Book of Dead
The Legend of the Book
Book of Dead is a 5-reel, 10-payline Egyptian-themed slot released by Play’n GO in 2016. It has since become one of the most-played online pokies in Australia and globally, thanks to a single feature that has delivered some of the biggest wins in slot history: the expanding symbol mechanic in free spins.
The game follows Rich Wilde — an adventurous archaeologist — as he explores an ancient Egyptian tomb. The “Book” acts as both the Wild and the Scatter symbol. Land 3+ books anywhere to trigger 10 free spins. Before the round begins, one symbol is randomly chosen to become the special expanding symbol.
During free spins, whenever the special symbol appears anywhere on the reels, it expands to fill the entire reel. If it lands across multiple reels, it pays as if it’s on a complete payline — even without being on consecutive positions. A full screen of the highest-paying special symbol (Rich Wilde) at maximum stake is how the 5,000x maximum win is reached.
Paytable — The Symbols of the Tomb
Payouts shown for 5 matching symbols on a payline × your bet. The Book symbol is both Wild and Scatter.
| Symbol | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind | Expanding? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🦅 Rich Wilde | 5x | 40x | 500x | YES ★ |
| 📖 Book (Wild/Scatter) | 2x | 20x | 200x | YES ★ |
| 🐦 Anubis | 2x | 20x | 200x | YES ★ |
| 💀 Pharaoh Mask | 1x | 4x | 40x | YES ★ |
| 🅰️ Ace · King | 0.5x | 1x | 5x | Can be selected |
| 🔢 Q · J · 10 | 0.3x | 0.8x | 3x | Can be selected |
★ Premium symbols can be randomly selected as the expanding symbol for free spins. Rich Wilde selected at 5x max bet = path to 5,000x max win.
The Free Spins Round — Step by Step
3 Books = 10 free spins. 4 Books = 10 spins + extra payout. 5 Books = 10 spins + big scatter win. Scatters pay regardless of payline position — anywhere on the 5 reels counts.
Before the spins begin, the game randomly selects one symbol to be the Special Expanding Symbol. It can be any symbol — from Rich Wilde (highest value) to a card rank. The higher the selected symbol’s value, the bigger the potential payout.
Whenever the special symbol appears anywhere on a reel during free spins, it immediately expands to cover all 3 positions on that reel. If it appears on multiple reels simultaneously, all of them expand — creating a wall of the same symbol.
The expanded symbols pay regardless of their row position. Three or more reels fully covered by the special symbol pay as if they’re on a winning payline — across all 10 lines simultaneously. This is how the 5,000x cap is triggered.
Land 3+ Book scatters during free spins to retrigger 10 additional free spins with the same special symbol. Players have reported triggering 50–80 free spins via consecutive retriggering.
The 5,000x max win requires Rich Wilde (500x / 5 of a kind) to expand across all 5 reels on all 10 paylines at max bet. At A$100 max bet, this equals A$500,000 — though the casino win cap at Avantgarde is subject to standard terms. Verify max payout limits in your account settings.
Book of Dead Strategy for Australian Players
High volatility means patience is rewarded. Here’s how experienced AU players approach this slot.
Pray for Rich Wilde
The special symbol selection is random — but if Rich Wilde or the Book is chosen, your free spins have 5,000x potential. Low symbols selected = modest bonus. High variance in bonus quality is part of the game’s DNA.
Bankroll Management
With high volatility, 100–200 spins between bonus triggers is normal. Keep each spin to 1% of your session budget. A$200 session works well at A$2/spin — enough runway to hit a quality bonus.
Use the Welcome Bonus
Avantgarde’s 400% bonus multiplies your deposit. Deposit A$50 → play with A$250. Book of Dead contributes to wagering requirements — check terms. More balance means more spins hunting that bonus trigger.
Demo Mode First
Play free demo at Avantgarde to get comfortable with the pace. Book of Dead’s base game can feel dry between bonuses — knowing this in advance prevents frustration and premature quitting before the big hit.
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Book of Dead FAQ
The answers Australian players most want to know.
