Book of Dead – Spin for Ancient Egyptian Treasures
Book of Dead slot is a hugely popular Play’n GO slot that was released on 14 January 2016. The five-reel game sees players join adventurer Rich Wilde as he searches an Egyptian tomb for ancient treasures.
It has up to 10 paylines and a Free Spins feature complete with expanding symbols. The Book of Dead game is available at numerous slot sites, and it remains a player favourite more than ten years after its release.
- 💸 RTP96.21%
- 🎰 PaylinesUp to 10
- ⚙ ProviderPlay’n GO
Book of Dead Slot Theme and Design
Book of Dead takes you into an Ancient Egyptian tomb with explorer Rich Wilde. The reels are set between large decorative columns covered in hieroglyphics, while gold, stone and deep reds are used throughout the design to create the feel of an ancient burial chamber.
The higher-paying symbols are all thematic. Rich Wilde is the most valuable, followed by a golden pharaoh statue, Anubis and a bird representing Horus. The lower-paying symbols are 10, J, Q, K and A, which have also been given an Egyptian-style design.
While the Book of the Dead game is now quite old by online slot standards, the visuals have aged quite well, which is why it is still available at many bingo sites. There are no complicated animations or huge feature screens. Instead, the focus stays firmly on the reels and the expanding-symbol bonus. This gives the slot a slightly old-school feel that will appeal to players who prefer straightforward games.
Book of Dead Slot Special Features
Book of Dead slots feature five reels, three rows and up to 10 paylines. Winning combinations are formed from left to right along an active payline across consecutive reels, starting with the leftmost reel. While you can reduce the number of active paylines, doing so also means that you have fewer chances of landing a winning combination.
The Book symbol is the most important, as it serves two purposes. It is both the Wild and Scatter. As a Wild, it substitutes for all the regular symbols to help create winning combinations. As a Scatter, three or more Books anywhere on the reels trigger the Free Spins feature.
There are no cascading reels, Megaways or complicated mechanics. The main attraction is the expanding symbol in the Free Spins, which can produce wins across several paylines at once.
How to Play Book of Dead Slot
It doesn’t take long to learn how to play, but you can always start with a Book of Dead demo. First, choose how many of the 10 paylines you want active. You can then select your coin value and the number of coins you want to bet on each active line.
In the original game, the coin values ranged from 1p up to £2, and you could bet between one and five coins per payline. This means that there was a betting range of 1p to £100 per spin. However, due to changes in UK laws, there is now a maximum bet of £5 per spin for those aged 25 or over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24. Therefore, you will have to check the betting range at the site you are playing at.
Once your bet is set, just press Spin. Line wins begin on the first reel and run from left to right. Rich Wilde is the highest-paying standard symbol, while the royals offer the smallest prizes. When choosing a Book of Dead casino, it is worth checking both the available RTP and betting range before playing, as different operators can offer different versions of the game.
Book of Dead Demo
Book of Dead Bonus Features and Free Spins
The bonus features in Book of Dead are very simple, but the expanding symbol means there is plenty of potential for big wins once the Free Spins begin:
- Book Wild – The Book substitutes for all regular paying symbols to help form line wins.
- Book Scatter – Three or more Books anywhere on the reels trigger the bonus and also award a Scatter payout.
- Free Spins – Three or more Books award 10 Free Spins.
- Special Expanding Symbol – Before the feature starts, one regular paying symbol is chosen at random. When enough of these symbols land during Free Spins, they expand to cover their entire reels. The expanding symbols do not need to appear next to each other to form a winning combination across active paylines.
- Retriggers – Three or more additional Books during the feature award another 10 Free Spins. The feature can be retriggered again.
The Book of the Dead free spins round is where most of the game’s excitement comes from. If Rich Wilde is picked as the expanding symbol, the possible payouts are huge, as he is worth 5,000 coins for five matching symbols.
- Easy-to-understand game
- Exciting free spins round
- Free spins can be retriggered
- Top payout of 5,000x
- High volatility game
- No base game features
Book of Dead RTP and Volatility
The standard Book of Dead RTP is 96.21%, which means that, theoretically, £96.21 is returned as winnings for every £100 bet over a very large number of spins. However, it does not mean that you should expect this result during an individual session.
There are also lower-RTP versions of the game around, so the Book of the Dead RTP depends on the casino you are playing at. Some versions have an RTP as low as 84.18%, so it is definitely worth checking before playing.
Book of Dead is a high-volatility slot. This means that larger payouts are possible, but wins can be infrequent, and there may be long periods without a payout. Most of the big wins will come from the free spins round, particularly when a high-value symbol is selected to expand.
| Slot Symbols | 5 Symbols | 4 Symbols | 3 Symbols | 2 Symbols |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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£50 – £50,000 | £10 – £10,000 | £1 – £1,000 | £0.10 – £100 |
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£20 – £20,000 | £4 – £4,000 | £0.40 – £400 | £0.05 – £50 |
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£7.50 – £7,500 | £1 – £1,000 | £0.30 – £300 | £0.05 – £50 |
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£7.50 – £7,500 | £1 – £1,000 | £0.30 – £300 | £0.05 – £50 |
|
£1.50 – £1,500 | £0.40 – £400 | £0.05 – £50 | – |
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£1.50 – £1,500 | £0.40 – £400 | £0.05 – £50 | – |
|
£1 – £1,000 | £0.25 – £250 | £0.05 – £50 | – |
|
£1 – £1,000 | £0.25 – £250 | £0.05 – £50 | – |
|
£1 – £1,000 | £0.25 – £250 | £0.05 – £50 | – |
|
£2 – £20,000 | £0.20 – £2,000 | £0.02 – £200 | – |
Book of the Dead Slot Playing Tips
Every result in Book of Dead play is random, so there is no way to predict when free spins will trigger or which expanding symbol will be selected. However, you can still manage your play sensibly:
- Set a budget before you start and do not chase losses.
- Check the RTP in the specific version you are playing.
- Use a small bet if you want your budget to last longer.
- Keep all 10 paylines active if possible by reducing your bet per line.
- Try the Book of Dead demo first if you are unfamiliar with adjustable paylines.
- Remember that a long wait for free spins does not mean they are due.
As the game is high volatility, it means that bankroll management is particularly important if you play Book of Dead slot for longer sessions. Furthermore, when choosing a Book of Dead online casino or any casino with Book of Dead, check that you are opening the original Play’n GO version. The Book of Dead casino slot has inspired numerous similar games, so it is easy to confuse it with another title.
Anyone across the UK who is concerned about their gambling can also access confidential, free-of-charge assistance through GamCare.
Book of Dead Mobile Compatibility
You can play Book of Dead online on smartphones, tablets and desktop computers. Play’n GO designed the game for both mobile and desktop devices, and the simple 5×3 grid fits comfortably on smaller screens. The Book of Dead online experience is the same whether on Android or iOS, with the paylines, free spins and expanding symbols all working well on smaller screens.
Importantly, you do not normally need to install special software when playing at Book of Dead slot sites; the game will load straight in your browser.
Expert’s Verdict
Having read this Book of Dead slot review, it should be clear that the game’s main appeal is its simplicity. The base game is extremely straightforward, but the expanding symbols give the free spins round genuine excitement, and it is hugely satisfying to see multiple reels filled with the same high-paying symbol.
However, Book of Dead slot will not suit everyone. Its high volatility means there can be lengthy quiet periods, and those who are looking for lots of modern bonus mechanics will likely want to look elsewhere. Nonetheless, it is an excellent choice if you enjoy traditional paylines, Egyptian themes and bonuses that can produce large payouts without becoming difficult to understand, so why not try the Book of the Dead demo?
FAQs
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Can I Play Book of Dead Online for Free?
Yes. There is a Book of Dead free play version right here. It allows you to explore the reels, adjustable paylines and the expanding-symbol feature without risking your money. If you want to play Book of Dead online for money afterwards, we suggest you do so at one of our recommended sites and check the RTP first.
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Can I Play Book of Dead Online for Free?
The standard Book of Dead game has an RTP of 96.21%, although lower versions do exist. Therefore, always check the information screen at your chosen casino before playing. Also, remember, RTP is a long-term theoretical figure and does not predict what you will win in one session.
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How Do Free Spins Work in Book of Dead Slots UK?
Land three or more Book symbols to receive 10 Free Spins. One normal symbol is then selected to become the Special Expanding Symbol for the feature. It can expand across entire reels when this creates additional payouts, and another three or more Books retrigger 10 more spins. This expanding-symbol mechanic is the main attraction of the Book of Dead casino slot.
