At the end of November 2024, the provider released a Christmas machine with cluster payouts and cascading reels. This is a colorful machine with festive attributes, cheerful soundtrack and interesting options. The editorial staff decided to test Santa’s Xmas Rush slot and evaluate what payouts to expect at a distance of 1000 spins. The detailed results of the test are presented on the page.
- Expert Review
- Main game
- Statistics
- Video slot features
- Editorial Opinion
Play demo version
Expert Review
Santa’s Xmas Rush clearly deserves attention among the fresh New Year releases. Detailed graphics and background music create a festive mood. A successful combination of features makes the game process dynamic and interesting.
The provider uses the mechanics of clusters and cascades. The developer also added money symbols, which are paid in combination with the collect-sign. When studying the function immediately recalled all the popular machines of the provider – andBig Bass Bonanza with fishing, andSugar Rush with progressive cell multipliers, andSweet Bonanza with bomb multipliers. The Christmas release borrowed a little bit from each slot.
The machine has high volatility with a winning potential of x10,000. Users should consider the level of risk and control changes in the bankroll. During the test, the editors did not manage to get close to the maximum payout. Especially large skids also did not happen.
Several paid freespins ended with the results of 186 and 399 “Xs”. In the basic mode regularly accrued payments of 10-20 times more than the bet.
The machine quite often collects winning combinations. The frequency of falling out on different segments was 25-27%. Intervals between payouts did not exceed 20 spins. However, freespins were launched once. This happened on the 164th spin.
Main game
The field is located on the background of a snowy forest. On the right stands Santa Claus – he is animated and gives gifts during the bonus features. The grid format is 6 x 6. Payouts are awarded for clusters of at least 6 identical symbols. Maximum coefficients are due for chains of 12 or more symbols. At the same time, the winnings do not change if the matching pictures occupy the entire field.
There are no wilds in the machine. Their absence is compensated by cascading drops. Winning symbols are removed from the reels, and in their place land the top pictures. This allows you to collect more winning combinations per spin.
The main feature of the slot is the “Christmas Rush” feature
The main feature of the slot is the “Christmas rush” feature.
The user can notice that random positions on the field are marked with snowflakes. If together with them on the reels appears a collection symbol in the form of Santa, the bonus is triggered. After the formation of winning combinations, the selected cells rotate repeatedly. In them appear images of gifts that carry denominations from x0.5 to x2500. If several pictures with Santa Claus fell out, an additional multiplier is applied to the money signs. All values are summed up, and the user receives an instant payout.
The editorial team tested the machine on the official website of the provider at a bet of 100 credits (or 1 virtual dollar). Pragmatic Play machines are presented in many Russian-language online casinos and support different currencies. The range of bets in rubles will be different.
The slot justifies the stated high volatility. The payout spread and the results of short sessions were chaotic. Losses at a distance of 100 spins amounted from 6 to 79 bets. If you deduce the arithmetic average, the depth of bankroll drawdown is equal to x39. Only one session of 10 ended successfully and brought 19 bets.
About 60% of payouts do not cover the cost of spins. This is typical for slots with cluster mechanics and similar level of volatility. The best payouts in the base game are equal to 15-30 bets.
Freespins
Free spins are activated by a set of 4-7 scatters. Special symbols appear on any reels and trigger from 10 to 22 freespins. The bonus is based on the mechanics of the base mode with small additions.
Snowflakes become sticky, and the marked cells are filled with money signs each time Santa Claus appears
The snowflakes become sticky and the marked cells are filled with money each time Santa Claus appears.
Re-spin symbols also drop out periodically. They are applied to selected cells on the field. After collecting denominations in them repeatedly fall out pictures of gifts with coefficients up to x2500.
Freespins triggered once at a distance of 1000 spins. It was a minimum series of 10 runs, which ended with a result of 52.4 bets. Unfortunately, the payout could not cover the costs of the session.
Progress of the test
To test the slot, the editorial team performed 1000 spins. After every 100 spins, the results were recorded. Such a breakdown allows you to better assess the dynamics of the game. Only one session ended with a small increase. During the rest of the time, the bankroll was constantly decreasing. The table shows the results and the largest odds on short distances.
| Section | Results in bets | Top prizes | Free spins totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-100 | -62 | x5,45×5,3×4,95 | – |
| 101-200 | -56 | x8,55×6,3×5,65 | х52,4 |
| 201-300 | +19 | x15,55×14,75×5,1 | – |
| 301-400 | -9 | x31,8×4,45×3,2 | – |
| 401-500 | -79 | x6,5×1,5×1,45 | – |
| 501-600 | -22 | x12,05×10,75×9,2 | – |
| 601-700 | -20 | x20,55×10,7×10 | – |
| 701-800 | -48 | x10,95×5,95×5 | – |
| 801-900 | -52 | x6,25×4,05×3,8 | – |
| 901-1000 | -6 | x21,65x16x6,8 | – |
Bonus purchase
The provider offers to launch freespins at an increased rate. The number of risk-free spins is determined randomly. During the activation of the purchase bonus, the RTP rises from 96.51% to 96.55%. There are no other benefits.
The value of freespins is 120 bets. The editorial staff made 5 trial runs in demo mode. The results are reflected below.
| no. of runs | Number of spins | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | х6,05 |
| 2 | х399,45 | |
| 3 | х66,25 | |
| 4 | х186,25 | |
| 5 | х1,75 |
Paid bonuses brought 659.75 “xs”. If you subtract the purchase costs of 600 bets, it remains x59.75. Payouts in freespins are extremely unstable. Three out of five activations did not recover the costs. All the time fell out 4 scatter, which triggered the minimum number of spins.
Statistics
According to the results of 1000 launches, it was possible to identify several observations. How often payments are credited, with what frequency freespins are activated and what coefficients are realistic to get in Santa’s Xmas Rush – about it briefly in the table.
| Characteristics | Details |
|---|---|
| Volatility level | High |
| Launch freespins for 1000 spins | 1 time |
| Game without bonuses | More than 980 spins |
| Frequency of combinations | Approximately 25% |
| Intervals between wins | Up to 20 spins |
| Best multipliers in base mode | x31.8×21.65×20.55 |
| Best payouts in freespins (including paid launches) | x399.45×186.8×66.25 |
Video slot features
The apparatus contains popular mechanics. Experienced players they will not be new. However, the game is perceived dynamically due to:
- Drop function-so the provider calls the mechanics of cascades.
- Cluster payouts – combinations are formed without reference to the first reel.
- Money symbols – the collection option is triggered regularly, providing the user with instant winnings.
The provider has added a few paid features. For x120 you can buy freespins. There are also 2 ante betting options available. If you increase the cost of spins by 50%, the chances of triggering the bonus increase by 3 times. If you play at a bet of x3, the probability of activating freespins increases 8-fold.
The machine also supports 3 speed modes – normal, fast and turbo. You can run an automatic game with a flexible setting of the number of spins.
Features of the machine
All the necessary information the user can learn from the help to the slot. Each machine has a Russian-language version. For the convenience of players below are collected technical specifications and a brief description of the built-in features.
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| Year of release | 2024 |
| Genre | New Year |
| RTP of the main mode | 96,51% |
| RTP of paid bonus | From 96,50% to 96,55% |
| Volatility | High |
| Field Format | 6 х 6 |
| Mechanics | Cluster payouts |
| Risk round | No |
| Respin | Yes |
| Bonus Features | Freespins with cash symbols and instant payouts |
| Buy features | х120 |
| Payouts for maximum combinations | x25x20x12.5 |
| Maximum payout | х10 000 |
| Jackpot | No |
Editorial Opinion
Santa’s Xmas Rush is more interesting than other Christmas releases of the provider. This is not a clone of an old machine likeSweet Bonanza Xmas, but an original slot with a unique set of features.
The function “Christmas Rush” is definitely worthy of attention. Thanks to her in the base mode drop out good winnings – 15-30 times the rate. During freespins, it can be activated several times per spin. Most likely, the option will appear in other slots provider.
The apparatus has a good percentage of theoretical return. However, users should take into account the high volatility – the results are difficult to predict
The machine has a good percentage of theoretical return. However, users should take into account the high volatility – the results are difficult to predict.
The slot takes away in the minus during hundreds of rotations. In some areas almost manage to win back, but you need to have an impressive bankroll to wait for a large skid.
Play demoNo need to resort to frequent runs of paid features. Despite the fact that the test results turned out to be successful, with a limited budget purchased freespins can entail even greater losses.