Book of Dead slot review
Like me, you might be wondering if a slot as famous as Book of Dead is really worth the hype. That’s why I tested the game across multiple sessions and bets to bring you my analysis of its RTP, payouts, and Free Spins.
In this Book of Dead slot review, I’ll also walk you through the paytable, assess the high-variance slot’s ups and downs, and rate the best Ontario casinos for free and real money play.
General ratings



Expert verdict: is Book of Dead a good game?
The short answer is a resounding ‘Yes’. If you like the challenge of a high-volatility slot, Book of Dead’s potential wins are infrequent but attractive, with a 96.21% RTP and a 5,000x maximum win. I do advise you check with your casino before playing because the RTP can dip down to 84.18% with some operators.
The Free Spins bonus coupled with the expanding symbol definitely deserves a special mention due to the sizeable prizes you can potentially win. The Gamble feature also adds another dimension to the gameplay.
With 10 adjustable paylines and a minimum bet of C$0.01, I feel that the slot is well-suited for low, patient betting strategies but not ideal for high-rollers who might find the C$50 bet cap insufficient for the slot’s low hit frequency. However, I do appreciate how Play’n GO consider the user’s gambling budget in the ‘Stop autoplay’ setting.
Despite its 2016 release date, there’s nothing ‘past its prime’ about the slot, whose sleek look and feel make it a favourite with critics and players alike. On the other hand, the Book of Dead doesn’t stand out for abundant bonus features, and its gameplay isn’t particularly innovative for a crowded genre.
Perfectly optimized for mobile and built on glitchless software, I still think this simple and immersive slot will have many players coming back to catch yet another glimpse of the Book of Dead.
- C$0.01 minimum bet
- 5,000x maximum win
- Sleek, immersive gaming experience
- RTP can drop to 84.18%
- Not suited for high-rollers
- Limited features and gameplay
Casinos where you can demo and play Book of Dead
This iconic gem by Play’n GO is widely available online. Here’s a handy list of recommended casinos we have analyzed and verified for your benefit, chosen for their strong ratings across software, payments, and usability, among others.
With PlayOJO, which has top-tier loyalty rewards and no withdrawal fees, you can demo the game before you sign up. 888casino is a good choice for mobile gameplay and includes flexible payment options. Last but not least, LeoVegas casino’s clean user-friendly interface cuts out the noise and gives slots-lovers 1,501 options.
Casino logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&Cs |
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1
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94/100 Expert Rating by Jovana G. 83% Playscore based on |
Best gamified casino experience
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
8 payment methods |
|
2
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91/100 Expert Rating by Dasha G. 91% Playscore based on |
Top casino for live games
|
Play players accepted |
Good to know
7 payment methods |
|
3
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91/100 Expert Rating by Elena I. 92% Playscore based on |
Most reliable casino operator
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Play players accepted |
Good to know
6 payment methods |
19+. Terms and conditions apply. Play responsibly. Connexontario.ca |
1
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87/100 Expert Rating by Elena I. 89% Playscore based on |
5,000 WoW Coins + 1 Sweepstake Coin
|
Play players accepted |
Good to know
5 payment methods |
|
2
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87/100 Expert Rating by Elena I. 83% Playscore based on |
250 Gold Coins + 5 Sweeps Coins and 600 Diamonds
|
Play players accepted |
Good to know
4 payment methods |
|
3
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84/100 Expert Rating by Dasha G. 87% Playscore based on |
500 Free Fortune Coins
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Play players accepted |
4 payment methods |
|
4
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74/100 Expert Rating by Elena I. 84% Playscore based on |
Up to 1,000 Virtual Credits
|
Play players accepted |
Good to know
1 payment methods |
Need to see how these casinos compare? Read our in-depth guide on Canada’s online slot casinos to learn what you need to look out for when playing slots.
Book of Dead RTP, volatility, and symbols
The Book of Dead is a high-variance slot with a 96.21% RTP, which means you theoretically get an average C$96.21 payout on a C$100 bet. However, there are varying return to player rates out there, including 94.25%, 91.25%, 87.25% and 84.18%.
Three of the five standard symbols across any of the 10 left-to-right paylines will get you a 5x payout and up to 150x for a full-house show. With the exception of the Tomb Scatter, stringing two of the four higher-paying symbols on a payline is enough to score a win. Five-of-a-kind Rich Wilde symbols can get you the maximum win of 5,000x.
Payout facts
Category | Details |
---|---|
RTP | 96.21% |
Maximum win | 5,000x |
Highest-paying symbol | Rich Wilde |
Volatility | High |
Here’s a quick glance at what all winning symbols can cash in.
- Q, J, and 10 pay out 5x, 20x, 100x
- A and K pay out 5x, 40x, 150x
- Tomb Scatter pays out 2x, 20x, 200x
- Phoenix pays out 5x, 30x, 100x, 750x
- Anubis pays out 5x, 30x, 100x, 750x
- Pharaoh pays out 5x, 40x, 400x, 2,000x
- Rich Wilde pays out 10x, 100x, 1,000x, 5,000x
Payouts rating
- 96.21% RTP
- Max win of 5,000x
- Wins triggered by two symbols
- RTP as low as 84.18%
- Low-paying hits
- Rich Wilde symbol is scarce
The RTP will be a decent 96.21% in most cases but knowing there are different versions is less than ideal. As a high-variance slot, Book of Dead is enjoyable enough if you’re a patient player holding out for the bigger wins. While I prefer slots with quick-fire action, the potential rewards on this one are sizeable.
However, the risk is on the steep side too. Starting with a 20-spin max bet demo test, I won six times with a string of 25-coin wins, and even though you only need two of the higher-paying symbols to win, I still came up 650 coins short. As expected, I didn’t see much of Rich Wilde himself.
Book of Dead paytable guide: bets and paylines
As the Book of Dead paytable shows, the minimum coin value is C$0.01 and goes up to C$1, while the coin limit is five. Since the game comes with 10 adjustable paylines, you can choose to bet on a single active payline, so that’s technically a C$0.01 minimum bet.
Paylines are activated in numerical order, which means you can only choose how many live paylines you want but not which ones.
The Bet Max button on desktop allows you to stake five coins on 10 active lines, so that’s a C$50 maximum bet per spin on the highest coin denomination.
Stake facts
Category | Details |
---|---|
Minimum bet | C$0.01 |
Maximum bet | C$50 |
Adjustable paylines | Yes |
Bet per line | Yes |
Buy feature | N/A |
You can adjust the number of coins, coin value, and active paylines from the bottom of your desktop screen or through the settings menu on mobile.
There’s also the option to auto-adjust your bet which automatically lowers your stake with the start of a new spin if your balance is insufficient for your current bet level. Your bet will decrease just enough to allow you to play and it won’t automatically increase after a win that restores your balance.
Stake limits rating
- C$0.01 minimum bet
- 10 adjustable paylines
- Auto-adjustable bet option
- Little action on limited paylines
- Low C$50 max bet
- No Buy feature
Since you can stake a minimum bet of just C$0.01 on a single active payline, I appreciated the option to go for a sustained, low-bet strategy, which makes the game budget-friendly. However, the max bet is not high enough for high-rollers.
Given the low hit frequency of the game, I didn’t see that much action before I activated more paylines, so I’d say C$0.10 is the real minimum I would probably stick to. The auto-adjustable bet helps keep gameplay seamless where stakes are concerned.
Because you’re hoping for the bonus rounds to get more prizes, I would have liked to see a Buy feature, which allows you to pay for more free spins instead of waiting for the Tomb Scatter to unlock them.
Free spins and bonus features
Besides the Tomb Scatter and Wild, the Book of Dead slot’s main bonus feature is its Free Spins rounds, which also includes an Expanding symbol that can boost your winnings. You can re-stake your win with the Gamble feature.
Feature facts
Category | Details |
---|---|
Wilds | Yes |
Scatters | Yes |
Other special symbols | Expanding symbol |
Gamble feature | Yes |
Reel features | N/A |
Free spins | Yes |
Respins | No |
Multipliers | Yes |
Other bonus features | N/A |
Tomb Scatter and Wild
The Tomb Scatter pays anywhere it lands on the reels, irrespective of the left-to-right payline patterns, with prizes at 2x, 20x, and 200x. Scatter payouts come in over and above your payline wins. The Tomb symbol is also Wild, substituting any other symbol on your winning payline to secure your prize.
Free Spins
Landing three or more Tomb Scatters will reveal the Book of Dead and unlock 10 free rounds. Free spins are played on the same bet and active paylines you set in the round that triggers the feature. Every three Tomb Scatters you land will retrigger a new set of 10 spins.
Expanding symbols
During the bonus rounds, one of the standard symbols is randomly chosen as the Expanding symbol for the entire sequence. It can turn up anywhere on an active payline to award prizes in addition to your regular winning lines. The symbol pays on any winning combination from left to right and you don’t need to land adjacent matches.
Gamble feature
The Gamble feature gives you the option of staking your current win on guessing the colour or suit of a face down card. The winning probability is 50% for guessing the colour and doubles your winnings. You have 25% chance of guessing the right suit and quadrupling that round’s prize money.
You can gamble your win five times in a row and up to 2,500 coins. The feature does not impact the game’s RTP.
Bonus features rating
- Free Spins with Expanding symbol
- Scatters retrigger bonus rounds
- Gamble feature
- Limited bonus features
- No jackpots available
- Action limited to Free Spins
Book of Dead doesn’t offer much in terms of bonuses but don’t underestimate its Free Spins, which are theoretically the most lucrative opportunities in the game. In some sessions, I managed to unlock the feature in under 20 spins and scored what would be a C$1,250 win on a max bet, triggered by Expanding symbols in the fourth free spin.
As with the Free Fall in Gonzo’s Quest, the Free Spins here can be retriggered, which is a great plus. While I never managed to win through the Gamble feature, it’s a welcome addition to the gameplay too, especially when you haven’t hit the bonus rounds yet.
If you’re a high-roller chasing really big wins, the game’s Free Spins might not be enough for what you’re after and you’ll probably miss the jackpot.
Graphics, animations, and audio
The slot machine stands against a backdrop that takes you deep inside a lavish, sandstone pyramid hall flanked by hieroglyphed columns. With the symbols, it’s all about jewel tones, deep maroon backgrounds, gold edging, and elaborately designed figures from Egyptian history and myth.

The golden Tomb symbol shimmers in its red border. Animation-wise, the game runs smoothly throughout the spins and wins displaying your glowing paylines, as well as the mechanic that opens the Book of Dead to reveal the Expanding symbol.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Theme | Ancient Egypt |
Graphics | Excellent |
Animations | Yes |
Sound quality | Good |
Mobile compatibility | Good |
Aside from the moody and mysterious music, the slot machine sound effects are realistic, including the ticking clock triggered by the Gamble feature. Key moments like wins and bonus rounds come with audiovisual flourishes as the pace picks up along with the game action.
Audiovisuals rating
- Sleek, beautiful graphics
- High-quality music and effects
- Just as good on mobile
- The theme can feel overdone
- Animation no longer innovative
It’s ancient Egypt alright. If you’re looking for a game that’s all about vibe, the graphics and music here are right on theme down to the last detail and make for an immersive experience on both desktop and mobile. I’ll admit I didn’t rush to switch off the audio like I normally do. The intensification of the music around wins is not overdone either.
I find the ambient sound and visual arrangement to be much more tasteful and better quality than, say, Cleopatra. The animation is sleek and faultless, but lacks the light innovative touch of the scurrying scarabs in Valley of the Gods. If this is a theme you’re into, all in all, I think the game can hold its own in the genre.
Book of Dead game layout
The Book of Dead video slot consists of a classic 5×3 setup with spinning reels. All game controls are clearly accessible and organized in the settings tab, which also includes a left-hand mode toggle on mobile. The paytable itself doesn’t display the RTP.
Featuring customisable autoplay options ranging from 10 to 100 spins, you can set spins to stop on any wins or only if bonus rounds are won. You can also adjust the settings to automatically disable autoplay according to how much a single win exceeds, and how much your balance increases or decreases.
For turbo mode, toggle on the fast play option from the settings menu or hit the lightning icon on the bottom left if you’re on desktop. For easier desktop gameplay, you can also toggle the ‘Spacebar to spin’ option from the settings.
Category | Details |
---|---|
Reel layout | 5×3 |
Autoplay | Yes |
Turbo mode | Yes |
Ease of use | Very easy |
Game history | N/A |
The game experience is just as good for mobile players, who will find a less cluttered display, easily legible text, and settings organized on sliders and toggles.
With an unfinished game, all information and your placed bets will be saved until you decide to continue. Any bets you place that remain undecided in an unfinished game will be voided after 90 days. If the game is hit with a malfunction, no information will be stored, but the software runs very smoothly.
Game layout rating
- An intuitive classic
- Gameplay optimized for mobile
- Autoplay is budget-sensitive
- Paytable missing RTP
This is a straightforward game that’s even suitable for a newcomer to slots, but should you need it, all the information is available and clear. The only exception, disappointingly, is the missing RTP, so make sure you check with your chosen casino before you play.
I thought the left-handed play mode complements the game’s overall performance on mobile. There’s also thoughtfulness behind settings such as ‘Stop autoplay’, which I adjusted to control my remaining balance.
Because the game’s Free Spins are a fan favourite, I liked having the option to only stop autoplay if bonus rounds are awarded instead of having it stop on any win.
Would you play Book of Dead again (and again)?
While some might have observed that the Book of Dead follows closely on Book of Ra, the game does deserve its place in the video slots Hall of Fame. It’s easy to get lost in the hundreds of Egyptian-themed slots out there, but this one is a trend-setter that has stood the test of time.
Many consider Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead an original that really does the theme justice, while seasoned players still praise the game’s high-quality design and immersive atmosphere. Casinos that cater for slots-lovers tend to include this bestseller in their arsenal and often feature the game in their popular slots list. Players with a low or limited balance often think of Book of Dead as their go-to for its adjustable paylines.
It’s no surprise that Play’n GO went on to release nine more slots based on the treasure-hunting Rich Wilde or his equally adventurous family members.
Repeatability rating
- An original trend-setter
- Popular with slot players
- Part of a wider series
- Theme might feel too standard
- Low hits make gameplay tiring
- High volatility requires more caution
As simple as the game rules are, Book of Dead does what it does particularly well. Even though the Ancient Egypt theme as a whole can seem tired now, the game pulls it off to a tee, and that’s why it remains a fan favourite.
For some players, though, it can feel that there is more hype than substance to the slot, and they might prefer the quick-fire action of a slot like Starburst or the super high wins of Dead or Alive 2.
From time to time, I do find myself stepping into the sand-scape to give those gold reels a spin. Playing this slot in the context of the wider storyline adds to its charm. The challenge of triggering the Free Spins comes with its own appeal. For this reason, though, it’s always good to be mindful of your balance.