Slot machines have come a long way from their early days as clunky mechanical devices dispensing chewing gum. Today’s high-tech video slots offer cutting-edge graphics, bonus games and innovative new ways to win. One of the most exciting slot innovations in recent years is the Cluster Pays format, which is dramatically raising payout percentages and can be found at B7Casino.
What Are Cluster Pays?
Cluster Pays slots to eliminate the traditional model of paying out only when matching symbols land on a horizontal payline. Instead, Cluster Pays slots pay whenever you land a “cluster” (group) of five or more matching symbols anywhere on adjacent reels. Some games require clusters of nine symbols or more.
This opens up many more ways to win and leads to higher payout percentages overall. While a typical video slot might pay back 92-96% over time, Cluster Pays slots often pay back 96-98% or more.
Key Benefits for Players
So, what makes the Cluster Pays format so beneficial for slot enthusiasts? Here are some of the key advantages:
More Winning Combinations
By paying out for symbol clusters instead of paylines, there are exponentially more winning patterns. Hundreds or even thousands more ways to cash in make hitting payouts much more frequent.
Bigger Wins
With Cluster Pays slots, landing a full stack of a high-paying symbol on multiple reels can lead to a mega-sized win. Even on minimum bets, huge jackpots are possible.
Higher Payout Percentages
The increased number of winning combinations directly translates to a higher return-to-player (RTP) percentage.
Achieving payout rates of 96% or more, Cluster Pays slots give more money back to players over time.
Excitement Factor
All those winning clusters popping up out of nowhere make for electrifying gameplay. Cluster Pays brings volatility, big win potential, and an extra element of anticipation to every spin.
Cluster Pays Slots
Many major slot studios now offer their own take on the Cluster Pays format. Below is a comparison of payout percentages for some of the top-rated Cluster Pays games:
Game | Min/Max Bet | Return % |
Jammin’ Jars 2 | $0.20-$20 | 96.54% |
Razor Shark | $0.20-$40 | 96.71% |
Money Train 2 | $0.20-$100 | 96.40% |
These slots from developers like Push Gaming and Relax Gaming are setting new standards for payout rates. Even at minimum bets, the RTP is remarkably high.
Player-Friendly Future of Slots
The advent of Cluster Pays is part of a larger industry shift toward more player-friendly slots. Manufacturers recognize that increasing payout percentages and win frequencies leads to more time on the device for players.
Other innovations that are changing the slot landscape include:
- Megaways – Games with hundreds or thousands of winning combinations on every spin
- Cascading Wins – Symbols explode to make way for cascade after cascade
- Multi-Stage Bonuses – Elaborate bonus features with multiple levels
These new slot variations combine higher payouts with much more volatile, exciting gameplay. The end result is a more entertaining, rewarding experience for slot fans.
Conclusion
Cluster Pays, and related slot innovations mark the dawning of a new era in slot machine technology – one focused primarily on benefiting the player. As manufacturers roll out slots with payout rates of 96-98% or beyond, playing slots becomes a markedly better value.
While the house will always have an edge in the casino world, Cluster Pays and other new slot formats significantly raise the bar. Players stand to win more often, trigger bigger payouts, and gain more entertainment value from each spin. For slot enthusiasts, that sounds like a jackpot!