The cluster pay system is a winning mechanism in online slots at non GamStop casinos. In traditional slots, you win by landing matching symbols on a payline. In cluster pay slots, a group of matching symbols forms a winning combination. For beginners or those wanting to play with a small budget, the UK £5 deposit casino recommendations can help identify safe and affordable platforms. You can read exactly how this works in this article.
About Cluster Pay slots
In recent years, the cluster pay system has gained considerable popularity. Slots with this system are also called cluster pay slots. The creator of this system is game developer Play ‘n GO. This provider was the first to release a cluster pay slot at non GamStop casinos. This new system was a hit with gamblers. For this reason, cluster pay slots have quickly become a popular type of slot.
Best Cluster Play Slots
You’ll find the best cluster pay slots at the best non GamStop casinos. This game mechanism is very popular and isn’t found in every online casino. You’re most likely to find online slots with cluster pays at casinos without GamStop.
How do Cluster Pay slots work?
You play a cluster pay slot with no fixed paylines or reels. You create winning combinations by forming groups of matching symbols, known as “clusters.” The more matching symbols you manage to form in the cluster, the higher the payout.
You play on a matrix, which is the playing field. Most cluster pay slots have a square playing field, for example, 7×7. The symbols drop from above onto the playing field. If you form a cluster of matching symbols, the symbols disappear from the playing field in most slots. The symbols make way for new symbols, which again drop from above onto the playing field. This gives you a chance to create another cluster, or another winning combination, within the same spin.
Boosters in Cluster Pay slots
In almost all cluster pay slots, you have the opportunity to earn boosters at non GamStop casinos. A booster boosts your chances of winning. How you earn these varies by slot. A common system for earning boosters is to count the number of winning combinations in a spin. The more winning combinations you land in a spin, the more lucrative the booster.
In some slots, for example, you can win extra Wild symbols. This makes it easier to create winning combinations. In other slots, low-value symbols are replaced by high-value symbols, making winning combinations more valuable. Some game providers also offer the opportunity to win free spins.
Gemix: the very first Cluster Pay slot
The first two cluster pay titles released by Play ‘n GO were Gemix and Troll Hunters. Gemix, in particular, was instantly hugely popular among gamblers. This game can best be described as a cross between Candy Crush, Tetris, and a video slot. The playing field in Gemix is 7×7. When a cluster of symbols forms on the playing field, you win in this online slot. The symbols must touch each other, either vertically or horizontally. When this happens, the symbols disappear in a similar way to Tetris.
Just like with games outside of the online casino, Gemix even lets you unlock different worlds by creating enough clusters on the playing field. This online slot has three worlds, each with a different wild symbol. If you don’t win for a while, various wild symbols will appear across the playing field to increase your chances of winning. This ensures you can keep making a profit.
Besides wilds, there’s the “Crystal Charge” bonus feature, which can transform symbols for increased winnings. If you make enough combinations, you can even win the “Super Charge.” With the Super Charge, the symbols on the playing field yield up to 3x the winnings.
Play ‘n GO noticed that the new game mechanism was well received by gamers. Therefore, the provider quickly decided to release several titles with cluster pay mechanisms. Examples include the popular slots Moon Princess, Reactoonz, and Gold Volcano.
Other providers saw Play’n GO’s success with its cluster pay mechanism. It didn’t take long for this system to be copied. Providers like Pragmatic Play, Red Tiger, Quickspin, NetEnt, Push Gaming, and many others have since released cluster pay slots.
The popularity of Cluster Pay slots
In the iGaming world, developments are happening at a rapid pace. Gamblers are open to these developments, and competition between providers is fierce. As a result, new game mechanics and innovative features are regularly launched. Standard slots with five reels, three rows, and a number of paylines are fun, but not surprising.
In a cluster pay slot, we say goodbye to this standard game system. This applies not only to the way you create winning combinations, but also to the features. By changing the basic structure of the slot, we also create the opportunity to trigger features differently. For example, by giving a booster when you land multiple winning combinations in a row in a single spin. This gives the game that little bit extra.
Countless cluster pay slots have been released by both Play ‘n GO and other game developers. Yet, this system still offers opportunities for innovation. Technological developments are happening rapidly, and each developer is putting their own spin on this game mechanism.
A building tension arc makes a slot extra fun. Many cluster pay slots meet this requirement. Game developers have developed various systems around the cluster pay mechanism to unlock features. An example is the online slot Reactoonz from developer Play ‘n GO. In this slot, you first have to win five short features before you can play the actual bonus feature.