Features
| Reels: 3 | Min/Max Bets: $0.25 – $135 |
| Paylines: 9 | Jackpot: Progressive |
| RTP: 96.08% | Software: Everi |
Black Diamond: Overview
If you miss the good ol’ days of having a go at a one-armed bandit on the carpet until you’re hooked, then the retro Black Diamond pokie machine might be exactly what you’re looking for to scratch that itch. Though it lacks the flashy bells and whistles of many of its more modern competitors, Black Diamond by Everi offers a callback to a simpler time. Featuring classic pokie symbols such as diamonds, bars, and sevens, Black Diamond is perfect for the pokie connoisseur who just wants to get down to business.
Despite its relative simplicity, however, this 3-reel 9-payline pokie machine still features some choices for the discerning bettor. It also includes a progressive jackpot which, while somewhat slow to advance, offers the potential promise of a massive payout to those fortunate enough to hit it. Don’t be turned off by this pokie’s old-fashioned nature—even if it’s not your usual cup of tea, you might find something here to enjoy. Read on to dive into specifics such as how to play, RTP + free spins, and more.
Black Diamond: Theme and General Aesthetics
As mentioned above, Black Diamond’s simplistic retro theme might be a sticking point to some players who are used to flashy visuals and thrilling sound effects while they spin. This pokie definitely plays it safe in this regard. Symbols like classic sevens, bars, and diamonds evoke the pokie machines of yore, as do the ringing bills and other sound effects. There are even blank spaces left on the reels. If this kind of aesthetic appeals to you, then great—otherwise, this could be a major sticking point for your enjoyment.
That said, however, Black Diamond does make some concessions to modern conventions. Variations in colouring across bonus symbols help make them stand out from one another, and there are at least some exciting animations when you hit a bet or grow closer to the jackpot. These definitely help break up the relative monotony.
Still, there’s no getting around the fact that Black Diamond is best suited for those new or seasoned players who might want to take a break from modern pokies’ overwhelming graphics and experience some old school charm. Read on for more tips and tricks to help you make the most of your playtime.
Black Diamond: Tips and Tricks to Play
With an expected return to player (RTP) rate of 96.08% and a progressive jackpot, Black Diamond offers good value for those players looking to buckle down at a pokie for the long haul. Players have a good degree of control over their bet, selecting a coin value between 0.25 and 5, along with how many paylines to play from 1 to 9 and how many coins to wager per line from 1 to 3. Thus, a minimum bet on one payline would be as low as $0.25 while a max bet on all 9 paylines rises all the way to $135. This variability ensures players can pick their preferred wager based on how deep their bankroll is.
The paylines themselves are relatively standard, and the pokie lets you keep them up on your screen for easy access if you have trouble remembering them. Pay and wins can feel somewhat slower than other machines given the inclusion of blank spaces, but there are still plenty of winning combinations. Lower payouts include mixed bar symbols or sevens, while higher payouts feature the double bars and double or triple sevens. Payout values range from only 9x your line bet for mixed bars all the way to 300x for the triple blue 7s.
Black Diamond: Bonus Features to Watch Out For
Special features in Black Diamond are fairly sparse. Unlike most modern pokies, there are no scatter symbols or free spins available at all. There are also no possible bonus games—with Black Diamond, what you see is what you get. There are, however, still some things you need to watch out for that can boost your payouts:
- Different symbols can include multipliers on them, ranging from 2x on the lower symbols to as much as 5x on the higher value symbols. Adding up these multipliers adds as much as a 30x bonus multiplier to a given spin, resulting in a respectable payout depending on your bet and what you hit.
- There are also wild symbols in the form of the eponymous black diamonds. These can be substituted for any other symbol as part of a winning combination, though unfortunately, they don’t increase the payout at all.
- More excitingly, hitting black diamonds on an active payline can trigger the progressive jackpots so long as you are using the maximum bet. Paylines 1-8 will award the minor jackpot while three black diamonds on the ninth payline (a V formation on the screen) awards the major jackpot.
Black Diamond: Final Thoughts
Black Diamond is truly the epitome of a stripped-down pokie experience. With its lack of fancy features such as free spins or bonus games along with its outdated aesthetic, it seems perfectly designed for old timers who miss classic pokie machines or modern gamblers seeking a simpler machine from a simpler time.
Though some may quickly grow bored of the lack of bells and whistles, there’s still plenty of potential value and high payouts here for those willing to pursue them. A decent RTP, some good payouts with multipliers, and a progressive jackpot all help make up for the lack of free spins or other bonuses. Black Diamond may not be the most exciting pokie in the world to play, but that doesn’t mean it won’t get the job done all the same.
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