Black Diamond Deluxe slot review
Black Diamond Deluxe is Everi’s sequel to the Black Diamond slot. It brings the same retro vibes to the online casino world but with an improved RTP of 96.08%, low to medium volatility, and a maximum combined multiplier of 75x.
It also has bigger progressive jackpots, Wilds, and the new Double Nudge feature. Is this sequel slot worth the hype? My Black Diamond Deluxe slot review has all the details.
Highlights
Expert verdict
Black Diamond Deluxe doesn’t really live up to its name.
The payouts are lower when compared to the original Black Diamond slot. They’re decent, but it’s still disappointing that the payouts are reduced, especially as Black Diamond has good payout potential.
The highest-paying symbol still awards a flat payout of 4,000 credits, though the likelihood of landing three of the Black Diamond symbol on payline 9 to get that payout is unlikely.
Black Diamond Deluxe has only nine paylines which can be adjusted according to the bet you’d like to place. Just nine paylines affects the slot’s hit rate. The good news is the RTP is above average, at 96.08% and the volatility is low to medium.
Although the bonus features are the same as in the original slot, Black Diamond Deluxe has introduced Everi’s Double Nudge feature. This new and innovative feature makes the slot more interesting while maximizing your potential wins. The remaining features are Wilds, multipliers, and the progressive jackpots, which are all welcome though a bit lackluster.
The jackpots can only be triggered when playing on max bet, and even then, triggering a progressive jackpot doesn’t come with likely odds, especially in a game with a tricky hit rate.
- New Double Nudge feature
- 75x max multiplier
- 96.08% RTP
- Jackpots only active on max bet
- Average payouts are lower
- Limited bonus features
Where to play Black Diamond Deluxe
If you’re thinking about trying your hand at Everi’s Black Diamond Deluxe, there are many casinos where you can find it. Below are my recommendations, including Borgata, one of our best-rated casinos offering loyalty rewards and bonuses.
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89/100 Expert rating by Paul P. 81% Playscore based on |
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Black Diamond Deluxe slot RTP and volatility
Everi’s Black Diamond Deluxe slot RTP is 96.06% with low to medium volatility. There are nine adjustable paylines and a max win of 4,000x.
The symbols are the single bars, double bars, red sevens, yellow double sevens, blue triple sevens, and the Black Diamond logo.
The nine paylines can be adjusted when playing for real money. When playing in demo mode, the paylines cannot be adjusted, so demo mode is played with all nine paylines active.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.08% |
| Maximum win | 300x |
| Highest-paying symbol | Black Diamond logo |
| Volatility | Low-medium |
Landing a combination of any three bars when the bet is set to $2.25 awards a payout of two credits, and landing three single bars awards a payout of five credits.On the higher end of the scale, landing three triple blue sevens pays out 100 credits on a bet of $2.25, while three double yellow sevens pays out at 30 credits.
The Black Diamond logo is the highest-paying symbol. It pays out a flat rate of 4,000 credits when landing on payline 9 and 300 credits on paylines 1–8. This only occurs when the bet isn’t set to the maximum. When the bet is set to maximum, it’s the trigger for the Tier 1 and Tier 2 jackpots.
Black Diamonds Deluxe has a stepped grid, so the grid never holds nine symbols at once, even with three rows and three reels.
Payouts rating
- 96.08% RTP
- Improved hit rate
- Average payouts are lower
- 9 paylines
As this slot is named Black Diamond Deluxe, I’ll be honest and say I was expecting the average payouts to be on par or better than the original slot. It was disappointing to find the overall payouts are lower.
At the same bet of $2.25, landing any three bars on Black Diamond awards three credits but Black Diamond Deluxe only awards two. When the bet is already high at $2.25, a payout of $0.50 down from $0.75, is not worth it.
On Everi’s site, these slots have the same volatility rating of “2”, close to medium volatility. While playing Black Diamond Deluxe, I felt the volatility was a little lower and had been balanced out by the more forgiving RTP of 96.08%. I did land a few more frequent wins, which the Double Nudge helped along.
That being said, the paylines are identical to the original slot, which doesn’t help the hit rate, and as the slot is stepped it’s still quite hard to land a win across those paylines.
It’s a bit of a mixed bag because the lower volatility and higher RTP are working to increase the hit rate, but the limited paylines and stepped slot layout are working against it.
Habanero’s Laughing Buddha has 28 paylines and despite its high volatility, I found I landed wins much more frequently and often across more than one payline. The slot also has a potential max win of 56,043x, compared to Black Diamond Deluxe’s 4,000x.
Black Diamond Deluxe slot stakes
Black Diamond Deluxe has a bet range of $2.25–$6.75. The bet is adjusted by increasing the multiplier from 1–3, and that value is multiplied by the number of paylines. There are nine active paylines on Black Diamond Deluxe.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum bet | $2.25 |
| Maximum bet | $6.75 |
| Adjustable paylines | Yes |
| Bet per line | N/A |
| Buy feature | N/A |
The multipliers of 1, 2, and 3 allow for three betting options: $2.25, $4.50, and $6.75.
Everi states that the slot has the following denoms available: $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, $1.00, and $5.00. However, it’s unclear if these can be adjusted. I worked with the demo version on Everi’s site and this had limited betting options.
Stake limits rating
- Max bet is more accessible
- Bet multiplied by nine paylines
- Bet range of $2.25–$6.75
Black Diamond Deluxe’s bet range is limited. It’s quite different from Black Diamond’s original max bet of $135. While that was a high bet required to trigger the jackpots, $6.75 is a very low max bet. That’s accessible as a max bet to low-risk players, but there’s not much room for growth in this slot.
As the betting system works on three multipliers, there are only three bets: $2.25, $4.50, and $6.75. This leaves no room for controlling your bet, and $2.25 is a very high entry bet.
The issue is that the bet denom is multiplied by the number of paylines, which takes a minimum bet denom of $0.25 up to $2.25 real quick. To compare, Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania has 15 paylines and a starting bet of $0.15, which isn’t affected by the number of paylines.
The multiplication of paylines means on just five spins, on which you can win nothing, you’ll spend $11.25. Five spins on Lucky Larry costs less than a dollar.
Bonus features on Black Diamond Deluxe
For bonus features, Black Diamond Deluxe has Wilds, progressive jackpots, multipliers, and Everi’s Double Nudge feature.
Everi’s Double Nudge feature appears when one or more Black Diamond symbols appear on the reels, once the initial wins are paid out, then each Black Diamond symbol is nudged up or down one to two positions, depending on its initial location. When the symbols move they create opportunities for new wins.
This doesn’t apply to all Black Diamond symbols. Only those with double arrows pointing up or down can use the Double Nudge feature. The arrows’ direction indicates which way the symbols will move.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Wilds | Yes |
| Scatters | N/A |
| Other special symbols | N/A |
| Gamble feature | N/A |
| Reel features | N/A |
| Free spins | N/A |
| Respins | N/A |
| Multipliers | Yes |
| Other bonus features | Progressive jackpots, Double Nudge |
The remaining bonus features are the same. The Black Diamond symbol functions as the Wild and substitutes for all paying symbols except multipliers. It also triggers the Tier 1 or Tier 2 bonus jackpots.
The jackpots are triggered when three of the Black Diamond symbol land on a payline at max bet. If it’s paylines 1–8, the Tier 2 jackpot is awarded, whereas payline 9 triggers the Tier 1 jackpot. The jackpots grow throughout the game, funded by a percentage of all wagers. The game doesn’t define the exact percentage taken from wagers for the jackpots.
The jackpot values have been increased from the original Black Diamond slot. Tier 1 has a maximum value of $99,999.99 and Tier 2 has a maximum value of $3,500.
The final bonus feature in Black Diamond Deluxe is the multipliers. While the multiplier values have remained the same, the symbols they land on have been altered slightly.
The 2x multiplier will land on the triple blue sevens, the red seven, and the double bar symbols. The 3x multiplier will land on the double yellow sevens, the red seven, and the single bar symbols. Finally, the 5x multiplier will land on the triple blue sevens, the double bar, and the single bar symbols.
Two or more multipliers on the same payline will multiply together and then multiply the winning combination. The maximum combined multiplier is 75x.
Bonus features rating
- New Double Nudge feature
- 75x max multiplier
- No free spins or bonus rounds
- Jackpots on max bet only
Black Diamond Deluxe’s Double Nudge feature is pretty cool and it’s arguably the best thing about this game. Black Diamond Wilds moving up and down to create new winning combinations where possible is a welcome addition, especially in a slot where the bonus features are limited. I like the way the nudge features moves the symbols, the sound it makes, and the way it maximizes wins – it’s all good.
The rest of the bonus features are ok, although the changes made to the multipliers from the previous slot have made a difference in their win potential.
The 2x, 3x, and 5x multipliers are split much more evenly across the symbols, meaning while there are fewer symbols that can have a x2 multiplier, there’s a higher chance of getting the x3 multiplier. The max multiplier has also been increased from 30x to 75x, which is a great increase. I also felt the multipliers landed more frequently on the reels.
The jackpots are a nice feature to have, and their max values have been increased. The Tier 1 jackpot, which has replaced the Major jackpot, has a maximum value of $99,999.99. In Black Diamonds the max value was $49,999.99.
Sadly, the same issue with the jackpots remains. They can only be triggered when playing on max bet. There’s a small chance of landing three Black Diamonds, meaning the chances of hitting the progressive jackpots is low. The exact percentage taken from your wagers for the jackpots should also be included in the payable, it feels misleading without it.
Overall, there’s room for more interesting bonus features. Specifically, there’s a lack of Black Diamond Deluxe slot free spins.
Mammoth Peak Hold and Win, for example, has a couple of innovative bonus features. Apart from its dynamic free spins rounds, it also has the Hold and Win bonus game which is engaging and maximizes your win potential.
Black Diamond Deluxe audiovisuals
Black Diamond Deluxe’s border resembles a physical slot machine, with a blue and black color scheme behind the machine. The background stays simple to make the symbols the main focus of the slot.
The slot doesn’t have any background music. It has game sounds at the end of each spin, with a winning jingle that has an upbeat and developed tune.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Classic casino |
| Graphics | Retro with a limited color scheme |
| Animations | Basic |
| Sound quality | Good |
| Mobile compatibility | Excellent |
The animations are very limited, although an animation has been included for the Double Nudge feature. This involves the reels cranking up or down when the feature is triggered.
Other animations include the pulsing multipliers and the shimmering Black Diamond symbols.
Audiovisuals rating
- Retro slot design
- New winning jingle
- Lacks fine details
- Basic animations
Black Diamond Deluxe’s visuals were a bit of a disappointment for me. Since five years passed from the first slot to the sequel, I was expecting to see higher-quality visuals and a more developed design. Black Diamond Deluxe has almost identical visuals to the original slot and has retained the same level of quality.
For those players that liked the original slot and enjoy a more stripped-back slot design, this will work fine. I however prefer a slot that’s more engaging. Even the black and blue monotone color palette is the same, which is one area that could have been changed to make this slot stand apart.
The animations run smoothly but are basic and haven’t been modernized or changed from the original slot either.
I think there’s a lot that can be done with retro slots to make them immersive and create that feeling of being at a brick-and-mortar casino, and Black Diamond Deluxe doesn’t capture that feeling for me.
Red Tiger’s 777 Super Strike is a good example of a slot that does retro right. It’s got high-quality visuals and is engaging because it captures that feeling of being at a table in a casino through its stunning audiovisuals.
The grid’s border looks like a slot machine, but the colors don’t engage me and there’s no background music to create an atmosphere. I appreciated the subtle adjusting of the screen edge to match the Black Diamond Deluxe branding, but it’s so subtle you almost miss it.
I enjoyed the new winning jingle. It’s more peppy and fun. It would have paired well with a subtle background track, which would have boosted the slot’s immersiveness.
Black Diamond Deluxe game layout
Black Diamond Deluxe has a classic 3×3 grid layout with nine adjustable paylines. Since the slot is stepped, the reels allow up to two symbols to fall on the reels at a time.
The spin button gets the reels going, with “Quick Spin” available in the settings. Autospin can be set up via the settings or the arrow on the side of the spin button. Players can have up to 100 autospins.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Reel layout | 3×3 |
| Autoplay | Yes |
| Turbo mode | Quick spin is available |
| Ease of use | Very easy |
| Game history | Yes |
Other buttons include the menu button on the bottom left. This is where you’ll find Quick Spin, autospin, the bet settings, paytable, and the recall button to view your game history. The paytable contains basic information about payouts and bonus features.
On mobile, the slot performs well in both landscape and portrait modes. The game window adapts well to small screens, with a large grid and easy-to-access buttons. The animations are smooth, and the retro design isn’t compromised.
Game layout rating
- Runs smoothly on mobile
- Autoplay and Quick Spin
- Limited instructions and details
- Limited autospins
Black Diamond Deluxe’s game layout is identical to Black Diamond’s. While this means it’s carried over the positive features, it also means it carried over those that needed work.
I’m pleased to see the game is just as responsive to smaller screens. The size of the grid and the buttons have been prioritized which makes it comfortable to play on mobile in both landscape and portrait mode.
I was disappointed to find the paytable is still limited. The instructions aren’t detailed enough and critical information is missing. Information on how the paylines work, how bets are placed, and the RTP are essential elements that players look out for when familiarizing themselves with a new game.
The autospin is also an area that could be more developed. Players can have up to 100 autospins but there aren’t any additional settings here. Loss or win limits are really important autospin settings as they help players control their spending.
100 autospins is a good number of autospins, but there are other slots that have more. The example I always give is Dead or Alive 1, which has up to 1,000 autospins.
Finally, the quick spin feature isn’t that quick, which for quite a slow-moving game, is frustrating.
