SCARAB / DIAMOND MANIA

HOW THE ADVANTAGE WORKS: Legend of the 3X 2X Phoenix / Triple Double Diamond

• Scarab and its clone Diamond Mania operate on a ten game cycle. All locked frames accumulated during the ten game cycle will turn wild on the tenth spin.
  

WHEN TO PLAY

• Simplified version
  Lots of frames on the left, preferably connected horizontally so you can get four-of-a-kind or five-of-a-kind line hits. The further in the ten game cycle, the better.
  
• Detailed version
  
  Game 10 of 10
  Never.
  Game 9 of 10
  One frame in the first three reels.
  Game 8 of 10 / Game 7 of 10
  Two frames in the first three reels, all on the same row.
  Game 6 of 10 / Game 5 of 10
  Three frames in the first four reels, all on the same row.
  Game 4 of 10 / Game 3 of 10
  Four frames in the first three reels.
  Three frames in the first four reels, all on the same row.
  Game 2 of 10 / Game 1 of 10
  Five frames in the first three reels.
  Three frames in the first four reels, all on the same row.
  

Additional notes​

• Three-of-a-kind line hits don’t pay very well—you really are aiming for five-of-a-kind or at least four-of-a-kind.
  
• In the earlier cycles of the ten game series, you can focus more on the total number of frames in the first three reels. As it gets later in the game cycle, you need to focus more on the frames lining up horizontally to get good line hits, as you will have fewer chances to land additional frames.
  
• Finding plays that are already mid-cycle in a ten game series are often worth playing. This is why you need fewer locked frames the further along in the cycle you are. Think of it this way—the payout of the machine is based on the average payout of a ten game cycle. If you begin the cycle halfway through, you are getting the potential return of the ten game cycle for only half the cost. Also, the earlier in the cycle you begin, the more “gambling” you are doing, as the outcome is less known at that point.
  
• Finding the game abandoned on the ninth spin is almost always worth playing because additional frames can land on the tenth spin (and will instantly turn wild). This won’t always work out, but it is a low-cost +EV play.
  
• In the free games bonus, you can pick between 15 free games with 5 random wilds, 10 free games with 7 random wilds or 5 free games with 10 random wilds. All of the choices pay the same on average—they just differ in volatility. If you aren’t in a hurry, then you should choose the 15 free games option to lower your variance.
  

The game counter on the bottom right shows this game is on spin 3 of 10. Landing a scarab symbol (as seen at the top of the first reel) will create a locked gold frame. These frames accumulate up until spin ten, when they all will turn wild.

Five-of-a-kind wilds pay very well.

Always check the lower right corner to see if you are on a multi-denomination machine. You can check all denominations for plays. High denomination machines like these are more common in Las Vegas/Reno and less common at tribal casinos. This one is $75 a spin.

These types of plays are tempting, but they often don’t work out. The earlier in the cycle you begin, the more “gambling” you are doing, as the outcome is less known at that point and you have a higher cost to finish the full ten game series.

If you play Scarab and Diamond Mania enough, you will eventually stumble upon plays like this, inexplicably abandoned on the ninth spin right before a huge payout.

With enough wilds, the game can pay very well, even on the lower bet levels.