Cricket Star Slot Review

Provider	Microgaming

Cricket Star is a sports-themed video slot from Microgaming, built around one-day cricket with a 5-reel, 243-ways-to-win setup. Released in 2015 to coincide with the ICC Cricket World Cup, it follows the same blueprint as Microgaming's Football Star - same reel engine, same core mechanics, cricket theme swapped in. The RTP is 96.50%.

Wins pay left to right across any of the 243 combinations, so there are no fixed paylines to select - every spin plays all ways automatically. The coin range runs from £0.01 to £0.10 per coin, with up to ten coins per line and 50 lines factored into the stake calculation. Stakes per spin typically run from £0.50 up to £50.

Symbols and Theme

The reel set is built entirely around one-day cricket. Symbol characters include a batsman hitting through the covers, a wicket-keeper diving for a catch, fielders celebrating a wicket, a diving outfielder, an umpire with finger raised, and fans in the stands. These sit above the standard card rank symbols (ten through ace) which fill the lower end of the paytable.

The wild is the Cricket Star logo, and there are more than 40 of them distributed across the reels - a deliberately high frequency that keeps wilds landing regularly during the base game and especially during free spins. Wilds substitute for all symbols except the scatter. The scatter is a white cricket ball, which triggers the main bonus feature when three or more appear anywhere on the reels.

Rolling Reels

The Rolling Reels mechanic is active in both the base game and during free spins. When a winning combination lands, the winning symbols are removed and new ones fall down to replace them - effectively giving you a second chance at a win from the same spin, without an additional bet. Consecutive wins from a single spin keep triggering another roll until no new winning combination appears.

In the base game, Rolling Reels simply gives extra chances. In free spins, the feature gains a multiplier trail: each consecutive win in a chain raises the multiplier one step, reaching up to 10x by the fifth consecutive win. A fresh spin resets the multiplier back to 1x.

Free Spins

Three scatter cricket balls anywhere on the reels award 15 free spins. Four scatters give 20 free spins, and five scatters give 25. During the feature, the Rolling Reels multiplier trail is active: a single win pays at 1x, two in a row at 2x, three consecutive wins at 3x, four at 5x, and five or more at 10x. When wilds line up across several reels and the multiplier reaches the higher end of the trail, the free spins round can generate strong results.

The free spins feature does not retrigger - scatter symbols during the feature do not award additional spins - so the initial allocation is what you play through. The higher scatter counts are therefore worth more than they look on paper, given the longer feature run gives Rolling Reels chains more room to build.

Wild Wickets Feature

The Wild Wickets Feature triggers randomly during the base game. A wicket rises to cover the three central reels (reels 2, 3, and 4), a ball is bowled, and a stump goes flying - that reel turns entirely wild for the spin. A fully wild middle reel across 243 ways creates a large number of winning combinations, particularly when high-value symbols appear on reels 1 and 5 on either side.

The feature triggers without warning and adds a layer of variance to the base game that the standard spin cycle does not provide on its own.

Audio and Visuals

The soundtrack leans into the crowd atmosphere of a one-day international, with ambient noise and commentary snippets punctuating wins. The reels feature animated sequences when high-value symbols land - the fielding catch and the wicket celebration have short clips attached. The overall visual quality is in line with Microgaming's mid-2010s sports series output: functional and on-theme rather than cinematic.

The autoplay feature supports up to 500 spins, with the option to set stop conditions based on a win or loss limit. The View Pays button in the bottom left gives a full breakdown of the paytable and feature rules before you start.

Verdict

Cricket Star is a solid entry in Microgaming's sports slot series. If you've played Football Star, you'll recognise the structure immediately - 243 ways, Rolling Reels with a multiplier trail in free spins, and a randomly triggered wild feature on the base reels. The cricket theme is applied well without feeling forced, and the symbol set gives it a distinct look. The free spins multiplier trail is the main event: when Rolling Reels chains build during the feature, the 10x multiplier can push wins considerably higher than the base game would suggest.

A straightforward choice if you want a cricket-themed slot from a developer with a long track record, or if you enjoyed Football Star and want more of the same engine in a different sport.

Who makes Cricket Star?

Cricket Star is made by Microgaming, one of the longest-established online casino software developers.

How many ways to win does Cricket Star have?

Cricket Star uses a 243-ways-to-win system across 5 reels and 3 rows, meaning all payline combinations are active on every spin.

What is the RTP of Cricket Star?

The RTP (return to player) of Cricket Star is 96.42%, which is in line with the broader Microgaming sports slot series.

How do free spins work in Cricket Star?

Three or more cricket ball scatter symbols anywhere on the reels award free spins: 15 for three scatters, 20 for four, and 25 for five. During free spins, the Rolling Reels multiplier trail is active, reaching up to 10x on consecutive cascade wins.

What is the Wild Wickets Feature?

Wild Wickets is a randomly triggered base game feature. A wicket rises over one of the central reels, a ball is bowled, and the reel turns entirely wild for that spin, creating a large number of winning combinations.

What is the Rolling Reels mechanic in Cricket Star?

Rolling Reels removes winning symbols after each win and drops new symbols down to replace them, giving additional winning chances from the same spin. In free spins, each consecutive Rolling Reels win raises a multiplier up to a maximum of 10x.