Slot games have come a long way from the one-armed bandits that were common in land-based casinos. Now, there are online versions that you can play from the comfort of your own home. Providers have made these games more exciting by implementing multiple features, including Cluster Pay. This guide covers slots with cluster payouts and other details to note about the feature. 

What is a Cluster Payout?

Most slots you’ll find at a sweeps casino have paylines. You have a winning combination when you land three or more of the same symbols on these paylines. Cluster pays introduces a new twist to slots. With this mechanic, you don’t need to line up icons on specific paylines. Instead, you win when a group (or cluster) of matching symbols appear adjacent to each other, either horizontally or vertically.

Usually, a cluster requires a minimum of 5 matching symbols touching each other or you to get a payout. The larger the cluster, the bigger the reward. Your payout also depends on the value of the symbols in a cluster, as higher-valued icons provide better rewards than low-value ones. 

Who Invented the Cluster Payout?

Now that you understand how the feature works, you might wonder how it originated. Netent pioneered the cluster payouts when they launched “Aloha! Cluster Pays” in 2016. The success of this game led other developers to adopt the mechanism. Today, you’ll find various releases with the feature. 

What are the Most Popular Slots That Offer Cluster Payouts?

As mentioned, various slots that pay clusters exist, but a few stand out from the competition. Here are our top picks: 

  • Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play): Featuring a 6×5 grid filled with candy symbols, Sweet Bonanza offers a delightful experience. The game has a tumble feature that removes winning symbols and replaces them with new ones, potentially creating multiple wins from a single spin. It includes free spins with multiplier bombs, making the game even more entertaining. 
  • Moon Princess (Play’n GO): Based on the popular anime genre, Moon Princess features a 5×5 grid with cascading wins and character-specific features. The game’s Girl Power feature and Princess Trinity Free Spins round provide ample opportunities for big wins. 
  • Jammin’ Jars (Push Gaming): Set in a colorful fruit-themed disco, Jammin’ Jars features an 8×8 grid and cascading reels. The game’s highlight is the Jam Jar wild symbol, which moves to a new position after each win and increases its multiplier. 

Sweepstake Casinos with Cluster Slot Payouts

The best sweepstakes casinos have a decent collection of cluster-pay slots for gaming enthusiasts. One of them is Zula Casino, a platform with an intuitive layout and a massive welcome bonus. There is also Fortune Coins, a sweepstakes casino known for its diverse game selection that you can enjoy for free. 

Conclusion

Cluster Pays is an innovative mechanism that provides an experience different from what you enjoy in regular slots. We’ve mentioned the best of these titles and the top sweepstakes casinos offering them. All you have to do to access these games is register and verify your identity. You will then get free gold and sweeps coins as a bonus.