Pragmatic Play took a traditional design (one that might be able to fool a person into thinking it was a classic fruit machine) and made it a lot better in terms of bonus features. Pragmatic Play uses the same small 9-position 3×3 reel area that we saw in the original Aztec Gems and 9 fixed paylines, however, many of the game’s characteristics come from Money Symbols that activate respins, a Full Grid Reward, Multipliers, and Four Jackpots.

I think that is part of what makes reviewing Aztec Gems Deluxe fun. The majority of Aztec Gems Deluxe is not about the size of your reels or whether you can collect a ton of Free Spins like other games. Most regular spins are quite straightforward. However, if four money symbols show up on the reels, everything in the game will change direction, and the gameplay will move to a Hold & Respin type of bonus. During this time, the only thing you care about is collecting money symbols to continue the round.

Because Aztec Gems Deluxe has a Return To Player (RTP) rate of 96.5%, a Medium-to-High Variance profile and a theoretical max win of 22,519x the bet, I think it is fair to say Aztec Gems Deluxe has a bit more math behind it than you would expect based upon the fact that there are only 9 positions on the reels. Therefore, my concern is whether the money symbol respin mechanisms offer enough diversity to support such a simple base game.

Aztec Gems Deluxe At-a-Glance

Aztec Gems Deluxe was developed by Pragmatic Play and represents a change of direction from the original Aztec Gems. Rather than using the fourth multiplier reel used by Aztec Gems, Aztec Gems Deluxe uses Money Respins and jackpot rewards. The key statistic here isn’t the 9 paylines or even the 22,519x theoretical maximum win. It is “four”. Four money symbols needed to start the game’s primary bonus and most of its exciting mechanics.

Simple 3 x 3 Design With Modern Bonus Features

Anybody who regularly plays current online slots will instantly see how small Aztec Gems Deluxe is. Only three reels and three rows are provided to give players nine possible areas on the screen. Additionally, there are nine fixed paylines. While playing in a smaller space may present some disadvantages; including less chance to generate wins, larger symbols, less visual clutter and easier ability to determine why a certain combination generated a win since the layout is so compact, the smaller space also offers several benefits. Players can focus more easily on what is occurring on the screen because of fewer visual distractions. Players can quickly understand what they need to do to create a win because of how compact the reel layout is.

In addition to maintaining the same theme as Aztec Gems, the design elements used in Aztec Gems Deluxe maintain similar South America inspired designs found in Aztec Gems, including colorful stones surrounded by gold, plants, and ancient-style artwork. The golden Totem remains the wild card throughout Aztec Gems Deluxe. Blue Money Symbols will serve as the focal points whenever multiple money symbols appear.

Pragmatic Play did not try to transform Aztec Gems Deluxe into a movie. In place of elaborate graphics, Pragmatic Play chose to use bright and functional graphics. Players who enjoy slots that they can quickly comprehend within minutes will find this approach satisfactory. Conversely, the limitations of this strategy are equally apparent. When there are no money symbols visible on the reels, there is very little else going on.

Screenshots

Wins Are Created Using Paylines

Wins are formed by landing three identical symbols along any one of the 9 available paylines. The five colored stone gems represent ordinary paytable entries. The Red Gem represents one end of the ordinary paytable hierarchy. As stated above, the Golden Totem Wild can substitute for any stone-type symbol to help create winning lines; however, the Golden Totem Wild cannot substitute for Money Symbols. Landing three Wilds along any one of the available paylines can award approximately 27.78 times the wagered bet.

While this represents a reasonable amount of potential payouts from a  that ordinary combinations are typicrelatively small reel configuration, it’s worth noting that ordinary combinations are typically not enough to justify playing Aztec Gems Deluxe. The Money Symbols represent significantly greater potential in regard to both excitement and potential payouts.

The Money Symbols Cause Changes in Pacing

Blue Money Symbols can display with individual prize values. If four or more Money Symbols appear simultaneously on the reels, Money Respins initiate. This creates an enjoyable shift in pace. At one moment, you’re viewing three compact reels generating typical line wins. The next moment, nearly all of the typical slot game mechanics disappear and the game transforms into a coin-gathering challenge. This transition is smooth enough that players who aren’t familiar with hold-and-respin slot games should be able to recognize what is taking place shortly after Money Respins initiate.

Money Respins Represent the Primary Game Feature

When at least four Money Symbols appear on the reels, Money Respins commence. These Money Symbols remain stationary on the reels. All other reel positions are blanked out. Three respins are awarded. During these three respins, players aim to gather additional Money Symbols.

Each subsequent Money Symbol accomplishes two actions: it secures itself onto the reels permanently and resets the number of respins back to three.

The reset mechanism is what provides this game feature with its inherent level of tension.
Assume four Money Symbols cause the round to initiate. After four Money Symbols initiate the round, you will have three respins. The first spin results in no additional Money Symbols being landed. Now you have two respins left. On your second spin, a fifth Money Symbol is landed. You now have three respins once again. Your next two spins result in no additional Money Symbols being landed. However, on your fourth spin, you land an additional Money Symbol. Just like before, your respin count goes back down to three. This process repeats until you fail to land a third consecutive Money Symbol (or you fill all nine positions).

Once the round concludes normally, the sum of all values shown on each collected Money Symbol is paid.

It is straightforward. Yet, seeing your respin count drop to one before a new Money Symbol lands unexpectedly can greatly increase your interest in this game feature compared to regular spins.

Completing all nine positions causes interesting things to happen

Collecting Money Symbols generates rewards; however, completing all nine positions with nine Money Symbols has a bigger impact.
A completed grid generates a secondary reward. Depending on your situation, you can obtain either a multiplier or access to the Wheel of Fortune.

Money Win Multiplier Awards

If you select to multiply your accumulated Money Respin winnings, you’ll have access to various multiplier options ranging from reported values as low as 2x up to as high as 10x. Since these modifiers apply after you’ve gathered all of your prizes from the collected Money Symbols, having an active multiplier with a full grid can potentially make this feature more lucrative than just initiating Money Respins. For instance, assume your accumulated Money Symbols produce $50 in winnings. An active multiplier with a value of 5x would increase your winnings to $250.

Therefore, there is a clear difference between just getting past the initial step of Money Respins and actually filling the grid. Getting four Money Symbols gets you through that first door. Filling all nine positions can change your entire outlook on this game.

Wheel of Fortune Award And Access To The Four Fixed Jackpots

Alternatively, instead of increasing your accumulated winnings via multipliers; selecting to activate Wheel of Fortune allows players access to different types of multiplier awards and entry into Aztec Gems Deluxe’ four fixed jackpots. The reported Wheel of Fortune awards can reach as high as 388x your wagered bet.

The four fixed jackpots can be explained simply:

Jackpot Value
Mini 100x
Minor 250x
Major 500x
Grand 1,000x

The Grand Jackpot (as with all of our Fixed Jackpot games) has multiple characteristics that distinguish it from Progressive Prize Pools. First, they pay out based on a multiplier of the player’s bet amount, and secondly, their values do not grow over time as a result of a pot size increasing. Therefore, in this case the Grand Jackpot will always be worth 1000 times your bet amount no matter when you play.

Also important is the difference between the Grand Jackpot and the maximum possible winnings. Although the grand jackpot maxes out at 1000 times, Aztec Gems Deluxe has a far greater top payouts limit of 22,519x due to the fact that Aztec Gems Deluxe uses a different method for calculating its maximum potential wins; one which does not include just a single jackpot.

Aztec Gems Deluxe RTP and Volatility

The RTP (return to player) for Aztec Gems Deluxe was stated to be 96.5%, with a theoretical house edge of 3.5%, based on a large number of simulated plays. RTP can vary significantly depending upon the RTP configuration. The RTP reported for Aztec Gems Deluxe is 95.5% and 94.5%, based upon the RTP configuration offered by each operator.

Choose an operator with a higher RTP configuration, for example, 96.5% compared to 94.5%, to increase the theoretical return from the slot. Although Volatility can be defined in various ways, it has been described as being medium and medium/high. In terms of actual game behavior, Aztec Gems Deluxe appears to have relatively high variability. Therefore, although the slot’s appearance may indicate that it is a simple, three reel slot, its larger payouts come from money respins and the opportunities associated with them.

Thus, players should prepare themselves for relatively frequent periods of ordinary spins with poor or weak results followed by longer periods with fewer results. This applies to the reported hit rate of approximately 1 in 8.26. Note that the term ‘hit’ refers to a paid result; it does not imply that every eighth spin will yield more than the amount placed on the spin.

Maximal payout of 22,519x
Aztec Gems Deluxe offers potentially maximal wins of up to 22,519 times the player’s total bets. As previously noted, this represents a significant maximal payout number for what appears to be a relatively simple game design. Given that the RTP for the slot reportedly is 96.5%, we should interpret this maximal payout number as the mathematical limit rather than an achievable target within a typical gaming session. Regardless, money respins represent the primary source of entertainment value regardless of whether or not a player achieves a maximal win.

No conventional bonus feature
Unlike many modern Pragmatic Play slots, Aztec Gems Deluxe does not include a traditional free spins bonus round. Money respins provide an alternative way for players to achieve significant rewards in this slot. For some players, the use of money respins in lieu of a conventional free spins bonus is an attractive feature since it makes the slot feel distinctively different from most other Pragmatic Play slots.

Original Aztec Gems vs Aztec Gems Deluxe
The addition of ‘deluxe’ to the title of this new slot implies that Pragmatic Play took the original Aztec Gems slot and added additional features to create this new deluxe version. Although the two versions share similarities, the nature of these two titles indicates that Pragmatic Play created a fundamentally different type of slot experience. Original Aztec Gems had a unique Win Multiplier reel which provided players with multiple levels of potential multipliers ranging from 2x to 15x. This feature made the fourth reel nearly always relevant to virtually every spin. Unlike the original Aztec Gems, Aztec Gems Deluxe replaces this Win Multiplier reel with Money Symbols, money respins, and a wheel of fortune-style progressive jackpot.
In conclusion, whether or not you consider Aztec Gems Deluxe to be superior to the original Aztec Gems largely depends upon what type of experience you seek. If you tend to like slots that have multipliers applied to virtually all of your spins, then you may prefer the simpler model presented in the original Aztec Gems. Conversely, if you prefer to accumulate Money Symbols and seek out a variety of bonus rounds featuring respins, then you may prefer Aztec Gems Deluxe.
As far as whether or not this version is a more desirable version due to having additional features than the original version, i believe that Aztec Gems Deluxe is essentially a different interpretation of the original concept rather than a true expansion or enhancement.

Mobile version
This game is especially well-suited for Mobile devices given that there are only nine positions in the 3 x 3 grid. Even on Mobile devices with small screens, money symbol values are easy to read and the hold-and-respin mechanism does not require an overly complex user interface. Depending on your jurisdiction and casino operator, you may see several settings that allow you to control how fast your slot plays, such as Quick Spin or turbo spin. Keep in mind that not all jurisdictions permit casinos to offer autoplay capabilities; thus these options may not be universally available.

Should you try the demo version?
Given that this slot has a minimalistic design and requires relatively short periods of time to fully comprehend, trying a demo version prior to making any deposits into an online account is highly recommended. Upon playing a few dozen spins and triggering money respins, you will clearly understand how the game is structured; i.e., symbols are held until they are replaced with another symbol and the counter resets after each replacement. Additionally, playing demo versions allows you to determine whether or not you enjoy how uncluttered and straightforward this game is. While some players will enjoy how clean and simplistic it feels, others will likely quickly recognize that they want considerably more action occurring during their regular spins.
Additionally, note that demo versions do not simulate real-money results.

What Works and Does Not Work

I believe that the best aspect of Aztec Gems Deluxe is how well-designed and intuitive the transition between its simplicity and its bonus rounds is. The process of seeing an almost empty 3 x 3 grid become progressively filled with locked Money Symbols while viewing the respin counter cycle back to three repeatedly is enjoyable. The jackpot structure is similarly uncomplicated; e.g., four jackpots (mini, Minor, major and grand) are easily understandable as are the Wheel of Fortune awards that occur when the entire grid is filled.

Conversely, during those long stretches of time when money respins rarely appear, players will notice how spare the base-game is; i.e., little occurs between respin events. No conventional free spins exist nor do any dramatic reel transitions occur. Relatively few secondary mechanics are present.

Another consideration is that while players can choose their own RTP settings for some games (e.g., big bass splash), RTP settings for Aztec Gems Deluxe cannot be adjusted; thus players should ensure that they verify which RTP setting is currently active at their chosen online casino.

Summary – Is Aztec Gems Deluxe worth playing?

Aztec Gems Deluxe serves as an excellent representation of a game that doesn’t necessarily need an enormous 20-25 reel grid or numerous feature sets to develop an exciting bonus round. By utilizing a very basic 3 x 3 nine-pay-line format and building everything around One single main theme (i.e., Money Symbols, money respins, full-grid bonuses, wheel of fortune and fixed jackpots), Pragmatic Play has developed an entertaining slot machine.

While players looking for constantly changing feature sets will likely view the regular base game as underwhelming and/or boring, players who prefer hold-and-respin mechanisms and straightforward games should find considerable entertainment value here. Likewise, the fact that Aztec Gems Deluxe has a 96.5% RTP (highest reported) along with four jackpots and a maximal win payout opportunity of 22,519 times will undoubtedly contribute to its attractiveness in terms of mathematics.

Ultimately, players desiring free spins-based experiences will likely wish to look elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aztec Gems Deluxe

What is Aztec Gems Deluxe?

Aztec Gems Deluxe is a 3-by-3 slot machine that is offered online by Pragmatic Play. It has 9 pre-set lines for wagering; money respins; a fixed jackpot; multipliers; and a wheel of fortune.

How much can I expect to get out of it?

The theoretical RTP (Return To Player) for Aztec Gems Deluxe is 96.5%. However, other versions of this game like 95.5% and 94.5% might exist based upon the terms of service of the casino where you will be playing.

Is Aztec Gems Deluxe considered a high-risk game?

It is generally classified as a medium to high-risk game. Although some big wins occur during the money-respin, they mostly happen during the full- grid winning event.

Can I win the max amount possible?

You could potentially win up to 22,519 times your original bet. However, this is likely going to be very difficult to achieve.

How do I start getting the money spins?

When you receive four or more money symbol(s) on one spin, you qualify for a money-respin session.

How do money-spins operate?

Money-sessions begin at 3 respins. When you get a new money-symbol in a position, those symbols become locked into place, and your respin count is reset back to 3. This continues until you run out of money-symbols or fill all nine positions.

If I fill all 9 spots with money symbols, what happens?

When you fill the entire 3 x 3 grid with money symbols, you get paid for the combined value of all the money symbols, and you earn another reward, which is either a multiplier or you enter into the “Wheel of Fortune.”

Are there different sizes of jackpots in Aztec Gems Deluxe?

There are four levels of jackpots in Aztec Gems Deluxe. They consist of mini (100x), minor (250x), major (500x), and grand (1000x).

Does Aztec Gems Deluxe offer free spins?

No. There is no free spin round included in the Aztec Gems Deluxe. The primary method of winning is through the money-spin round.