leaf is mathematically the best choice. If you play Lightning Storm for its main attraction — the Bonus games — you have to accept the lower RTP.
Don’t Try to Cover Everything
Betting on many numbers increases your chance of covering the winning Bonus number, but it also increases your total stake very quickly. A better bankroll approach is to select a manageable number of spots rather than trying to cover the entire wheel.
Use the Chaser Bets for What They Are Designed For
Storm Chaser automatically covers the number carrying the Lightning Storm Bonus symbol. X Chaser covers Bonus spots that have also received a multiplier.
They are convenient ways to target particular Bonus opportunities, but they don’t give you a mathematical advantage. Use them because you want that type of Bonus coverage, not because you expect them to beat the game.
Don’t Chase Previous Results
Bonus symbols and multipliers are assigned to random numbered segments on every spin. A number that hasn’t appeared for a long time isn’t therefore “due”, and a number that has just won isn’t more or less likely because of its previous result.
Keep Your Stakes Small Enough for the Bonuses
Lightning Storm can be expensive if you spread bets across several numbers and Chaser options. We prefer smaller stakes across a limited selection of bets, leaving enough bankroll to play for longer and give ourselves more opportunities to reach a Bonus game.
Our Approach
Don’t use progressive systems such as Martingale to chase losses. Decide whether you are playing for the 97.44% Leaf RTP or for the Bonus experience, keep your total stake per spin under control, and remember that no betting pattern changes the underlying odds.
Pros and Cons of Playing Lightning Storm
- High maximum win (up to 20,000x)
- Five different bonus games
- Plenty of bonus opportunities
- Easy to learn
- Many betting options
- Most wins are small (often 1:1)
- Bonus rounds don’t always pay well
- Can be expensive to cover all bets
- Gameplay can feel slow
Lightning Storm vs Other Live Casino Game Shows
Lightning Storm is often compared to other popular live game shows by Evolution, such as Crazy Time, Monopoly Live, and Dream Catcher. While they all use a spinning wheel and bonus rounds, each game feels different.
Lightning Storm vs Crazy Time
Lightning Storm and Crazy Time are both Evolution money wheel game shows, but they create excitement in different ways. Crazy Time uses a 54-segment wheel with four fixed Bonus segments, while Lightning Storm uses a 39-segment DigiWheel where Bonus symbols and multipliers are randomly assigned to numbered segments before each result. This makes the betting layout in Lightning Storm change from round to round.
Crazy Time has four Bonus games: Coin Flip, Cash Hunt, Pachinko and Crazy Time. Lightning Storm offers five: Hot Spot, Monster Mash, Battery Charger, Fireball and Lightning Storm. The Lightning Storm Bonuses also use very different mechanics, ranging from building a monster with multipliers to dropping a physical ball and choosing between lightning strikes.
There is also an important difference in how you reach the Bonuses. In Crazy Time, you can bet directly on a specific Bonus segment. In Lightning Storm, the Bonus symbols are attached to numbered segments during each spin. Storm Chaser and X Chaser provide additional ways to automatically cover certain Bonus opportunities.
| Lightning Storm | Crazy Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel | 39-segment DigiWheel | 54-segment wheel |
| Bonus games | 5 | 4 |
| Bonus positions | Change every spin | Fixed wheel segments |
| Direct Bonus bets | No | Yes |
| Special bets | Storm Chaser & X Chaser | Bonus segments |
| Gameplay | Dynamic and feature-rich | Fast, colourful and easy to follow |
| Best suited for | Players who like changing Bonus opportunities and lots of different features | Players who prefer directly choosing which Bonuses to chase |
Our View: We wouldn’t say that one game simply has “more action” than the other. Crazy Time gives you more control over which Bonus game you want to chase, while Lightning Storm makes every spin less predictable by constantly changing the Bonus positions and multipliers. If you enjoy dynamic gameplay and plenty of different mechanics, Lightning Storm has the edge. If you prefer choosing your favourite Bonus directly, Crazy Time is probably the better fit.
Lightning Storm vs Monopoly Live
Monopoly Live combines a traditional money wheel with the 2 Rolls and 4 Rolls Bonus games, which take you onto a 3D Monopoly board. Lightning Storm offers considerably more variety with five different Bonus games and Bonus symbols and multipliers that change position every spin.
Our View: Choose Monopoly Live if you enjoy the Monopoly theme and its entertaining board-game Bonuses. Choose Lightning Storm if you want more Bonus variety, changing features, and bigger multiplier potential.
Lightning Storm vs Dream Catcher
Dream Catcher is a much simpler money wheel game. It has no separate Bonus games and mainly relies on number segments and 2x and 7x multipliers to create excitement. Lightning Storm goes much further with five Bonus games, changing Bonus positions and multipliers, and the two Chaser bets.
Our View: Choose Dream Catcher if you want a simple, relaxed money wheel that takes seconds to understand. Choose Lightning Storm if you prefer more action, Bonus games, and much bigger multiplier potential.
Which Game Is Best?
There is no single “best” game. It depends on what you like:
- For big multipliers: Lightning Storm or Crazy Time
- For simple gameplay: Dream Catcher
- For themed fun: Monopoly Live
Overall, Lightning Storm is a strong choice if you want a mix of simple rules, exciting bonus games, and the chance to win up to 20,000x your bet.
Who Is Lightning Storm Best Suited For?
Lightning Storm is best suited to game-show fans who enjoy money wheels, Bonus rounds and big multipliers. It offers much more variety than a traditional wheel game, although playing for the Bonuses comes with a lower RTP.
| Type of player | Good fit? | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Game-show fans | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Five different Bonus games and plenty of action |
| Multiplier hunters | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Up to 20,000x, and we hit 1,200x ourselves |
| Money wheel fans | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Familiar wheel concept with much more depth |
| Players who like Bonus games | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Hot Spot, Monster Mash, Battery Charger, Fireball and Lightning Storm |
| Mobile players | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Worked extremely well during our mobile tests |
| Casual players | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Easy main game, although all the extra features take time to learn |
| RTP-conscious players | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | Leaf offers 97.44% RTP, but Bonus-focused bets are around 95.12–95.13% |
| Low-volatility players | ⭐⭐☆☆☆ | Chasing Bonuses and multipliers can produce significant bankroll swings |
| Players wanting simple gameplay | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | The wheel is simple, but five Bonuses and two Chaser bets add complexity |
Our view: Lightning Storm particularly suits players who want lots of Bonus action, changing multipliers and genuine big-win potential. If you mainly want the highest RTP or prefer a simple, relaxed live game, much of what makes Lightning Storm special may be wasted on you.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Evolution |
| Game Type | Live Money Wheel Game Show |
| Release Year | 2024 |
| Wheel | 39-segment DigiWheel |
| Betting Options | 20 Numbers, Leaf, Storm Chaser, X Chaser |
| Bonus Games | 5 |
| Optimal RTP | 97.44% |
| Number / X Chaser RTP | 95.13% |
| Storm Chaser RTP | 95.12% |
| Maximum Multiplier | 20,000x |
| Maximum Payout | €500,000 equivalent |
| Devices | Desktop, Mobile, Tablet |
What’s My Opinion on Lightning Storm?
Lightning Storm is much more my type of game. I like money wheel game shows with multipliers and different Bonus rounds, and Lightning Storm gives you plenty of both. After playing several sessions, I especially enjoyed never knowing which Bonus symbols and multipliers would appear on the numbers during the next spin.
The five Bonus games also provide enough variety to keep me interested. Lightning Storm itself is my favourite, but I also like Hot Spot and Fireball. Playing only the Leaf may give you the best RTP, but after testing that approach for an hour, I found it far too boring. For me, this game is all about trying to reach the Bonuses.
Expert View: Lightning Storm is one of Evolution’s most ambitious game shows, with excellent production, five genuinely different Bonus games and potential wins up to 20,000x. The main drawback is mathematical: the exciting numbered and Chaser bets have an RTP of only around 95.12–95.13%, considerably below the 97.44% Leaf bet.
FAQs
Lightning Storm is a live wheel game show by Evolution with instant payouts, multipliers, and five unique Bonus games.
Place bets on the wheel segments. If the wheel stops on your chosen segment, you win or enter a Bonus game.
Hot Spot – pick a tile on a multiplier wall (up to 10,000x).
Monster Mash – build a monster with spinning reels for a big multiplier.
Battery Charger – power up multipliers on a conveyor belt (up to 10,000x).
Fireball – launch a ball on a grid and collect multipliers (up to 10,000x).
Lightning Storm – choose a lightning strike for multipliers up to 20,000x.
The maximum win in Lightning Storm is 20,000x your bet, capped at €500,000 per round.
Storm Chaser automatically covers the number carrying the Lightning Storm Bonus symbol each round. If that number wins, you enter the Lightning Storm Bonus.
It automatically covers all Bonus spots that receive multipliers during the spin.
The optimal RTP is 97.44% on the Leaf bet. Numbered bets and X Chaser have an RTP of 95.13%, while Storm Chaser has an RTP of 95.12%.
Yes, you can watch all Bonus games, but only players who bet on them can win.
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