Narcos

Narcos brings the world of Netflix's hit crime drama to the reels, and it has become a favourite among New Zealand pokies fans who want a slot with a real story behind it. NetEnt built the game in 2019, following the rise of the Medellin cartel with cinematic symbols, gritty artwork and a soundtrack that leans into the show's tension. Kiwi players searching for the Narcos slot will find a five-reel game that runs in NZD at the casinos listed further down this page, and you can spin the free demo above in your browser before deciding whether it suits your taste.

How Narcos plays

Narcos uses a five-reel, three-row grid with 243 ways to win, so wins land on matching symbols across adjacent reels from the left rather than on fixed paylines. Four signature features carry the theme. Walking Wilds appear as part of a winning combination, then shift one reel to the left on each following spin until they drop off the grid, keeping a wild in play across several spins. The Drive-By feature triggers at random, sending a car across the screen that turns a group of high-value symbols wild. Locked Up kicks in when three or more matching Locked Up symbols line up on a row, upgrading symbols and adding value. Collect enough scatters and the Free Spins round opens up, where the wild transformations do the heavy lifting.

Narcos RTP, volatility and max win

NetEnt lists the Narcos RTP at 96.23%, which sits around the middle of the pack for modern online pokies. The volatility is medium to high, meaning wins arrive less often than on a low-variance pokie but can be larger when the features connect. The maximum win is 1,000x your stake, so a single spin can in theory return one thousand times whatever you wagered. That combination suits players who are happy to ride some quieter spins in exchange for the chance of a bigger hit from the Free Spins and Walking Wilds.

Playing Narcos in New Zealand

New Zealand does not yet license domestic online casinos, so Kiwis currently play Narcos at offshore-licensed sites while the Department of Internal Affairs prepares its Online Casino Gambling Act licensing regime, due from December 2026. The casinos compared on this page accept New Zealand players and let you play in NZD. If you just want to try the game, the demo above needs no account and no deposit, so you can learn the features risk-free before committing any money.

Is Narcos worth playing?

Narcos is an easy recommendation for fans of the series and for pokies players who enjoy feature-driven games with a bit of edge. The 243-ways engine and four interacting features keep sessions varied, and the medium-to-high volatility rewards patience rather than punishing it outright. It is less suited to players who prefer frequent small wins or a simpler three-reel style. Whatever you decide, set a budget you are comfortable with and treat it as entertainment. For support and tools, see our responsible gambling guide.