Barb’s Best Bets: Serengeti Diamonds Could Be The Best Virtual Safari Ever
Surely you are familiar with the saying “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” The only problem is that those that are spectacular enough to impress are priced out of many people’s reach.
If you’re an online slot player, you cannot afford to be any less choosy picking what NJ online casino games to play than a jewelry buyer is who demands the best in selecting a diamond. However, at least with Serengeti Diamonds, you don’t have to break the bank!
Because everyone knows that diamonds, much like hitting the jackpot on your favorite slot game, can be worth a fortune, it is no surprise that many slot games have the word “diamond” in their title. But instead of simply picking any of these games at random, it would help immensely to concentrate on the heavyweights — those that have been statistically shown to be the best investment of your time.
The last thing you need to waste your time on is something that is all glitter that empties your account with nothing to show for it.
One reason I singled out diamonds as the theme for this week’s Barb’s Best Bet is that diamond is the birthstone for April. But it wasn’t until I studied and played all of the diamond-themed games offered on NJ gambling websites that I found the gem I was looking for: Serengeti Diamonds.
How to play Serengeti Diamonds
An African safari is an adventure that many of us long to take but never get the opportunity. Maybe you will with your winnings playing Serengeti Diamonds. But in any case, no advance booking is necessary to take a virtual trip anytime you wish to the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro region of Kenya and Tanzania to embark on a thrilling online adventure.
With a little luck, it won’t be long before you hit pay dirt. You could walk away shining like a diamond.
Serengeti Diamonds is a video slot by NYX Gaming Group with 5 reels 3 rows, and 25 paylines.
The panoramic view of Serengeti National Park that awaits you the instant you log in to play is a treat for the senses. So how could you not want to linger around to take in the full experience? Big wins accompanied by African tribal music will entice you to stay to try to win more.
Serengeti Diamonds is available at the following NJ online casinos: Betfair, Caesars , Golden Nugget , Mohegan Sun, and Resorts. It can be played on both desktops and most mobile devices.
Serengeti Diamonds symbols
The highest paying symbol is Mount Kilimanjaro, which also serves as the game’s wild symbol. As such, it substitutes for all other symbols in the game except the scatter symbol to help form winning combinations.
The other higher paying symbols include a jug, tribal mask, grass-roofed hut, elephant, and lion. The playing cards 9 through Ace comprise the low paying symbols.
The scatter symbol is, of course, the diamond — the star of the show.
Special features
Compared to some other slots, Serengeti Diamonds doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles. It is a relatively simple game with no progressive jackpot and only one bonus round you can win.
But don’t let that deter you from playing because there are other ways to know when a slot is worth your time. The bottom line is that Serengeti Diamonds is not only fun and exciting, but one of the best paying slot games available to you.
The game’s special features include “Hold n Spin” and free spins with multipliers. If you’re lucky, they can be your key to unlocking big prizes.
Diamond Pick Bonus
As mentioned above, the diamond is this game’s scatter symbol. In most slot games, three scatter symbols anywhere on the reels are all that you need to trigger the bonus round, but in Serengeti Diamonds, five scatter symbols need to appear adjacently.
It’s not as hard as you may think, though, because anytime at least two diamonds show up on adjacent reels, starting with the reel farthest to the left, they lock into place. You are then awarded up to three additional spins to try to get all five diamonds.
Five diamonds in a row triggers the Diamond Pick Bonus game. You will be presented with a group of diamonds, from which you need to pick one. This will reveal your number of free spins — five, eight, or 10. Then you pick another diamond to determine whether your multiplier will be three, five, or eight.
If you don’t like your picks, you can swap. Then, as soon as you give your OK, your free spins with multipliers begin. And if you’re really lucky, the bonus round can be retriggered. That will happen if five diamonds land again during the free spins. The Diamond Pick Bonus round is when a player is most likely to amass big wins.
Bet size and return to player
Serengeti Diamonds is best suited for players who are comfortable with at least mid-size bets. It is not for the penny player. The minimum bet per spin is 50 cents and the maximum bet per spin is $250.
It is important to keep in mind that this game has 25 fixed paylines, and you do not have the option, as you do in some games, to lower the cost by selecting how many lines you want to have working for you. All 25 lines are automatically in play on every round.
However, you do get to choose your coin size. The minimum coin size is 2 cents, which multiplied by 25 raises the bet per spin to 50 cents. The maximum coin size is $10, which multiplied by 25 raises the bet per spin to $250.
Serengeti Diamonds is a medium volatility slot with a way above average return to player (RTP) of 97 percent. This exceptionally high payout rate places it among the very top echelon of online slot games available to NJ players.
What makes Serengeti Diamonds slot game a cut above the rest
The online slot games now being developed are so technologically advanced, from the standpoint of sheer entertainment, it’s hard to go wrong. However, for anyone who plays slots frequently, picking games with a high return percentage is essential to ensure your longevity as a player.
Only a handful of slots have an RTP of 97 percent, and Serengeti Diamonds is one of the select few in that lofty category. Keep in mind, however, that these figures pertain to the expected long-term results, not to how likely you are to fare in any given session.
During any given session, it is entirely possible that the amount you have when you finish playing, as compared to what you had when you started, will deviate markedly from 97 percent in either direction. However, the more you play, the more your results will start gravitating toward this figure.
High-roller friendly but great for mid-stakes, too
Other reviewers describe Serengeti Diamonds as a slot for high rollers. With a maximum bet per spin of $250, the game is indeed high-roller friendly. However, I think this game is also an excellent choice for mid-stakes players betting less than the maximum, but somewhat more than the minimum.
After playing the game in demo mode using several different hypothetical bet sizes, I found that betting a higher denomination produces superior results. It not only led to much bigger wins, but I triggered the bonus round a lot faster.
Practice smart money management and you should do fine
Keep in mind, though, that like any slot game, Serengeti Diamonds has its ups and downs. While you are waiting for your first big win, it is quite possible that a succession of spins with no wins or very small wins will send your bankroll on a temporary downward course. Therefore you must be properly capitalized to withstand these negative fluctuations. It is also important when you are winning not to get overly greedy.
If you can afford to bet a few dollars per spin or more, you will definitely want to play Serengeti Diamonds. Don’t know which casino to try? Check out our NJ online casino reviews and pick the one that suits you best!