Digging for Diamonds the Big Bonanza

Diggin' for Diamonds – The Big Bonanza is a high-volatility mining pokie developed by Jelly and published through Yggdrasil. Released on 23 November 2023, it uses a 6×5 grid, Scatter Pays, tumbling symbols and additive Diamond multipliers worth up to 100x each.

This is not a conventional line-based game. Wins are formed by landing at least eight matching symbols anywhere on the 30-position grid. Winning symbols disappear, new ones tumble into their positions, and the process continues for as long as another qualifying group is created.

My assessment is that Diggin' for Diamonds works best for players who enjoy multiplier-driven pokies with a simple underlying objective. The individual rules are easy to understand, but several random systems can interact in the same round: tumbles, Diamond multipliers, the Lose to Win modifier, Free Spins, Gold Bet and two Bonus Buy options.

Operators may offer different mathematical configurations, stake limits or optional features. Check the information screen in the loaded game for the exact settings.

Mining theme and presentation

The action takes place at the entrance to a dusty diamond mine. Wooden beams frame the grid, mine carts sit beside the reels, and a heavily bearded prospector represents the Scatter. The regular symbols include coloured gemstones, a drill, lantern, mine cart and a helmeted canary.

It is a familiar Bonanza setting, and Jelly makes no attempt to disguise the influence of other tumble-based mining and multiplier pokies. The presentation is nevertheless clean, colourful and easy to follow. Diamond multipliers remain visually separate from the paying symbols, while each tumble is shown clearly enough that the player can see which positions are being replaced.

The soundtrack uses lively frontier-style music and mining sound effects. I would not call the theme original, but it suits the mechanics and avoids unnecessary visual clutter. Players interested primarily in gemstone collection rather than multipliers can also read the Gems Bonanza review.

How Scatter Pays works

Diggin' for Diamonds does not have paylines or conventional ways to win. A payout is created when eight or more copies of the same regular symbol appear anywhere on the grid. They do not need to touch, form a cluster or begin on the leftmost reel.

The paytable has three award levels for each symbol:

More than one symbol type may pay in the same round. The values of all qualifying groups are added before any active Diamond multiplier is applied.

There is no Wild symbol. Wins depend entirely on the number of identical regular symbols landing anywhere in view. This makes the game easy to read but leaves fewer ways to rescue a near miss than a pokie with Wild substitutions.

Tumble feature

Every qualifying win activates a tumble. The paying symbols are removed, remaining symbols drop down, and new ones enter from above. If the updated grid produces another group of eight or more, that group is paid and another tumble follows.

All tumbles belong to the original paid spin. A sequence can therefore produce several separate payouts without deducting another stake. It ends as soon as the new grid contains no qualifying group.

Unlike Extra Chilli, the tumble sequence does not build a standard win multiplier simply because another cascade occurs. Multiplication depends on separate Diamond symbols landing in view.

Diamond multipliers

Diamond multiplier symbols may appear during the base game and Free Spins. Each carries a randomly selected value between 2x and 100x. The Diamond is not a paying symbol and does not need to form part of the winning group.

When one or more Diamonds accompany a winning sequence, their values are added together. The combined multiplier is applied to the total payout from that sequence after all tumbles have finished.

The multipliers are additive rather than multiplicative. Two 10x Diamonds produce 20x, not 100x. The entire round remains subject to the overall 5,000x maximum-win limit.

In my view, this system creates the game's best moments but also explains much of its volatility. A large Diamond is valuable only when there is a qualifying win to multiply. It is possible to see an impressive multiplier without receiving a meaningful payout alongside it.

Lose to Win modifier

A losing base-game result may randomly activate the Lose to Win modifier. The feature can convert the result into a paying spin or award entry to Free Spins.

This is an automatic random modifier. Players cannot trigger it by changing stakes, stopping the reels or recording a certain number of consecutive losses. It should be viewed as an occasional second chance, not as protection against losing spins.

Jelly does not publish a predictable schedule for the feature. A run without Lose to Win does not make the modifier more likely to appear next.

Free Spins feature

The prospector is the Bonus Scatter. Four, five or six Scatters landing anywhere on the grid trigger the feature:

The main improvement is a persistent multiplier meter. Every Diamond that lands during the feature adds its value to the meter, and the accumulated total is then applied to eligible wins on subsequent spins. The multiplier does not reset between Free Spins.

This is more powerful than the base-game treatment. During ordinary play, Diamond values apply only to the current spin and its tumbles. In the bonus, every collected Diamond can influence the remaining feature.

Three or more Scatters during Free Spins award four additional spins under the current published rules. The original launch announcement referred to five extra spins, so players should confirm the retrigger value shown in their specific game build.

The persistent multiplier makes early Diamonds especially useful. A high value collected near the beginning has more remaining spins on which it may be applied. However, neither a strong multiplier nor a long retrigger guarantees that enough paying groups will form.

Gold Bet

Gold Bet increases the cost of each base-game spin by 25% and raises the mathematical chance of triggering Free Spins. It does not change the regular symbol paytable.

For example, selecting a nominal stake of 1.00 results in a total Gold Bet cost of 1.25. The higher price must be considered when comparing any return with the selected base stake.

I regard Gold Bet as a different wagering configuration rather than a strategy. It exchanges a higher cost per spin for increased bonus frequency, but it cannot ensure that a feature will trigger within a chosen budget or that the bonus will return more than its cost.

Bonus Buy options

Where the feature is permitted, two direct bonus purchases are available:

The 250x purchase costs two and a half times as much as the standard option, while the number of initial spins rises by only three or six. Its price also reflects the different starting conditions and underlying feature distribution, not just the raw spin count.

Both purchases create substantial exposure in a single transaction. A bought bonus can return less than its price, and the 5,000x cap does not imply that any particular purchase has a realistic short-term path to the maximum. I would never use either option to chase losses.

RTP, volatility and betting range

The official standard RTP is 95.1%, which is lower than the 96% level available in many modern online pokies. The published volatility is high, with results concentrated unevenly across tumbles, random modifiers and multiplier-heavy Free Spins.

The standard stake range is listed as 0.20–20 per spin in supported currencies. Enabling Gold Bet increases the actual amount charged by 25%. Operator-specific limits or lower-RTP configurations may differ, making the in-game information panel the final reference.

RTP is a theoretical average calculated across a very large number of rounds. It does not predict a session, compensate an individual player after a losing run or indicate when a bonus is due.

Mobile experience

Diggin' for Diamonds is built for HTML5 browsers and supports desktop, mobile and tablet play. The 6×5 grid contains 30 symbols, so it appears busier on a small phone than a conventional 5×3 pokie. The paying groups and multipliers remain distinguishable, although the full paytable is easier to inspect on a larger display.

Quick spin, sound controls and other interface options depend on the operator and local rules. Stopping an animation early only shortens the presentation; it does not alter the randomly generated result.

Strengths and weaknesses

What I like:

• Scatter Pays makes combinations easy to recognise.
• Every win can produce several additional tumbles.
• Diamond values reach 100x and combine additively.
• The Free Spins multiplier remains persistent.
• Lose to Win can improve an otherwise losing result.
• Gold Bet and two bonus purchases provide different feature-access options.

What could be better:

• The 95.1% RTP is below my preferred range.
• The mining theme and mechanic combination feel familiar.
• There is no Wild symbol.
• A large Diamond may land without a useful win to multiply.
• The high volatility can produce considerable balance swings.
• The 250x bonus purchase is an especially expensive single wager.

My verdict

Diggin' for Diamonds – The Big Bonanza is a competent multiplier pokie whose strongest feature is the persistent Free Spins meter. Adding every Diamond to one running multiplier creates clear bonus progression, while Scatter Pays and tumbles keep the basic rules accessible.

I would recommend the demo to players who enjoy high-volatility grid games and understand that multiplier symbols need suitable wins around them. Players seeking a similarly feature-driven Yggdrasil release with a different theme can inspect Orca's Wild Bonanza. More titles from the publisher are available on the Yggdrasil page and in the complete Bonanza pokies catalogue.

The score of 4.0 out of 5 reflects solid execution, useful bonus progression and a confirmed 5,000x ceiling. The relatively low RTP and familiar design stop it from standing among the strongest tumble-and-multiplier games.

Australian availability and responsible play

This review and demo are provided for informational purposes. Under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, operators must not offer online casino games, including real-money online pokies, to people physically present in Australia. Access to an offshore website does not establish that its service is legal or covered by Australian consumer protection.

Pokies are random entertainment carrying a financial risk, not a reliable way to earn money. Players must be at least 18, set firm time and spending limits, and never borrow money or chase losses. For free and confidential help in Australia, contact Gambling Help Online or call the National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858, available 24/7.

Diggin' for Diamonds FAQ

Who developed the game?

Jelly developed Diggin' for Diamonds – The Big Bonanza, while Yggdrasil published and distributed it through its partner network.

Does it have paylines?

No. Eight or more matching symbols pay anywhere on the 6×5 grid. The symbols do not need to touch one another.

What is the RTP?

The standard published RTP is 95.1%. The exact figure should be verified in the information screen because operator configurations may vary.

What is the maximum win?

The maximum win is 5,000 times the total stake. Reaching the cap ends the current feature or tumble sequence.

How large can a Diamond multiplier be?

An individual Diamond can carry a value from 2x to 100x. Multiple Diamond values are added rather than multiplied together.

How are Free Spins triggered?

Four, five or six Scatters award 12, 15 or 18 Free Spins respectively. Three or more Scatters during the bonus add four spins under the current published rules.

Can the bonus be purchased?

Where permitted, the regular purchase costs 100x the stake and the enhanced purchase costs 250x. Feature purchases may be unavailable in some jurisdictions.

Can Australians play it online for real money?

Operators are prohibited from offering real-money online pokies to people physically present in Australia. The demo should be used only to inspect the game without wagering.

Digging for Diamonds the Big Bonanza In Comparison Table