Written by Oliver Newell
Deep Dive into Mining Rush
Grab your pickaxe and helmet, folks—Pragmatic Play has just blasted open a fresh vein of excitement with Mining Rush, a 7x7 cluster pays slot that's got all the makings of a proper underground thriller. Released late last year, this one's set deep in a gritty mine shaft, complete with a cheeky bearded miner grinning from the side, banjo twangs in the background, and symbols like pickaxes, gold carts, and shiny royals tumbling into view. It's high volatility action with a default RTP of 96.56%—solid ground for long sessions—and a max win cap of 10,000x your stake that could turn a casual €0.20 spin into a €2,400 haul for high rollers up to €240.
The core mechanic is pure cluster pays bliss: land 5+ matching symbols connected horizontally or vertically, and they explode in a satisfying tumble, making way for new ones to drop in. Payouts scale nicely—15+ miners can net 150x your bet—keeping things punchy from the off. But the real dynamite (pun intended) is the Scatter-turned-Mine feature. Hit a winning cluster with one of those dynamite scatters in the base game, and it morphs into a sticky mine that hangs around for the rest of the tumble sequence. Each win involving it racks up progressive points—one per hit—and at three points, the mine levels up, guaranteeing bigger prizes next time. It's like watching your own personal gold nugget collection grow right before your eyes, ramping tension with every cascade.
Now, free spins? That's where the rush really hits. Land 3+ scatters for up to 20 spins, and any mines from the base game carry over with their levels and points intact. Better yet, every new mine created in the bonus awards +2 extra spins, potentially stretching sessions into epic marathons of cascading chaos. We've seen demos where upgraded mines (up to level 4 with 1,000x potential) turn modest triggers into screen-soaking monsters. Hit frequency sits around 28-29%, with bonuses landing every 300 spins or so—par for high vol courses—but when they do, expect fireworks.
Tech Specs at a Glance
- Provider: Pragmatic Play
- Grid: 7x7 Cluster Pays
- RTP: 96.56% (ranges down to 94.51% at some sites)
- Volatility: High/Very High (4-5/5)
- Max Win: 10,000x stake
- Min/Max Bet: €0.20 - €240
- Features: Tumbles, Sticky Mines/Nuggets, Progressive Levels, Free Spins +2 per new mine, Bonus Buy (100x for FS)
Visually, it's no Fire in the Hole 2 showstopper—muted browns, gold accents, and a standard mine backdrop won't win art awards—but the animations pop, especially those mine explosions and level-ups. Soundtrack's folksy banjo vibe fits the theme; toggle it if it grates. Mobile? Seamless, as always with Pragmatic.
How to play Mining Rush slot
| Mechanic | Description |
|---|---|
| Grid & Cluster Pays | 7×7 grid, wins with 5+ matching symbols connected horizontally/vertically |
| Tumbling/Cascading Reels | Winning clusters disappear, new symbols fall for potential chain wins |
| Nuggets Feature | Dynamite Scatters in wins turn into upgradeable Nuggets (Bronze → Diamond) with cash prizes up to 1,000x |
| Free Spins | 3–7 Scatters trigger 8–20 spins; Nuggets persist & upgrade more easily |
| Bonus Buy | Buy feature access instantly for 100x bet |
| Max Win & Volatility | 10,000x bet maximum win, high volatility, RTP 96.56% |
Playing it feels like a Sugar Rush cousin with mining grit: fast tumbles keep you hooked, mines build suspense, and FS volatility delivers the goods. Dry spells hurt (classic high vol), but that 10k cap keeps dreams alive—1 in 4.5M chance, but who's counting? Bonus buy at 100x jumps you straight in at near-identical RTP.
Verdict: Worth the Dig?
Mining Rush isn't reinventing the wheel, but it polishes cluster pays to a high shine with smart mine progression and sticky FS action. Perfect for variance chasers who love watching multipliers brew over cascades. If you're mining for steady drips, look elsewhere; this one's for the big strikes. Fire up a demo first—plenty out there—then stake real skin at a top Pragmatic site. I've walked away with 200x+ bags more than once. Happy digging!