When Sugar Rush was first released by Pragmatic Play in 2022, it became an instant smash-hit. The ultra-bright colours, popping candy symbols, and plenty of bonuses made it a must-play slot. Simply put, players were hooked. 

This inevitably led to Sugar Rush winning ‘Game of the Year’ (EGR Operator Awards) and ‘Online Slot of the Year’ (Global Gaming Awards) in the same year. Not to mention, 5-star reviews from players were flying through the door and even the big-name streamers on Kick and Twitch were making sure to play the game. It was Sugar Rush mania. 

However, things have changed in the years since then. Even though Sugar Rush is still an insanely popular slot — sitting close to the top of Stake’s most-played games chart — players have noticed that it isn’t quite as good as it used to be. In fact, it’s gotten worse. 

What Happened to Sugar Rush Slot? 

If you played Sugar Rush back when it first came out, you’ll no doubt remember that the game was stacked. 

You could play it for hours on end without getting bored, free spins were easy to get, and extra-sweet wins were a genuine possibility. On social media and YouTube, players were showcasing some of these huge wins, with a handful of them going as high as 5000x their original bet. It wasn’t just the gameplay that was good: Sugar Rush was the place to be if you were looking for big jackpots. 

Throughout 2023 and 2024, though, players started noticing some changes they didn’t like. These changes have ultimately led to lots of players ditching Sugar Rush and claiming that the game has been “nerfed”. In other words, they believe the win potential has been reduced. 

There’s been no official confirmation there’s by the people at Pragmatic Play on this, but it’s clear to see that Sugar Rush has changed in some ways — and we’re going to take a closer look at what’s happened. 

The Three Major Changes to Sugar Rush 

↘️ RTP Reduction 

One of the biggest complaints people have had about Sugar Rush is that its RTP has been reduced. When the game was first released, the RTP was set at 96.5% (which is pretty good for a modern-day slot). However, depending on which specific online casino you use, the RTP can now vary from 94% to 96.5%. This is because some operators have made the call to lower the game’s RTP due to how popular it is. By lowering the RTP, it allows these operators to protect themselves from larger-than-expected payouts. Sure, it’s frustrating from the player’s perspective, but this is now common practice in the casino industry. 

❌ A Lack of Wins from Free Spins 

Another frustrating point for players has been a reported lack of wins from free spins. When you play Sugar Rush, landing three or more of the scatter symbols — a Rocket Gumball Machine —  earns you some free spins. And when the game first came out, it seemed like these free spins were being given out like candy (pun intended). But since 2022, so many players have voiced their annoyance at the fact that it now seems much harder to get free spins. Then, even when you do get free spins, they often lead to nothing. 

💨 Faster Gameplay 

Some players also seem to have noticed that the Sugar Rush is significantly faster than it used to be. When you hit spin, the reels lock into place much quicker and it feels as though the game itself is being “rushed”. For some people, this isn’t a major problem, but for others it’s a potential sign that the game is trying to frustrate you into placing more bets due the spins finishing faster. Again, this is having a negative impact on the overall replayability of the slot.  

Why Has Sugar Rush Slot Changed? 

The case of Sugar Rush is an interesting one. 

It’s something that happens constantly in the online slot world: a new slot is released, huge wins are being handed out, all of the popular streamers are playing it, and then it drops off. Suddenly, wins are much harder to come by and it feels as though the game has become extremely difficult, which is exactly what’s happened with Sugar Rush. 

Even though there’s no actual confirmation that Sugar Rush has changed — aside from the RTP reduction across different casino sites — far too many players have been complaining for it to be ignored. And if you compare the 2022 version of the game to the modern-day version, it does seem as if wins are much harder to come by, whether you spin for 10 minutes or several hours. 

The reason why Sugar Rush has changed is largely down to the casino operators themselves. The lowering of the RTP (depending on which casino you use) has certainly had an impact. At the same time, more and more people have started playing the slot game, meaning wins are likely being spread out further than they were previously when the game has less players. Combine all of this together — along with the fact that it appears some type of mechanic has made it harder to get in-game free spins — and you begin to understand why Sugar Rush feels “nurfed”. 

Is Sugar Rush Still Worth Playing? 

From a pure gameplay perspective, Sugar Rush slot is absolutely still worth playing. The mix of gummy bear and lollipop symbols, epic cascading reels, and beautiful pink sky backdrop are enough to have you hooked for hours, which is why so many players keep sticking with it. 

However, the trade-off now is that (based on countless player reports) it’s much harder to get wins compared to when the game first came out. Therefore, if you’re someone who’s actively looking for big wins above everything else, you might want to check out other slots with higher RTPs so that you can save yourself from having to grind out the gameplay. 

Many of the online casinos ranked on gamblingpromocodes.com offer slots with RTPs that are 97% or higher. For example, there’s Book of 99 (99%) and Money Cart 2 (98%). But remember, even when a slot’s RTP is higher, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll win more. Instead, you’re just more likely to get a better return on the bets you place in the long run. 

What About Sugar Rush 1000? 

In response to the booming popularity of the original game, Pragmatic Play decided to release Sugar Rush 1000 at the start of 2024. 

Essentially, the gameplay is exactly the same. You still have the gummy bear symbols, tumbling reels, popping candies, and everything else. The difference this time is that the multipliers are bigger and better, going as high as 1,024x. And at the same time, the game’s RTP — 97.5% — is significantly higher than the original. 

This makes Sugar Rush 1000 ideal for the prize-focused players. In other words, those who are chasing bigger wins instead of looking to enjoy the actual gameplay. And because Sugar Rush 1000 is effectively just like the original version but more ‘pumped up’, it’s led to lots of players giving it a try. 

However, despite initially positive reviews, Sugar Rush 1000 has also started to experience some negative feedback. Once again, players across social media and forums are complaining about the lack of wins, bonuses, and everything else in between, once again sparking a discussion that Pragmatic Play’s latest release isn’t that much better than the original Sugar Rush. 

Last Thoughts

When Sugar Rush first came out back in 2022, it was a real game-changer. The gameplay was insanely fun, wins were easy to get, and everybody was playing it. But once the slot reached the top of the popularity mountain, players started to realize the game was changing, from win drop-offs to a lower RTP. This has since led to Sugar Rush earning a reputation as a “nerfed” slot game. In other words, a game that’s had its win potential reduced. And although there’s nothing to outright confirm this for certain — outside of the fact that the game’s RTP has been lowered by several online casinos — it’s fair to assume most of the player complaints are legitimate. With this in mind, there’s nothing wrong with continuing to play Sugar Rush — but it’s worth bearing in mind that you might not win as much as you did back in 2022 when the original game was released.