The Winter Olympics will be held at Sochi in Russia from February 6 to February 23. Online casino software providers have exhibited a step-motherly treatment to the Winter Olympics. There are a fair number of online slots based on the Summer Olympics and new ones are added every time the event is held. This is not the case with the Winter Olympics. But quality makes up for quantity. You can live the Winter Olympics on the reels through Microgaming Winter Gold.

Winter Gold is a 15-paylines video slot game that successfully creates the excitement and aura of the games. Four of the most competitive events are depicted as symbols, with their own win animations and bonus games. These events are Biathlon, Speed Skating, Ski Jumping and Bob Sleigh. In the win animation, the ski jumper takes off from the slope and the biathlon athlete maneuvers down the slope. Realistic backgrounds and falling snow make the animations a treat to watch. The Winter Gold Logo is the wild symbol and substitutes for all symbols to make winning combinations. When five of these symbols appear in an enabled payline you win the highest fixed jackpot of 5000 coins. In the win animation the Winter Gold Logo symbol turns into a gold medal.

The Gold Medal is the scatter symbol. This symbol awards scatter payouts and triggers the Bonus Wheel Feature. Two of the sectors on the wheel award up to 20 free spins and two sectors award up to 18,000 credits. The remaining four sectors are more exciting because they will take you to a bonus game on the second screen based on one of the four winter sports. In the Speed Skating bonus you choose an athlete. Your payout is determined by the position of your athlete in the ensuing race. In the Bob Sleigh bonus game your team completes the circuit. The timing of your team is compared with the timing of four other teams and payouts are awarded depending on the position of your team. The animated sporting events are displayed realistically as in television coverage with different camera angles, commentary and the cheering of the crowd.

TopCasinos.com recommends several Microgaming online casinos where the Winter Gold slot game can be played. If you are not a member at any of these casinos you will have to sign up first. Platinum Play is ideal because it offers a unique welcome bonus of 1500 free spins.