Book of Dead by Play'n GO is the definitive Egyptian-themed slot — a 96.21% RTP, very high volatility, a max win of 5,000x your stake, and a free spins feature with a randomly selected expanding symbol that defines everything about the round. If Gates of Olympus is the cluster pays king in SA casino communities, Book of Dead is the fixed-payline king. Ancient Egypt, Rich Wilde the adventurer, and the expanding symbol mechanic that has made this slot consistently one of the most-played games at SA-facing casinos for close to a decade.
How to Play Book of Dead
Book of Dead uses a 5×3 reel grid with 10 fixed paylines paying left to right. The Egyptian adventure theme features Rich Wilde (the protagonist archaeologist), pharaoh, Anubis, eye of Ra, golden scarab, and Egyptian writing — all against a tomb backdrop. It's the most iconic Egyptian slot design ever produced.
Symbols & Payouts
| Symbol | 5-of-a-Kind Payout (R10 spin) |
|---|---|
| Wild / Scatter (Book) | ~R500 |
| Rich Wilde (highest regular) | ~R5,000 |
| Pharaoh | ~R1,500 |
| Anubis | ~R1,000 |
| Eye of Ra | ~R400 |
| Golden Scarab | ~R300 |
| Ace–King (card) | ~R150–R200 |
| Queen–Jack (card) | ~R80–R100 |
Rich Wilde's 5-of-a-kind payout of ~R5,000 on a R10 spin is exceptionally high for a regular symbol — this reflects the game's concentration of value in high-value symbol combinations rather than frequent small wins.
Bet Range in Rands
Minimum bet: R0.01 per spin. Maximum bet: R1,000 per spin. The R0.01 minimum is the lowest in this entire review series.
Feature Breakdown
Book Wild/Scatter Combo
The Book of Dead symbol is both wild and scatter simultaneously. As a wild, it substitutes for all symbols. As a scatter, landing 3+ books anywhere triggers free spins. This dual function makes the book one of the most valuable single symbols in the game — a 5-book combination pays at both scatter rate and wild rate.
Free Spins with Expanding Symbol — The Definitive Mechanic
Land 3, 4, or 5 scatter books anywhere on the reels:
- 3 books: 10 free spins
- 4 books: 10 free spins (pays higher as scatter on trigger)
- 5 books: 10 free spins (pays highest as scatter)
At the start of free spins, one symbol is randomly selected from all available symbols (excluding the book itself). This is the expanding symbol for that free spins round.
During every free spin, if the chosen expanding symbol appears anywhere on a reel, it expands to fill that entire reel. Multiple reels can have the expanding symbol simultaneously, and the expansion covers every payline position on that reel. On 10 fixed paylines with an expanded symbol across multiple reels, wins can include every single payline simultaneously.
The key insight: if Rich Wilde (the top symbol) is selected as the expanding symbol, three reels covered with Rich Wilde produce wins across all 10 paylines simultaneously. At full coverage with the best symbol, this is the mechanism behind the 5,000x maximum.
If a lower-value symbol (like a card symbol) is selected as the expanding symbol, the free spins round has significantly lower win potential. The expanding symbol selection at the start of each feature is the single biggest variance factor in Book of Dead — one random choice determines the ceiling for the entire bonus round.
Free spins can be retriggered by landing 3 or more books during the bonus.
No Bonus Buy (original)
Book of Dead does not have a bonus buy feature.
RTP & Volatility
RTP: 96.21% Volatility: Very High Max Win: 5,000x stake
RTP Variant Table
| Version | RTP |
|---|---|
| Provider Default | 96.21% |
| Low RTP Variant | Some SA casinos configure lower — check game info |
Very high volatility with a unique additional layer: the expanding symbol selection introduces a within-session binary outcome. Even after triggering free spins, a card symbol selection produces a statistically much lower expected outcome than a Rich Wilde selection. This "bonus round lottery" within the already high-variance free spins trigger is what makes Book of Dead particularly swingy.
Bets & Max Win in Rands
| Setting | Amount |
|---|---|
| Minimum Bet | R0.01 per spin |
| Maximum Bet | R1,000 per spin |
| Max Win | 5,000x stake |
| Max Win at R10/spin | R50,000 |
| Max Win at R25/spin | R125,000 |
| Max Win at R50/spin | R250,000 |
The R0.01 minimum bet makes Book of Dead one of the most accessible very-high-variance slots for ultra-low bankrolls. At R0.50/spin and a R50 bankroll you have 100 spins — genuinely viable for a first experience of the game.
Myth-Busting
"The expanding symbol is rigged to always be a low-value symbol." The expanding symbol is randomly selected at the start of each free spins round by the RNG. Over thousands of feature triggers, the selection distribution is equal across all symbols. Card symbols appear as often as Rich Wilde — they're equally likely by design. Sessions that feel "always low symbol" are variance, not rigging.
"Playing Book of Dead at maximum bet improves your chances of getting Rich Wilde as the expanding symbol." Bet size has no influence on expanding symbol selection. The random symbol selection is independent of any other game parameter.
"If Rich Wilde hasn't been the expanding symbol in a long time, it's due to come up." Each free spins feature's expanding symbol is an independent RNG event. There is no "due" mechanic. A 50-feature run without Rich Wilde doesn't make the 51st more likely to select him.
"Book of Dead is an old slot that's been replaced by better Egyptian slots." The expanding symbol mechanic in Book of Dead is mechanically distinct from most of its imitators. Many "book-style" slots have copied the format — none have surpassed the original in popularity or proven longevity.
Strategy & Tips
Book of Dead's very high variance demands a clear pre-session framework.
Bankroll Sizing
| Bankroll | Recommended Bet | Expected Spins |
|---|---|---|
| R100 | R0.50–R1.00 | 100–200 spins |
| R200 | R1.00–R2.00 | 100–200 spins |
| R500 | R2.50–R5.00 | 100–200 spins |
| R1,000 | R5.00–R10.00 | 100–200 spins |
The R0.01 minimum bet genuinely allows micro-bankroll play — a R10 session at R0.10/spin gives 100 spins. For players who want to experience the game without financial pressure, this is a legitimate option.
The Expanding Symbol Reality
Accept before you start that a portion of your free spins triggers will select low-value expanding symbols. This is not the game failing — it's the mechanics working as designed. A low-symbol feature is a session variance event; the next trigger may produce Rich Wilde. Don't increase your bet after a low-symbol feature in frustration.
Stop-Loss
40% of session bankroll for very high variance.
Mobile Experience
Book of Dead is one of the best mobile slots available to SA players.
Android: Excellent. The expanding symbol fill animation — watching Rich Wilde fill an entire reel — is dramatic and satisfying even on a small screen. Loads quickly.
iOS: Clean Safari performance. One of the most-played mobile slots in the SA market.
Orientation: Landscape preferred. Portrait works but landscape showcases the full reel expansion better.
Data usage: Moderate — lighter than Pragmatic's cluster pays games.
Graphics & Sound
Book of Dead represents Play'n GO's finest hour in terms of aesthetic design for its era.
Visuals: Rich Wilde's character art is the cornerstone — the rugged archaeologist adventurer holding a glowing Book of Dead is iconic. Egyptian hieroglyphic backgrounds, warm amber lighting, and the transition into the tomb when free spins trigger create genuine atmosphere. The expanding wild/symbol fills the reel with an animation that remains satisfying after hundreds of sessions.
Sound: Orchestral adventure theme — Indiana Jones meets The Mummy. The free spins trigger announcement is cinematic. The expanding symbol reveal at the start of the bonus has a dramatic sting that makes every player lean forward. Among the best-designed audio moments in this entire review series.
Overall production quality: 9/10. A timeless design that influenced an entire generation of "book-style" slots. Still visually competitive with most modern releases.
Who Should Play / Who Should Skip
Play Book of Dead If You:
- Want the definitive expanding symbol / book-style slot experience
- Are comfortable with very high variance and the expanding symbol selection lottery
- Enjoy Egyptian adventure themes — this is the best execution of the genre
- Want very high variance on a very small minimum bet (R0.01/spin)
- Appreciate historically significant slot game design
Skip Book of Dead If You:
- Need consistent free spins outcomes (the expanding symbol selection creates highly variable feature results)
- Want Megaways, cluster pays, or Hold & Spin mechanics
- Are seeking the highest max win ceiling (5,000x is matched by GOO and surpassed by DOA2)
- Find the RNG expanding symbol selection frustrating when it consistently picks low values in your sessions
- Need a bonus buy option
FAQ
What is the RTP of Book of Dead? The default RTP is 96.21%. Some SA casinos configure lower RTP versions. Check the game info panel before playing to confirm the active version.
How does the expanding symbol work in Book of Dead free spins? At the start of free spins, one symbol is randomly chosen to be the expanding symbol. During free spins, if this symbol appears anywhere on a reel, it expands to fill the entire reel. Multiple reels with the expanded symbol pay across all active paylines simultaneously.
What is the best expanding symbol in Book of Dead? Rich Wilde is the highest-paying regular symbol — a full 3-reel coverage of Rich Wilde during free spins produces wins on all 10 paylines at the top rate. Any symbol can be selected; the selection is random and not influenced by any player action.
What is the maximum win on Book of Dead? 5,000x your stake. At R10/spin that equals R50,000. At R25/spin it's R125,000. This requires Rich Wilde (or a high-value symbol) as the expanding symbol with full reel coverage during free spins.
How do I trigger free spins in Book of Dead? Land 3 or more Book of Dead scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. The Book is also a wild symbol.
Does Book of Dead have a bonus buy? No. Free spins are triggered organically through scatter symbols.
What is the minimum bet on Book of Dead in Rands? R0.01 per spin — the lowest minimum bet in this entire review series.
How does Book of Dead compare to other Egyptian-themed slots? Book of Dead is the original and most influential. Its expanding symbol mechanic has been widely copied but the original retains popularity due to its iconic Rich Wilde character, strong production values, and the genuine unpredictability of the expanding symbol selection.
Conclusion
Book of Dead is essential. Not just for Egyptian theme enthusiasts — for any South African player who wants to understand what a truly well-designed high-variance slot looks and feels like. The expanding symbol mechanic is genuinely clever, the Rich Wilde character is iconic, and the audio-visual production is still among the best in online slots a decade after release.
Accept the variance. Accept that the expanding symbol lottery will sometimes select low-value symbols. Play it with adequate bankroll. And enjoy one of the most enduring slot experiences available at SA online casinos.
Full slot strategy and South African casino game guides at NocturneBets game guides.