Book of Dead Guide · Free spins

Book of Dead Free Spins: How the Bonus Works and What Casino Offers Hide

"Book of Dead free spins" means two different things. One is the bonus round inside the game. The other is the free spins casinos hand out on Book of Dead as a promotion. This guide explains both, without promoting any offer.

Part 1: in the game

How the Book of Dead free spins work

Land 3 or more Tomb Scatters anywhere on the reels. Many players call them Books, because the Tomb opens to reveal the book when the round starts. First, the Scatter win is paid: 2x, 20x or 200x your bet for 3, 4 or 5. Then you get 10 free spins at the same bet.

Before the first spin, the book flips through the symbols and stops on one. That symbol becomes the special expanding symbol for the whole round. It can be any regular symbol, from Rich Wilde down to the 10.

On each free spin, normal wins are paid first. Then, if the special symbol has landed on enough reels to win, it expands to fill each of those reels and pays on all 10 lines. The reels don't need to be next to each other: reels 1, 3 and 5 count.

Retriggers

Three or more Scatters during the round add 10 more spins. The special symbol stays the same, and there's no limit on retriggers.

Book of Dead rules screen: 3 or more Tomb Scatters reveal the book and award 10 free spins, with a special expanding symbol chosen at random Book of Dead free spin 4 of 10 with K as the expanding symbol filling all five reels
The pick decides a lot

What each expanding symbol can pay

The special symbol sets the ceiling for the round. Here's what it pays in a single free spin when it expands on 2 to 5 reels, counting all 10 lines. Ordinary line wins in the same spin are paid on top.

With Q, J or 10, even a full screen pays 100x. With Rich Wilde, five expanded reels pay 5,000x, the game's maximum. That's why two rounds triggered by the same 3 Scatters can end 50 times apart.

Premium symbols also pay with just 2 reels, card symbols need 3. In practice, a premium pick makes the round much more likely to pay something on most spins.

Expanded symbol wins in one free spin (× total bet, 10 lines)
Special symbol2 reels3 reels4 reels5 reels
Rich Wilde10x100x1,000x5,000x
Pharaoh5x40x400x2,000x
Anubis, Horus5x30x100x750x
A, K–5x40x150x
Q, J, 10–5x25x100x

Our calculation from the in-game paytable: line value × 10 lines.

How often

How often the free spins land

Play'n GO doesn't publish the bonus frequency. Player-data trackers do: AboutSlots puts it at 1 in 174 spins and Slot Tracker at 1 in 192, based on over 8 million tracked spins. Slot Tracker also reports an average bonus of about 81x the bet.

At a $0.10 bet, 1 in 192 spins is about $19 wagered between bonuses on average. That's an average, not a schedule. Gaps of 500 spins or more happen, and the game doesn't "owe" you a bonus after a dry spell.

You can't buy the bonus in Book of Dead in any market. The only way in is landing 3 Scatters.

Part 2: casino promotions

Casino free spins on Book of Dead

Book of Dead is one of the games casinos most often attach free spins to. We don't list or promote any offers. What we can do is show you how to read one before you accept it.

No-deposit vs deposit spins

No-deposit spins are credited when you register, usually after identity checks. Deposit spins come with a first payment, often from $10 to $20. In the UK, the ASA says an offer can't be called "free" if you must risk your own money to get it.

Wagering requirements

Winnings from free spins usually arrive as bonus money that you must wager a number of times before you can withdraw. $10 of winnings at 10x wagering means $100 of bets first. In Great Britain, wagering on new casino offers has been capped at 10x since January 19, 2026.

Win caps and expiry

Many offers cap what you can withdraw from the spins, for example $50 or £50, and give you a few days to use them and to meet the wagering. Unused spins and bonus money usually disappear at the deadline.

Spin value and RTP

Free spins are usually set at the minimum bet, often $0.10. Check the RTP on the game's rules screen during the spins too: the casino's Book of Dead version applies to promotional spins as well.

Red flags

Wagering above 10x at a UK-licensed casino. Win caps or deadlines hidden in small print. "Free" spins that need a deposit. A spin count in the headline that doesn't match the terms. No license you can verify in a regulator's register. Sites that advertise "not on GamStop". Our where to play page explains how to check a license.

Free spins FAQ

How many free spins do you get in Book of Dead?

You get 10 free spins for 3 or more Scatters, and 10 more for each retrigger during the round.

Does the expanding symbol change on a retrigger?

No. The special symbol picked at the start stays the same for all retriggered spins.

What is the best expanding symbol in Book of Dead?

Rich Wilde. Expanded on all five reels, he pays 5,000x the bet, the game's max win. The Pharaoh is next at 2,000x.

Can you buy the free spins in Book of Dead?

No. Book of Dead has no bonus buy. You need 3 Scatters to trigger the round.

Are casino free spins on Book of Dead really free?

Often not entirely. Most come with wagering requirements, win caps and expiry dates, and many need a deposit. Read the terms before you accept.

Play responsibly

Every spin is random, and a bonus can take hundreds of spins to arrive. Set a budget before you start, use your casino's deposit and time limits, and never chase losses.

Free, confidential help

GamCare (UK, 0808 8020 133) · 1-800-MY-RESET (US) · ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600) · Gambling Therapy (worldwide). More on our responsible gambling page. 18+.