PayDirt! Slots Review - Gold Rush Pick Bonuses, Free Games & Progressive Jackpot

PayDirt! Slot - Editor’s Comment

PayDirt! is one of those RTG titles that has quietly stayed in circulation for well over a decade. It is not a modern Megaways game, and it does not pretend to be. What it offers is a straightforward gold rush theme, a clear pick-feature structure, and a progressive jackpot that can trigger on any spin. The appeal here is the bonus variety: three different pick features, each leading to a different number of free games, plus a mining pick bonus that can advance through levels.

The rules describe a 5-reel, 25-payline setup with a Gold Nugget substitute symbol and Paydirt Sign scatters that trigger the pick features. There is no verified RTP figure from the sources we can cite, so we have not published one. That is a meaningful limitation: without a confirmed return-to-player percentage, you cannot compare it numerically to other RTG games.

What We Liked

• Three distinct pick features (Gold Rush, Gold Fever and Strike it Lucky) rather than a single bonus round.
• Free games can be retriggered, adding 5, 10 or 12 games depending on the feature awarded.
• A progressive jackpot that can be won randomly at any time.
• Gold Nugget substitute symbols can appear in groups during the Gold Rush free spins feature, which can create multiple wild positions at once.
• The mining pick bonus in Strike it Lucky can advance through levels, with extra picks possible.

What is the PayDirt! Slot?

PayDirt! is a video slot developed by Real Time Gaming (RTG). The sources we can cite describe it as a 5-reel, 25-payline game with a progressive jackpot, though they give conflicting release dates. A third-party review lists a 95% RTP, but that figure is not confirmed by the game's official information page. We treat the RTP as unverified for the purposes of this review. Online Casino City's game page VegasMaster

The theme is a gold rush mining camp. Symbols include a miner, a donkey, a husky dog, mining tools, and gold nuggets. The wild symbol is a group of Gold Nuggets that substitutes for other symbols, and the scattered Paydirt! Signs trigger one of the pick features.

PayDirt! Slot Machine At A Glance

The table below summarises the core specifications that are supported by the cited sources. Where a detail is not confirmed by those sources, it is omitted rather than guessed.

The game's age means it uses a simpler presentation than most current RTG releases. The 25-payline structure is fixed. The progressive jackpot is not tied to a specific symbol combination; the source describes it as randomly awarded at any time.

PayDirt! Slot RTP, Payout and Volatility

We have not found a confirmed RTP figure for PayDirt! in the sources we can cite. VegasMaster lists 95%, but that is a third-party review and not an official RTG specification. Online Casino City's game page does not state an RTP. Because of that conflict, we do not present a single RTP number as fact. If you need a verified figure, check the game's help screen or the casino's game information page before playing.

What we can say is that RTP is a long-run theoretical average, not a prediction for any session. A game with a 95% RTP does not return 95% of your stakes in a single sitting; it describes the expected proportion returned over millions of spins. Volatility is also not stated in the sources. The presence of a progressive jackpot and a pick-feature bonus structure suggests a game that can produce long dry spells between features, but we cannot assign a formal volatility rating without a source.

The progressive jackpot is described as randomly awarded, which means it is not triggered by a specific symbol combination. That is different from many progressive slots where you need a particular set of symbols. The trade-off is that the jackpot can be won on any spin, but the odds are not published. Do not treat the progressive as a reason to increase your bet size; the source does not say that bet size affects the chance of winning it.

How to Play PayDirt!

PayDirt! uses a standard RTG interface. The steps below describe the general flow; exact button labels may vary slightly between casinos.

1. Set your bet. Choose a coin denomination and the number of coins per line. The game has 25 paylines, so your total bet is the coin value multiplied by the number of coins per line multiplied by 25. VegasMaster notes a maximum of 1 coin per line.
2. Check the paytable. The paytable shows symbol values and explains the wild and scatter. Gold Nuggets are wild on reels 2 and 4 and substitute for all symbols except the Paydirt! Signs scatter.
3. Spin the reels. Use the spin button or enable autoplay if available. The game supports autoplay according to Online Casino City's feature list.
4. Watch for scatters. Three or more scattered Paydirt! Signs trigger a pick feature. You will choose between Gold Rush, Gold Fever and Strike it Lucky.
5. Complete the pick feature. Each feature awards a different number of free games: 5, 10 or 12. If you pick Strike it Lucky, you also enter a mining bonus where you select gold mines to reveal bonus symbols.
6. Play the free games. During free games, any bonus symbol that appears is replaced with a Gold Nugget before pays are awarded. Retriggers add 5, 10 or 12 free games to the current series.

There is no skill element in the base game. The pick features involve choosing from a set of options, but the outcomes are determined by the game's random number generator. No strategy can influence which prize you receive.

PayDirt! Gameplay, Graphics & Sound

PayDirt! looks and sounds like a slot from the late 2000s. The graphics are cartoon-style, with a miner, a donkey, a husky and various mining tools on the reels. The background is a simple mine entrance. Animations are minimal by modern standards. The sound is similarly basic, with standard RTG effects for spins and wins.

The gameplay is straightforward. The base game relies on the grouped wilds on reels 2 and 4 to create wins. Because the wilds appear in groups, a single wild symbol can cover multiple positions on those reels, which can lead to multiple winning lines at once. The scatter symbol, the Paydirt! Sign, is the key to the bonus features. Three or more anywhere on the reels trigger the pick feature.

The pick features are the main event. Gold Rush, Gold Fever and Strike it Lucky each have a different structure. Strike it Lucky is the most involved: it reveals five gold mines, and you select mines to reveal bonus symbols. Additional picks may be awarded. After the pick, 10 free games are played, during which any bonus symbol appearing is replaced with a Gold Nugget before pays are awarded.

PayDirt! Slot Features

The feature set is built around the scatter-triggered pick bonuses and the progressive jackpot. There are no expanding wilds, no cascading reels, and no multiplier trail in the base game. The wild symbol is a Gold Nugget group that appears on reels 2 and 4 and substitutes for all symbols except the scatter. The scatter is the Paydirt! Sign. Three or more scatters trigger the pick feature.

The progressive jackpot is described by Online Casino City as randomly awarded at any time. It is not tied to a specific symbol combination, and the source does not state whether a maximum bet is required. Treat it as a bonus that can occur without warning, but do not choose this game solely for the jackpot without checking the current jackpot value and the casino's terms.

Autoplay is supported, according to the feature list on Online Casino City. The game is also listed as available for download and instant play, and as a mobile game. Those are delivery options rather than gameplay features, but they affect how you can access it.

Bonus Features: Wilds, Multipliers, and Free Spins

Wild Symbol

The wild is a group of Gold Nuggets. It appears on reels 2 and 4 and substitutes for all symbols except the scattered Paydirt! Signs. Because the wild appears in groups, it can cover more than one position on a reel, potentially completing multiple winning lines at once. There is no multiplier attached to the wild in the base game.

Scatter Symbol

The scatter is the Paydirt! Sign. Three or more scattered signs trigger a pick feature. The scatter does not need to appear on a payline; it pays anywhere. The source does not state whether scatter pays are awarded in addition to the pick feature.

Pick Features

When three or more scatters land, you choose between three features: Gold Rush, Gold Fever and Strike it Lucky. Each awards a different number of free games: 5, 10 or 12. The source does not specify which feature awards which number, only that the range is 5, 10 or 12 depending on the sign you picked. Strike it Lucky also includes a mining pick bonus where you select from five gold mines. Additional picks may be awarded, and each selected mine reveals an extra bonus symbol. After the pick, 10 free games are played.

Free Games

Free games are awarded by the pick feature. During free games, any bonus symbol that appears is replaced with a Gold Nugget before pays are awarded. That means a bonus symbol can become a wild, potentially improving a winning combination. Retriggers add 5, 10 or 12 free games to the current series, depending on the pick feature awarded. There is no multiplier mentioned for free games in the sources.

Progressive Jackpot

The progressive jackpot is randomly awarded at any time. It is not triggered by a specific symbol combination. The source does not state the current jackpot value, the contribution rate, or whether a maximum bet is required. Check the casino's game information for current details.

Other PayDirt! Features

Beyond the wild, scatter, pick features and progressive, PayDirt! does not have a large secondary feature set. The game supports autoplay, which allows you to set a number of spins without pressing the button each time. It is available in download and instant-play formats, and it is listed as a mobile game. Those are practical considerations rather than bonus features.

The game does not have a gamble feature, a bonus buy option, or a multiplier trail. The pick features are the main source of variety. If you prefer slots with frequent base-game features, this may feel sparse. If you prefer a clear bonus structure with a progressive chance, it fits that profile.

Where to Play PayDirt!

PayDirt! is an RTG game, so it appears at casinos that carry the RTG portfolio. Availability varies by operator and region, so check the current status and terms before depositing.

Availability for players in Ireland depends on the individual casino's licence and terms. Check the casino's licence and terms before playing, and be aware that withdrawal processing and complaint resolution may be handled outside Ireland.

For general guidance on choosing a casino, see our Irish casino reviews and our Irish gambling laws guide. Those pages explain the regulatory position and what to check. We do not provide direct sign-up links or bonus codes for RTG casinos.

Other Slot Games You Might Enjoy

If you like the gold rush theme or the RTG style, these related pages may be useful:

• More Gold Diggin Slot Review: another mining-themed RTG slot.
• RTG Slots Review; our provider guide to Real Time Gaming, including its catalogue and features.
• Jackpot Slots: Progressive Jackpots; how progressive jackpots work and what to check.