Last updated November 2026
Book of Dead Pokie Review
Casinos and pokies scored on the same rules, with payout times in hours.
Play Book of DeadThe Book of Dead pokie is a Play'n GO game released on 14 January 2016, with a 96.21% RTP and high volatility in our records. Its listed maximum is 250,000 coins at the top bet, and the free spins round turns one random symbol into an expanding symbol.
Book of Dead set the template for a whole family of pokies: an explorer, Egyptian symbols, ten lines and a free spins round where one symbol expands to fill the reels. Released by Play'n GO in 2016, it is still a staple in Australian casino lobbies. This review uses the figures in our records and explains how the expanding symbol changes the maths of the game.
Book of Dead Game Data
Collected on 4 November 2026 from Play'n GO's game page and a named review source. RTP and max win come from the review source, as noted.
| Provider | Play'n GO |
|---|---|
| Release | 14 January 2016 (provider) |
| RTP | 96.21% (review source; lower versions exist) |
| Volatility | High |
| Layout | 5x3 reels |
| Lines | 10 paylines |
| Max win | 250,000 coins at maximum bet |
| Jackpot | No jackpot |
| Free spins | 10 from 3 scatters, with a special expanding symbol |
| Extra | Gamble feature on wins |
How the Book of Dead Pokie Works
The base game is a classic 10-line pokie. The book symbol plays two roles: it substitutes for other symbols as a wild, and three or more of them trigger the free spins round as scatters.
Free spins with an expanding symbol
Three books award 10 free spins. Before they start, one regular symbol is picked at random as the special expanding symbol. During the round, whenever that symbol lands on enough reels to form a win, it expands to cover the whole reel and pays across all lines. A high-paying symbol chosen as the expander can produce the game's largest results; a low-paying one usually returns less.
The gamble feature
After a base game win you can choose to gamble it: guess the colour of a card to double it or the suit to quadruple it, or collect. The feature is optional and does not improve the long-term return.
Why it plays as high volatility
Most of the game's value comes from the free spins round, and that round's outcome depends heavily on which symbol becomes the expander. The result is a game with long quiet stretches and occasional large wins, which is what high volatility means in practice.
Book of Dead RTP and Versions
The Book of Dead RTP in our records is 96.21%, slightly below the 96.58% of its follow-up Legacy of Dead and below most Pragmatic Play titles in our database. The source of that figure is a review site, not the provider page, and the game is known to exist in lower-return versions as well.
That makes the info screen check more important here than for most games. If the RTP shown is lower than 96.21%, the casino is running a different version. Over A$1,000 of bets, a few percentage points translate into tens of dollars of expected return, which adds up over a long wagering requirement.
Book of Dead Versus Legacy of Dead
Play'n GO returned to the same theme in January 2020 with Legacy of Dead, and the two are often listed side by side. Our records show clear differences on paper.
| Feature | Book of Dead | Legacy of Dead |
|---|---|---|
| Release | 14 January 2016 | 2 January 2020 |
| RTP in our records | 96.21% (review source) | 96.58% |
| Volatility | High | High |
| Max win in our records | 250,000 coins at max bet | 250,000 coins (provider) |
| Layout | 5x3, 10 paylines | 5x3, 10 paylines |
| Free spins | Expanding symbol | Expanding symbols |
If you like the format, the follow-up shows a higher RTP in our records with the same layout and listed maximum. The original remains the more widely available title, which is why it gets the full review here.
Who Should Play Book of Dead
- Players comfortable with high volatility and long runs without a feature.
- Fans of the book format who want the original rather than a follow-up.
- Players who can keep stakes small relative to their session budget.
For a lower-volatility alternative with fixed jackpots, see our Wolf Gold review. For a modern pay-anywhere game with multipliers, see our Starlight Princess review. All of our game write-ups are collected on the pokies reviews page.
Where to Play Book of Dead
Book of Dead needs a casino with Play'n GO in its lobby. The three below list the studio in our 4 November 2026 records. Search the lobby for the title before you deposit; a pokie review Australia players read cannot confirm every lobby.
Casinos listing Play'n GO
Kingmaker Casino
4.5/5
Up to A$5,000 + 50 chances to win A$1,000,000
instant to 5 working days; 1–3 days crypto/Visa payout
- Wagering
- 35x deposit + bonus, 10 days; max cashout 10x bonus
- Min deposit
- A$15 (A$30 for bonus); Neosurf/CashtoCode/Jeton from A$15, cards A$20
- Licence
- Anjouan, ALSI-152406028-FI2
Ricky Casino
4.5/5
Up to A$7,500 + 550 FS over 10 deposits (1st 100% up to A$500 + 100 FS; 2nd 50% up to A$500 + 50; 3rd–7th 50% up to A$1,000 + 50; 8th–10th 50% up to A$500 + 50)
e-wallets/crypto within 24 h; cards 1–5 days payout
- Wagering
- 50x bonus; 3 days
- Min deposit
- A$20 (Neosurf, Jeton, Google Pay, CashtoCode) / A$30 (cards, Skrill, Neteller)
- Licence
- Curaçao 8048/JAZ2020-13
Checked 4 Nov 2026
Mafia Casino
4.0/5
100% up to A$750 + 200 FS + 1 Bonus Crab on the first deposit
crypto under 24 h; e-wallets 1–3 business days; cards 2–5 business days payout
- Wagering
- 35x deposit + bonus; FS 40x; 10 days
- Min deposit
- A$20 (A$30 for bonus)
- Licence
- Anjouan, ALSI-152406028-FI2
Checked 4 Nov 2026
Kingmaker lists Play'n GO in a lobby of more than 11,000 games, with 35x on deposit plus bonus over 10 days and a 10x cashout cap on bonus winnings. Ricky Casino spreads its welcome over 10 deposits with 50x wagering and 3 days per bonus, a demanding target on a high-volatility game. Mafia Casino lists 100% up to A$750 plus 200 free spins at 35x on deposit plus bonus. Compare the full wagering target, not just the multiplier, before you choose.
Demo Mode
Play'n GO and most casinos offer a free demo of the Book of Dead pokie. It is the easiest way to see how rarely the free spins can arrive and how much the expanding symbol matters. Demo play uses the same rules as the real-money game, but its results do not predict a real session.
Use the demo to pick a stake, not to decide whether the game is due to pay. Every spin is independent. This pokie review Australia players can return to keeps its figures dated; if Play'n GO publishes a different RTP or max win on its own page, we will update the table and the date.
FAQ
What is the Book of Dead RTP?
Our records show 96.21%, taken from a named review source; operators can run lower RTP versions of this game. The information screen inside the game shows the figure for the version you load.
How do you trigger Book of Dead free spins?
Three or more book symbols award 10 free spins. Before the spins start, one symbol is chosen at random to act as a special expanding symbol for the whole round.
What is the maximum win on Book of Dead?
The figure in our records is 250,000 coins at the maximum bet, from a named review source. Coin values depend on your stake, so check the paytable at your bet level.
Should I use the gamble feature?
The gamble feature lets you risk a win on guessing a card colour or suit. It adds variance without improving the game's long-term return, so many players skip it, especially when clearing bonus wagering.
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