Last updated: May 2026. Both variants tested across all four featured AU casinos. Direct math comparisons drawn from live sessions.
Pragmatic Play released the original Sweet Bonanza in 2019 and it became one of the most-played pokies in the world within months. Five years later, in September 2024, the sequel landed — Sweet Bonanza 1000. Same candy theme, same engine, same pays-anywhere rules. But three critical math upgrades. This article walks through every difference and tells you which variant fits which kind of Aussie session.
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Headline comparison
| Spec | Sweet Bonanza (Original) | Sweet Bonanza 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Released | June 2019 | September 2024 |
| RTP (default) | 96.51% | 96.53% |
| Volatility | Very high | Very high |
| Grid | 6×5 | 6×5 |
| Paylines | None (pays-anywhere) | None (pays-anywhere) |
| Free spins trigger | 4+ scatters | 4+ scatters |
| Free spins awarded | 10 | 10 |
| Multiplier max | 100× | 1000× |
| Max win | 21,100× | 25,000× |
| Bonus Buy cost | 100× stake | 100× stake |
| Super Free Spins Buy | ❌ Not available | ✅ 500× stake, 20× floor |
| Ante Bet | +25% stake | +25% stake |
| Bet range (AUD) | A$0.20 – A$125 | A$0.20 – A$125 |
The three big changes:
- Multiplier ceiling: 100× → 1000× (10× higher per-bomb maximum)
- Max win cap: 21,100× → 25,000× (18% higher session ceiling)
- Super Free Spins Buy added (brand-new buy feature with multiplier floor)
Everything else is essentially identical.
Sweet Bonanza (Original) — 21,100× max, 100× multiplier cap
The 2019 classic. Sweet Bonanza is the single most-played Pragmatic Play game in their entire portfolio. Massive streamer following, instantly recognisable candy art, and the foundation Pragmatic built its whole "Sweet" family on.
Why play it:
- Universal availability — every AU casino with Pragmatic has it.
- Cleaner UI than the 1000 variant (slightly).
- Lower variance overall because the 100× multiplier ceiling caps tail outcomes.
- More predictable bonus-round outcomes.
- More five-year history of strategy content available.
Why skip it:
- 21,100× max win is now the second-best in the candy family.
- 100× multiplier ceiling is meaningfully smaller than 1000.
- No Super FS Buy option — Bonus Buy is the only bonus shortcut.
Best for: First-time candy-slot players, players who prefer slightly tighter variance, players who want maximum availability across casinos.
Sweet Bonanza 1000 — 25,000× max, 1000× multiplier cap
The 2024 sequel. Same DNA but the math model has been tuned for higher ceilings and a new feature that addresses a long-standing Bonus Buy complaint.
Why play it:
- 25,000× max win — almost 4,000× more than the original ceiling.
- 1000× multiplier orbs unlock truly explosive bonus rounds.
- Slightly higher RTP (96.53% vs 96.51%) — small but real.
- Super Free Spins Buy provides a guaranteed 20× multiplier floor on bonus rounds.
- Sharper visual polish (animations, sound design refined).
Why skip it:
- Higher variance — average bonus rounds are similar to original, but max-win events are now much rarer (because the ceiling is higher relative to base outcomes).
- Slightly newer release means some casinos still in the rollout phase.
- Steeper learning curve if you've internalised the original's variance feel.
Best for: Players experienced with the original who want a higher ceiling, max-win chasers, Bonus Buy enthusiasts who want lower variance via Super FS Buy.
The multiplier ceiling jump (100× → 1000×)
This is the single most consequential change. Worked example:
Scenario: In a free spins round, three bombs land with the maximum value possible for each variant.
| Variant | Bomb values | Total multiplier | Tumble win of 5× → final payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 100× + 100× + 100× | 300× | 5 × 300 = 1,500× of stake |
| 1000 | 1000× + 1000× + 1000× | 3,000× | 5 × 3,000 = 15,000× of stake |
Now, three 1000× bombs in a single round is extremely rare. But even a single 1000× bomb dramatically changes the math:
| Scenario | Original | 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 max bomb landed | 100× | 1000× |
| 5× tumble win × 1 max bomb | 500× | 5,000× |
The original's max-win path requires lots of bombs to land. The 1000's max-win path can theoretically be reached with a single 1000× bomb plus a strong tumble chain during the free spins round.
The Super Free Spins Buy — the new feature
The Super FS Buy at 500× stake is exclusive to Sweet Bonanza 1000. It addresses the original Sweet Bonanza's most-complained-about issue: that Bonus Buys can pay 30× or 40× and feel like a complete waste.
The 20× multiplier floor on the Super FS Buy means even if no bombs land during the round, every winning tumble is multiplied by 20×. So a single 10× tumble chain pays 200× — already 40% of the buy cost recovered.
Original players were forced to either skip Bonus Buys entirely or accept the high downside-variance. Sweet Bonanza 1000 players can pay 5× more for a buy that's much less likely to feel like a dud.
Average bonus round comparison
Based on our test sessions:
| Variant | Median bonus round | Mean bonus round | Bottom 20% rounds | Top 5% rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original | 110× | 240× | <30× | 800× to 1,500× |
| Sweet Bonanza 1000 | 120× | 280× | <30× | 1,200× to 8,000×+ |
The medians and means are similar. The dramatic difference is at the extremes — the top 5% of Sweet Bonanza 1000 rounds reach significantly higher payouts because the multiplier ceiling allows them to.
Bonus Buy comparison
| Buy type | Available in Original | Available in 1000 | Cost | Avg return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonus Buy | ✅ | ✅ | 100× stake | ~95× |
| Super FS Buy | ❌ | ✅ | 500× stake | ~480× |
Note: the original's standard Bonus Buy and the 1000's standard Bonus Buy behave essentially identically. The Super FS Buy is the differentiator.
Which variant should you play?
| If you... | Play... |
|---|---|
| Are new to Sweet Bonanza | Original (cleaner experience) |
| Want maximum availability across casinos | Original |
| Are a max-win chaser | Sweet Bonanza 1000 |
| Do regular Bonus Buys | Original (cheaper variant, same RTP) |
| Want a lower-variance Bonus Buy alternative | Sweet Bonanza 1000 (Super FS Buy) |
| Care about RTP-maxing | Sweet Bonanza 1000 (96.53% vs 96.51%) |
| Are doing content / streaming | Sweet Bonanza 1000 (bigger possible payouts) |
| Have a small bankroll | Original (slightly tighter variance) |
| Have a large bankroll | Sweet Bonanza 1000 (uses the higher ceiling) |
Where to play each variant in AU
All four featured AU casinos carry both:
| Casino | Original | 1000 |
|---|---|---|
| Vegasnova | ✅ | ✅ |
| Joe Fortune | ✅ | ✅ |
| GreatSlots | ✅ | ✅ |
| CasinoRocket | ✅ | ✅ |
Both variants run at the certified 96.53% / 96.51% default RTPs at all four featured casinos.
What about Sweet Bonanza Xmas?
There's also a Sweet Bonanza Xmas seasonal variant that ships in November–January. It's essentially the original with snowflake and gingerbread reskinned over the candy art. Math is virtually identical to the original (21,175× max, 96.48% RTP). Worth playing only during the holiday window for the visual change. Outside November–January, stick to the original or the 1000.
Will there be a Sweet Bonanza 5000 or higher?
Unconfirmed. Pragmatic Play's pattern with Gates of Olympus (original → 1000 → Super Scatter at 50,000×) suggests a higher-ceiling Sweet Bonanza variant is plausible. But as of May 2026, no announcement.
Quick FAQ
Will my welcome bonus work on both variants? Usually yes — both are Pragmatic Play games and almost always bonus-eligible. Confirm in casino T&Cs.
Can I do Bonus Buy on the original at the same cost as 1000? Yes — both cost 100× stake.
Is the original being phased out? No — Pragmatic continues to support it. Both variants are actively maintained.
Can I play both variants at the same casino with one account? Yes — all four featured casinos let you play either from the same account.
Are bonus rounds in the 1000 noticeably more exciting? Subjectively yes — the possibility of a 1000× bomb landing changes how a bonus round feels mid-round. Whether that "more exciting" feeling is worth the higher variance is personal.
Should I master the original before trying 1000? Not strictly necessary. The mechanics are identical except for multiplier values and Super FS Buy. Sessions in one variant directly translate to the other.
About this comparison
Both variants test-played at all four featured AU casinos in April–May 2026. Bonus-round math compared across 80+ bonus rounds total. Pragmatic Play's official spec sheets were the primary source.
Gambling responsibly. Higher max-win ceilings come with higher variance. Set deposit limits. AU support: gamblinghelponline.org.au · BetStop · 18+ only.
Further Reading
Related reading in this guide: