What makes Book of Dead different
Book of Dead is a 5-reel, 10-payline pokie from Play’n GO following Rich Wilde through ancient Egypt. It is consistently among the highest-traffic pokies for NZ players, and one of the most common free spins games offered by online casinos.
The central mechanic is the Book symbol. It acts as both wild (substituting for all other symbols) and scatter (triggering free spins). Landing three or more Books anywhere on the reels pays immediately and awards 10 free spins.
Free Spins round
At the start of the free spins, one symbol is randomly selected as the special expanding symbol. If that symbol lands during free spins, it expands to fill its entire reel before pays are calculated. Three or more Books landing during free spins re-trigger the round with another 10 spins.
The high volatility comes almost entirely from this mechanic: sessions where the expanding symbol is a high-paying card and lands repeatedly on multiple reels produce the largest wins. Sessions where it barely lands produce little.
Why NZ players keep coming back
Book of Dead’s appeal is its simplicity. One bonus type, straightforward rules, and a long track record from a reliable studio. It is not the highest RTP or the highest max win, but it is consistent and widely available — including as a free spins game in welcome bonuses at most casinos.
RTP and volatility
Play’n GO publishes 96.21% RTP. Some operators offer a lower-RTP configuration. Check the game’s information panel on the site you are using. The high volatility means results are streaky by design.
What it costs per hour
At NZ$0.50 per spin and 400 spins per hour: NZ$200 wagered × 3.79% house edge = approximately NZ$7.60 expected loss per hour.
### Q: Why is Book of Dead so popular in NZ?
A: It has been one of the most widely offered free spins games since around 2017. NZ players have more cumulative experience with it than almost any other title, and casinos continue to attach it to welcome bonuses. Familiarity and availability reinforce each other.
### Q: What is the best expanding symbol in the free spins?
A: The highest-value symbol is Rich Wilde himself (the explorer). Landing the explorer as the expanding symbol in free spins and having it expand across multiple reels produces the largest single-session wins. The expanding symbol is selected randomly at the start of each free spins round.
### Q: Can I re-trigger free spins?
A: Yes. Landing three or more Book symbols during the free spins round triggers another 10 free spins. The same special symbol continues expanding through re-triggered rounds.
### Q: Is Book of Dead a good free spins game for bonus hunting?
A: It is commonly offered but high-volatility. Bonus requirements may not clear before the bonus expires if the expanding symbol does not land well. Read the casino’s bonus T&C carefully — some restrict maximum bet sizes during bonus play.
Playing Book of Dead at NZ casinos
Book of Dead’s 96.21% RTP sits well above the 78% statutory minimum for NZ land-based pokies. The difference means that over time, online players on this title retain measurably more of their wagers than players on physical machines. At the NZ$0.01 minimum bet, the 3.79% house edge produces an expected hourly loss of approximately NZ$0.15 at 400 spins — making it one of the most accessible titles in the NZ market at minimum stake. At the NZ$100 maximum bet that expectation rises to NZ$1,516 per hour.
Book of Dead is high volatility, which in practice means the session experience is streaky. The 10-payline base game produces wins with some regularity from lower-paying symbol combinations, but the game’s character is determined almost entirely by what happens in free spins. Sessions where the expanding symbol barely appears produce little return; sessions where the high-value Rich Wilde symbol expands across three, four, or five reels simultaneously are the source of the game’s reputation. These outcomes are infrequent, and many free spins triggers deliver a modest return.
The 5,000x maximum win requires the highest-paying expanding symbol to fill multiple reels simultaneously across all 10 paylines — an event that occurs across a large volume of spins. At NZ$0.01 per spin it represents NZ$50; at NZ$100 per spin it represents NZ$500,000. Expected hourly cost at NZ$0.01 minimum bet is approximately NZ$0.15; at the more common NZ$0.50 stake approximately NZ$7.58.
Set a session budget before you start and treat it as the cost of entertainment. For NZ responsible gambling support and free advice, visit our responsible gambling page or call the Problem Gambling Foundation on 0800 664 262.
Q: What is the RTP of Book of Dead?
A: Book of Dead has an RTP of 96.21%. This means for every NZ$100 wagered over many sessions, the game returns an average of NZ$96.21 to players and keeps NZ$3.79 as the house edge. At NZ$0.01 per spin and approximately 400 spins per hour, the expected hourly loss is approximately NZ$0.15. Check the in-game information panel at your specific casino to confirm the RTP setting in use — some casinos apply lower settings.
Q: Is Book of Dead available at NZ casinos?
A: Yes. Book of Dead by Play’n GO is available at reviewed NZ casinos on this site. Check individual casino reviews for the current game library — availability can change as operators update their game catalogues.
Q: What is the maximum win on Book of Dead?
A: The stated maximum win is 5,000x your stake. At NZ$0.01 per spin this would be NZ$50.00. Maximum win figures represent the theoretical ceiling under optimal conditions — they are statistical outliers that occur rarely across millions of spins, not typical session outcomes.