Expanding Symbols

An expanding symbol is a special symbol chosen at random before a bonus and then stretched across its whole reel. A book-style game goes like this: three scatter books give ten free spins, one random symbol becomes the expander, and everything depends on which one it is. If it is the hero, the payout can be large, and if it is a ten, you settle for a modest sum.

The template came from Novomatic’s Book of Ra Deluxe (2008): 10 lines on a 5×3 grid, 95.10% RTP, very high volatility and a 5,000x cap. Dozens of games borrowed the scheme afterwards. Amatic Industries’ Book of Aztec (2015) makes the book both Wild and scatter, with 96.30% RTP and a 5,000x cap. In Pragmatic Play’s John Hunter and the Book of Tut (May 2020) the expander is likewise drawn before the round and never changes, and the cap is 5,500x.

A book without a book, and other variations

BGaming’s Book of Cats (8 July 2020) keeps a sixth reel mostly covered in the base game, and when a line wins and the open cell matches, the line stretches over three positions. A 8,202x ceiling comes with 96.99% RTP. In Nolimit City’s Book of Shadows (2020) only the golden symbol expands, with a 30,338x cap. Play’n GO’s Rise of Merlin (17 June 2019) goes further: retriggering the bonus adds more expanding symbols. At a 0.01 stake an expanded symbol pays on just one line, so the real entry point is 0.10, ten lines at one coin each.

Pragmatic Play’s Book of Golden Sands (15 September 2022) is a separate case: a 6×3 grid with 729 ways, where a random symbol grows to ten positions in the bonus. Medium volatility, 96.46% RTP and a 10,000x cap complete the picture. Quickspin’s Sakura Fortune (2017) every princess Wild expands and the round also adds a spin, with a 1,023x cap.

At the selection stage, check whether the expander is drawn ahead of the round and whether the bonus can be retriggered. The best of the family are gathered on the book slots page. Two Play’n GO book games go head to head in Book of Dead against Legacy of Dead.

Found: 50

Casino catalogue listings

The count confirms the exact game version in public catalogues checked within 30 days. Account access and RTP are separate checks. Zero means no recent confirmation.

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★ 8.3 Demo

Rich Wilde and the Amulet of Dead

Play'n GO
RTP 96.29% x5 000
DemoCasinos & availabilityChoose a country to check catalogue listings
Game details
Provider
Play'n GO
Release date
1 April 2021
Game type
Video Slot
RTP
96.29%
RTP versions
96.29 / 94.28 / 91.22 / 87.28 / 84.24%
Volatility
High
Max win
x5,000
Reels × rows
5 × 3
Paylines / ways
10
Min bet
€0.01
Max bet
€100
Bonus buy
No

The RTP shown is the game specification. The version offered by a casino may differ.

Game review
Rich Wilde and the Wandering City ★ 8.1 Demo

Rich Wilde and the Wandering City

Play'n GO
RTP 96.20% x10 000
DemoCasinos & availabilityChoose a country to check catalogue listings
Game details
Provider
Play'n GO
Release date
18 November 2021
Game type
Video Slot
RTP
96.20%
RTP versions
96.20 / 94.20 / 91.20 / 87.20 / 84.20%
Volatility
High
Max win
x10,000
Reels × rows
5 × 3
Paylines / ways
243
Min bet
€0.1
Max bet
€100
Bonus buy
No

The RTP shown is the game specification. The version offered by a casino may differ.

Game review