Book of Dead is Play’n GO’s ancient Egypt slot, released on 14 January 2016, and it is one of the most copied games in the industry. Explorer Rich Wilde searches a burial chamber on a 5 by 3 grid with 10 paylines, and nearly everything in the design points at one moment: the free spins round with a randomly chosen expanding symbol.
It is a high risk slot. Base game wins are frequent but often smaller than the stake, and the big results depend on the bonus. This review sets out the RTP versions, the volatility, the 5,000x maximum win in pounds at UK stakes, what is and is not known about hit frequency, and which source each figure comes from.
Book of Dead at a glance
| Detail | Figure |
|---|---|
| Provider | Play’n GO |
| Released | 14 January 2016 (confirmed on the Play’n GO game page) |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows, 10 paylines, wins pay left to right |
| RTP | 96.21% at the highest setting, with lower versions reported |
| Volatility | Very high (OLBG and Casinomeister both describe it as very volatile) |
| Max win | 5,000x total stake |
| Stake range | 10p to £5 in the UK (£2 maximum for ages 18 to 24) |
| Hit frequency | Not officially published |
| Main feature | 10 free spins with a random special expanding symbol |
| Retriggers | Yes, 10 more spins each time, with no stated limit |
Overview
Book of Dead took the “Book of” concept from Novomatic’s Book of Ra and made it the benchmark for online slots with an Egyptian theme. The graphics are dated now, but the structure is easy to understand: a plain base game, one bonus and one decision that matters, which is whether the random expanding symbol turns out to be a good one.
That randomness is the heart of the game. A bonus with a low royal symbol chosen can feel flat, while one with Rich Wilde chosen can reach the top prize. The result is a slot with long quiet stretches and the occasional large swing.
How to play and stakes
A win needs matching symbols on a payline, counting from the leftmost reel. Three of a kind is usually required, but the four highest paying symbols (Horus, Anubis, Osiris and Rich Wilde) pay for two of a kind. Stakes are built from a coin value and the number of coins per spin.
The minimum stake is 10p. UK Gambling Commission rules cap slot stakes at £2 a spin for players aged 18 to 24 and £5 for players aged 25 and over, so this review works from 10p, £1, £2 and £5. Outside the UK the game can be played at much higher stakes, which is why other sites quote figures up to £50 or £100 that do not apply to UK players.
RTP and the versions you may meet
The default and highest RTP is 96.21%, which both OLBG and Casinomeister report. OLBG says Play’n GO also certifies lower versions of 94.25%, 91.25%, 87.25% and 84.18%. The Play’n GO game page we read confirmed the release date and the feature rules but did not state an RTP, so the version list is a third-party report rather than something confirmed by the provider.
There is a conflict worth knowing about. The summary box on Casinomeister’s page lists 94.25%, while its own text says the default is 96.21%. We follow the text and the provider convention that the highest version is the default. UK casinos can run different RTP settings, so the figure in the game’s own help screen is the one that applies to you.
OLBG illustrates why the version matters. On a £20 balance at 10p a spin, it calculates roughly 5,251 theoretical spins at 96.21% against about 1,258 at 84.18%. Those are OLBG’s calculations rather than measured results.
Volatility
OLBG classes Book of Dead as very high volatility, and Casinomeister describes it as very volatile, noting that base game wins are common but often worth less than the stake. We have no official provider rating to compare, but the mechanics agree: most of the return is concentrated in the free spins, which arrive relatively rarely. Players with a small balance should expect long stretches without a bonus.
Max win and what it is worth in pounds
The maximum win is 5,000x the total stake. It comes from filling the screen with the expanding symbol during free spins when Rich Wilde is the chosen symbol, or from a full screen of Rich Wilde symbols. OLBG puts the probability of reaching the maximum at about 1 in 3.75 million spins, which is a third-party figure.
| Stake | Max win at 5,000x |
|---|---|
| 10p | £500 |
| £1 | £5,000 |
| £2 | £10,000 |
| £5 | £25,000 |
These are theoretical ceilings, not typical results. Casinomeister reports that players have hit the maximum, but that does not make it a likely outcome.
Free spins and the expanding symbol
Three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels trigger the feature. The Book is both the wild and the scatter, and 3, 4 or 5 of them pay 2x, 20x or 200x the total stake on top of ten free spins.
Before the spins start, one symbol is chosen at random as the special expanding symbol. During the spins, when it lands and creates a win, it expands to cover its reel and pays on all paylines wherever it appears, with no need for the symbols to touch. A low symbol needs at least three of a kind, while a high symbol needs two. Three more Books during the round award another ten spins, and Play’n GO’s page and both review sites describe no cap on retriggers.
| Expanding symbol | Reported top win per spin |
|---|---|
| 10, J or Q | 100x (OLBG) |
| K or A | 150x (Casinomeister) |
| Rich Wilde | 5,000x |
The two reviews report these figures separately, so they are not directly cross-checked against each other.
Gamble feature
OLBG and Casinomeister both describe an optional gamble after a win. Guessing the colour of a face down card doubles the prize and guessing the suit multiplies it by four, up to five times in a row and up to a limit. Whether the feature appears can depend on the casino and region, so we cannot say it is present in every UK version.
Symbols and paytable
These are OLBG’s reported payouts as multiples of the total stake, for 2, 3, 4 and 5 matching symbols where two of a kind pays.
| Symbol | 2 of a kind | 3 of a kind | 4 of a kind | 5 of a kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10, J, Q | None | 0.5x | 2.5x | 10x |
| K, A | None | 0.5x | 4x | 15x |
| Horus, Anubis | 0.5x | 3x | 10x | 75x |
| Osiris | 0.5x | 4x | 40x | 200x |
| Rich Wilde | 1x | 10x | 100x | 500x |
| Book (wild and scatter) | None | 2x | 20x | 200x |
Rich Wilde is the top symbol on the reels, and the Book substitutes for everything except itself in the base game.
Hit frequency and win rate
Play’n GO does not publish a hit frequency, and OLBG’s data for this game shows no figure either. We therefore do not give one. A community estimate that the feature triggers about once every 150 to 200 spins appears on a probability calculator site, which cites community data without a method, so treat it as unverified. SlotPal’s hit rate guide covers Big Bass and Eye of Horus only, so it provides nothing to compare.
What the sources do agree on is the shape of play: small, frequent base wins, many of them below the stake, and a bonus that arrives infrequently.
Is Book of Dead enjoyable? Our verdict
This verdict is based on mechanics, provider rules and independent data. We have not played the game for money and make no claim to have done so.
Book of Dead rewards patience and punishes impatience. Its strength is a clear, tense bonus where the chosen symbol decides the outcome. Its weakness is the stretch between bonuses, which can be long at very high volatility. It suits players who understand that most of the entertainment sits in one feature and who set a stake that can absorb a dry run. It is a poor match for anyone who wants regular feature activity. Our verdict: still a strong design, though its age shows and its variance is demanding.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, easy to follow feature
- Top win of 5,000x
- Retriggers possible with no stated limit
- Book symbol acts as both wild and scatter
- Official release details confirmed by Play’n GO
Cons
- Very high volatility with long dry spells
- Lower RTP versions exist and are used by some casinos
- Base game wins are often smaller than the stake
- Hit frequency is not published
- Dated visuals compared with newer releases
Book of Dead FAQ
What is the RTP of Book of Dead?
The highest and default version is 96.21%. OLBG reports lower versions of 94.25%, 91.25%, 87.25% and 84.18%. Check the game’s help screen at your casino.
Is Book of Dead high volatility?
Yes. OLBG and Casinomeister both describe it as very volatile, with most of the value in the free spins.
What is the maximum win on Book of Dead?
5,000x the total stake. That is £500 at 10p, £5,000 at £1, £10,000 at £2 and £25,000 at £5.
What are the UK stakes for Book of Dead?
From 10p. UK limits cap slot stakes at £2 for players aged 18 to 24 and £5 for players aged 25 and over.
How do free spins work in Book of Dead?
Three or more Book symbols award 10 free spins. A random special expanding symbol is chosen first and expands when it creates a win.
Can the free spins retrigger?
Yes. Three or more Books during the feature award 10 more spins. No cap is described by the sources we read.
What is the best expanding symbol?
Rich Wilde, because a full screen of him pays 5,000x. The royal symbols pay far less.
What does the Book symbol do?
It is both the wild and the scatter. It substitutes for other symbols and triggers free spins.
Does Book of Dead have a bonus buy?
No bonus buy is described by the sources we read.
How often does Book of Dead hit a win?
Play’n GO does not publish a hit frequency, so we do not quote one.
Why do sites disagree about Book of Dead figures?
Mostly because of RTP versions and stake limits outside the UK. We follow the provider where it states a fact and name the conflicts.
Is there a gamble feature?
Both major reviews describe one, but availability can vary by casino and region.
How we checked the figures
- Release date, free spins rules and expanding symbol mechanics: Play’n GO official game page.
- RTP versions, paytable, max win probability and the gamble feature: OLBG Book of Dead review (third party).
- Volatility, max win and the Casinomeister RTP box conflict: Casinomeister Book of Dead review (third party).
- Hit frequency: not officially published. The OLBG listing shows no figure and the community estimate is unverified.
- UK stake limits: Gambling Commission rules as set out in the brief for this site.
- The Play’n GO page did not state RTP, volatility or max win, so those figures are not confirmed by the provider.