Payback Percentage
The payback percentage is a mathematical expression of the player’s chances
of winning money over the long term on a specific machine. While the results for
any given gaming session can vary, all slots are programmed to provide a
specific long-term payout.
In this case, the payback percentage for the Triple Diamond slot is listed at
95.06% by IGT. This means that, over an extended period of time, a player can
expect to get back $95.06 for every $100 put into the game.
Since the average Las Vegas slot has a 95% payback, Triple Diamond provides
stay-at-home players with a slight advantage over their land-based counterparts.
When you factor in the cost of gas, lodging, and food, you can see why so many
individuals are now opting to do their gaming from the comfort of their own
domiciles.
While 95.06% indicates that the casino has a long-term advantage, keep in
mind that the short-term fluctuation works in favor of the player. If you hit
the impressive Triple Diamond jackpot after a dry spell, then all your efforts
will have still paid off (assuming you don’t immediately give the money back to
the casino).
Game Symbols and Payouts
In this section, we’ll be looking at the various game symbols included on the
Triple Diamond slot machine from IGT, as well as their corresponding payouts.
This is important information to have, as it directly impacts your chances of
walking away a winner.
- Triple Diamond Logo
This serves as the game’s wild symbol, and it
matches any other icon on the payline. A single one of these symbols triples
the value of any winning combination, while a pair multiples the win by a
factor of nine. If the player is lucky enough to get three Triple Diamond
logos on an active payline, then the winning amount is multiplied by 1,199.
Since all line wins on the game are multiplied by the line bet, the latter
would result in a maximum payout of $239,800 ($200 line bet x 1,199). If the
logo isn’t part of a winning combination, but it still appears on the reels,
then the value of the line bet is doubled for a single symbol and multiplied
by 10 for a pair of symbols.
- Seven
This classic slot machine symbol looks like a red number seven.
One or two of these on the reels doesn’t help the player, but getting three
on a payline leads to a payout of 100x the line bet.
- Triple Bar
To win with this symbol, you’ll need to get a trio across
an active payline. When this happens, the line bet is multiplied by x40.
- Double Bar
Getting three of these icons on an active payline
results in a payout of 20x the line bet.
- Single Bar
When three of these symbols appear on an active payline,
the player receives a payout that’s worth 10x the line bet.
- Any Bar
If you get a mixture of three bar symbols of any kind,
then the payout is worth 5x the line bet.
Triple Diamond Bonus Rounds
Most modern slots have one or more bonus rounds, but that isn’t the case with
the Triple Diamond game. This is mainly due to the slot’s simplistic three-reel
design, so those who crave bonus options should look elsewhere to get their fix.
On-Screen Options
When you sit down to play a virtual slot on your laptop or mobile device, it
always helps to have a clear picture of how the game functions. All those
on-screen options can often be confusing for a first-time player, which is why I
decided to create this section.
Below, you’ll find a detailed list of all the virtual buttons available on
the game screen for the Triple Diamond slot from IGT. Fortunately, this is a
basic slot in terms of design, so even a novice gambler should be able to pick
things up in a hurry.
- Pays
This button is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
When you click it, you’ll be taken to a series of screens that display
paylines, winning combinations, and payback information. For your
convenience, all this information is also included in this article.
- Lines
This option, located beneath the virtual reels, allows the
player to select the number of active paylines for an upcoming spin. One
paylines is the minimum, and nine is the maximum, or you can select any
number in between. Sometimes I enjoy cycling between the various numbers, as
the accompanying sound effect creates a strangely hypnotic sound (yes, I
have way too much free time on my hands).
- Line Bet
By moving this option up or down, the player can choose how
much money they wish to risk per payline. The lowest option is $25, which
means the minimum cost to play all nine lines would be $225. Other per-line
options include $30, $50, $100, and $200. If you’re a true high roller, you
can play nine paylines at $200 per line for a whopping per-spin cost of
$1,800. As you might have realized, the Triple Diamond slot machine isn’t
for players on a budget.
- Total Bet
Also located directly beneath the virtual reels, this field
displays the total cost of the wager for the upcoming spin.
- Spin
This circular gold button is hard to overlook. It’s situated
dead center in the middle of the display, just below the reels. Pressing it
sets the reels into motion, and each spin takes a total of four seconds to
complete.
- Win
If you’re lucky enough to win during a given spin, the total
amount of your payout is displayed in this field. When you get a sizable
payout, I suggest taking a screenshot that includes this field, just so you
can send it to your friends and rub their noses in your good fortune.
- Balance
Before you can play at an online casino, you’ll need to
create an account and deposit some money. The amount of cash in your account
is known as the “balance,” and it’s displayed in this field. When you win,
the amount of the balance increases. When you lose, the number (sadly)
decreases. If this sum ever drops to zero, then you’ll need to deposit more
money before you can continue.
- Auto Spin
Even the most dedicated gambler can sometimes tire of
pressing the spin button over and over. After all, the average session might
involve dozens or even hundreds of spins. To help with this dilemma, most
virtual slots include an auto spin option. This allows the player to cede
control to the slot while they take a break from the gaming action. The
options include 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 spins. These can be cancelled out at
any time, allowing the player to resume control of the on-screen events.
- Options
This button takes on the appearance of a wrench, and it gives
the player some additional options for customizing their gaming experience.
A small pop-up box appears and gives players choices in two different areas.
This first is “Graphics Quality,” and any one of the following can be
chosen: best, high, medium, or low. The second is labeled “Reel Spin Audio,”
and the player can choose to toggle the game’s sound off or on by clicking
the corresponding button. Once you’re ready to leave this section, just
click on the “Close” button located at the bottom of the pop-up screen.
Interesting Facts about IGT
You might be under the impression that all slot designers are basically the
same. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong in that assumption, as a handful of
companies tend to rise above their competitors in regard to overall quality and
payout potential. IGT is one such organization, and this section was created to
provide the reader with some interesting data about this online gaming giant.
- IGT was founded in 1975 by William “Si” Redd. The original name of the
business was A-1 Supply.
- Si Redd got his start in the business of electronics by investing in a
pinball machine in a Mississippi cafe, and he was working as a distributor
for Bally by the late 1960s. In addition to holding the rights to video
poker, Redd also designed a gaming boat known as Pride of Mississippi, owned
the Oasis hotel and casino from 1976 to 2001, and lived until the ripe old
age of 91.
- In 1978, the company changed its name to Sircoma. Another name change
came in 1981, when the International Game Technology moniker was finally
settled upon.
- The same year that the IGT name was adopted, the company decided to sell
shares to the public. This proved to be a wise decision, as its popularity
was at an all-time high due to the release of several video poker games.
- 1984 saw IGT become one of the first companies to track player
tendencies. Over the years, this has evolved into the player reward cards
that are utilized by most modern land-based casinos.
- IGT is responsible for creating the Nevada Megabucks slot, which was the
first wide-area progressive machine available in Las Vegas.
- After being listed on the NASDAQ for a decade, IGT was included on the
New York Stock Exchange beginning in 1991. By 1994, it was listed as one of
their most reliable stocks.
- The Wheel of Fortune progressive slot debuted in 1996, and it remains
one of the most successful games in modern casinos.
- During the late 1990s and throughout the 2000s, IGT used its revenue to
gobble up a number of smaller gaming companies. Some of these included the
following: Sodak Gaming, Barcrest Gaming, WagerWorks, and Anchor Gaming.
- In addition to the Wheel of Fortune slot, IGT has offered a number of
other licensed slots over the years. Some of the more popular examples
include personalities such as Elvis Presley and those saucy gals from Sex
and the City, as well as slots based on Jeopardy!, Star Wars, and The Price
Is Right.
- The purchase of WagerWorks in 2005 thrust IGT into the online gaming
business, as the former had created games from notable operations such as
William Hill and Paddy Power.
- 2010 saw the two millionth slot machine roll off the assembly line for
IGT.
- By 2010, the company was taking a close look at the emerging mobile
market. To this end, a new interactive division was created and based in San
Francisco.
- In 2014, IGT was acquired by an Italian gaming equipment company known
as Gtech for $6.4 billion. Gtech abandoned their name, preferring instead to
take on the IGT label.
- In 2015, the company’s overall revenue was listed at $4.69 billion.
- After their acquisition by Gtech, IGT has their headquarters in London,
England. They also have offices in Rome, Las Vegas, and Providence, Rhode
Island.
Conclusion
If you consider yourself a high roller, then the Triple Diamond slot machines
from IGT are worth checking out. These three-reel games with nine paylines
hearken back to a time when the world of gambling was much simpler, so it’s
perfect for older players with some disposable income in their bank accounts.
The $239,800 jackpot is more than an adequate reward, and the IGT label assures
a gaming session filled with quality, simplicity, and fairness.
