Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake moves the fisherman into an Arthurian setting with swords, castles and a lake of gold. It is a Reel Kingdom game published by Pragmatic Play and released in 2024, and it splits its bonus into two free spins modes.
The core loop will be familiar to anyone who has played the series: money fish, wild fishermen and escalating multipliers. This review uses the provider’s own page for the main facts and names the independent source behind every other figure. We have not played the game.
Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake at a glance
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Provider | Reel Kingdom, published by Pragmatic Play |
| Release | 2024 |
| Grid and lines | 5 reels, 3 rows, 10 paylines (official page and third parties) |
| RTP | 96.07% (official page); 95.07% and 94.07% reported by Bigwinboard |
| Volatility | High (most third parties; not labelled on the official page) |
| Max win | 5,000x the stake (third-party sources; not stated on the official page) |
| Free spins | Up to 20 from five scatters, plus the Golden Lake round (official page) |
| Reported hit frequency | About 1 in 7 spins (Bigwinboard), 14.28% (Aboutslots) |
| Reported free spins frequency | 1 in 113 spins (Aboutslots) |
| UK stake range | £0.10 reported minimum, £2 maximum for ages 18 to 24, £5 maximum for over 25s |
How to play and stakes
This is a 5 by 3 slot with ten fixed paylines. Three matching symbols from the left reel make a win, and the wild fisherman appears during free spins only. Most of the volatility comes from the two bonus modes and the money symbols inside them.
Third-party minimum and maximum bets vary: Bigwinboard lists 0.20 to 250, other sites list 0.10 and a top of 250 or 375 (the higher figure is likely the ante bet equivalent). In the UK, the stake limits for online slots apply instead: £2 a spin for 18 to 24 year olds and £5 for those aged 25 and over.
RTP: which figure applies
The official Pragmatic Play page gives 96.07%. Bigwinboard reports two additional settings of 95.07% and 94.07%, which are third-party reports and not on the provider page. Two sites list a different single figure: PokerNews shows 96.5% and Slot Scanner shows 94.07%. We treat the PokerNews figure as an outlier and read the Slot Scanner figure as one of the lower settings.
UK casinos can run different RTP settings, so the information panel in the game is the final word. Bigwinboard says the RTP is the same whether or not the bonus buy is used.
Volatility
The provider does not label volatility. Bigwinboard, Slot Scanner and Aboutslots call it high. PokerNews calls it medium, and SlotPal’s own hit rate guide also describes it as medium, but that guide’s figure is a modelled estimate. We follow the majority of independent sources, which say high.
Max win
The official page does not state a maximum win. Bigwinboard, Slotcatalog, Aboutslots and several others agree on 5,000x the stake, so we use it and label it third-party. Bigwinboard and Slotcatalog both put the odds of landing it at 1 in 3,378,378 spins, which is a reported figure and not an official one.
At UK stakes, 5,000x converts to the following:
| Stake | Max win at 5,000x |
|---|---|
| £0.10 (typical minimum) | £500 |
| £1 | £5,000 |
| £2 (18 to 24 limit) | £10,000 |
| £5 (over 25 limit) | £25,000 |
The £2 and £5 rows only apply to players within each age band’s limit.
Free spins and the Golden Lake round
Up to five scatters can appear in the base game, and five of them award the maximum of 20 free spins. If two scatters land, Bigwinboard says a respin or a randomly added third scatter can still bring the bonus in.
Before the standard free spins begin, you reveal one of 12 cards. According to the provider, two of the cards offer the chance to enter the Golden Lake round instead. In that mode the fisherman can hook gold diamonds to rewind the reels and collect more prizes, and the monetary rewards are larger.
In both modes, every four fishermen collected award 10 more spins and a higher multiplier. Reviewers describe the standard progression as 2x, then 3x, then 10x. Money symbols carry cash values reported from 2x up to 5,000x, though that range comes from third-party sources and not the official page. Values from multiple fishermen add to the total win in either mode.
Ante bet and bonus buy
Bigwinboard reports an ante bet that raises the stake by 50% and adds more scatters to the reels. A bonus buy is also described by several reviewers, and Bookofslots says it can give access to the Golden Lake round. We did not find a trustworthy buy price, so we do not quote one. Slot Scanner notes that the buy is not available in all regions, and availability to UK players differs by casino.
Symbols and paytable
The pay symbols run from ten to ace, then a tackle box, a dragonfly, a reel and a float. According to Bigwinboard, five matching card ranks pay 5x to 10x the stake and five of a kind of the higher symbols pays 20x to 200x.
| Symbol group | 5 of a kind (x stake) |
|---|---|
| Card ranks 10 to A | 5x to 10x |
| Tackle box, dragonfly, reel, float | 20x to 200x |
The fish also act as money symbols, carrying the cash values that wilds collect during free spins. We did not find a trustworthy line by line breakdown of the four higher symbols, so we show only the range.
Hit frequency and win rate
The provider does not publish this. Bigwinboard lists a hit frequency of 1 in 7. Aboutslots lists 14.28%, which is the same ballpark, and a free spins frequency of 1 in 113 spins. Aboutslots also reports wins of 1,000x or more arriving on average once in 62,459 spins. These are reported figures from named independent sites, not official ones.
SlotPal’s guide to hit rates in Big Bass and Eye of Horus describes this game as a clone of Big Bass Splash with a hit rate around 13 to 14%, but it labels that as a modelled estimate. We do not repeat the guide’s number as fact. The measured figures above are close to it.
How it compares with other Big Bass games
The main difference from Big Bass Splash and Keeping it Reel is the card reveal that can lead to a second bonus mode. The standard multiplier trail of 2x, 3x and 10x is shared across the series. The 5,000x cap is lower than the 10,000x of Keeping it Reel and also lower than the Hold and Spinner games.
Is it enjoyable? Our verdict
This section is based on mechanics, provider rules and independent data. We have not played the game.
The card pick gives the bonus an element of luck before it starts, and the Golden Lake round is a genuine change of pace from the standard wild collect. Reviewers who liked it point to the theme and the dual bonus, while the common criticism is the heavy reliance on bonus rounds and the sheer number of Big Bass spin-offs. Aboutslots gives it 6 out of 10.
Verdict: a decent fit for fans of the series who want something slightly different and accept high volatility. Players looking for a new core mechanic will find it familiar.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two free spins modes with a card reveal to decide which you get
- Provider-confirmed 96.07% RTP and a clear 12 card pick
- Progressive multiplier trail through retriggers
- Distinct Arthurian theme within the Big Bass series
Cons
- Max win of 5,000x is modest next to the 10,000x games in the series
- Most of the return is locked inside the bonus rounds
- Lower RTP settings of 95.07% and 94.07% are reported
- Sources disagree on volatility, bet range and the single RTP value
Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake FAQ
What is the RTP of Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake?
The official page gives 96.07%. Bigwinboard also reports 95.07% and 94.07%. UK casinos can run different RTP settings, so check the game information panel.
What is the max win?
Third-party sources give 5,000x the stake. At a £5 stake that is £25,000. The official page does not state it.
What is the Golden Lake feature?
It is a second free spins mode that the provider says is reached through a card reveal. The fisherman can hook gold diamonds to rewind the reels for bigger monetary rewards.
How does the card reveal work?
A selection of 12 cards starts the classic free spins mode. Two of the cards offer the chance to enter the Golden Lake round.
How many free spins can you get?
Up to 20 from five scatters, with 10 more for every four fishermen collected during the round.
What are the multipliers?
Reviewers describe them as 2x, 3x and 10x at successive retriggers, according to several third-party sources.
Is it high or medium volatility?
Most independent sources say high. PokerNews says medium, and SlotPal’s own earlier guide estimates medium. We follow the majority.
What are the stake limits in the UK?
£2 a spin for ages 18 to 24 and £5 for ages 25 and over. The reported minimum is 10p.
How often does it hit?
Bigwinboard lists about 1 in 7 spins and Aboutslots lists 14.28%. Free spins are reported at about 1 in 113. None of these are official.
Is there a bonus buy in the UK?
We could not confirm. Some sources say it is not available in all regions, so check your casino.
How we checked the figures
- Provider page (pragmaticplay.com, Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake): RTP of 96.07%, 5×3 layout, two free spins rounds, 12 card reveal, scatter maximum and retrigger description.
- Bigwinboard: RTP variants, ante bet, paytable ranges, hit frequency, max win and max win odds.
- Aboutslots: hit frequency, free spins frequency, wins over 1,000x and volatility.
- Slotcatalog, Slot Scanner, PokerNews and Bookofslots: max win, volatility and RTP conflicts, and bonus buy notes.
- UK stake limits: UK Gambling Commission rules for online slots.
- Max win in pounds: our own arithmetic using the 5,000x figure.
- Not verified: the bonus buy price, the money symbol ladder from an official source and the line by line paytable.
18+ only. Gambling can be harmful. Set limits before you play and visit BeGambleAware.org for free support.
