In Book of Dead, the base game can deliver decent payouts, but the Free Spins feature is where the slot truly comes alive. This bonus round offers the highest winning potential thanks to one unique mechanic — the Expanding Symbol.
When the feature activates, you get 10 free spins with a randomly selected symbol that can expand to cover entire reels. Unlike standard spins, these expanded symbols don’t need to be adjacent to form winning combinations. This opens the door to massive payouts, including the game’s top prize of 5,000x your line bet if five Rich Wilde symbols appear.
What makes Free Spins so powerful is their chain reaction potential. By landing three or more Book symbols during the bonus, you retrigger another set of 10 spins — with no limit to how many times this can happen. In rare cases, a single bonus round can continue for dozens of spins, dramatically increasing your total winnings.
In this guide, we’ll go beyond the basics and focus on practical strategies to help you prepare for and make the most of this feature. From bankroll management to maximizing Expanding Symbols, you’ll learn how to approach Free Spins with the right mindset and tactics for consistent, responsible play.
Understanding How Free Spins Work in Book of Dead
Before you can optimize your wins, you need to fully understand how the Free Spins feature operates in Book of Dead. Here’s a clear breakdown of what happens once the bonus round is triggered:
How to Trigger Free Spins
- You need 3 or more Book symbols (they act as both Wild and Scatter) anywhere on the reels.
- The moment this happens, you’re awarded 10 free spins automatically.
Important: More than three Books not only trigger the feature but also provide an instant payout on top of the free spins.
Expanding Symbol Mechanics
- Before the free spins begin, the game randomly selects one regular symbol to become the Expanding Symbol for the entire bonus round.
- Whenever enough of this symbol lands to form a winning combination, it expands to cover the whole reel.
- Expanded symbols don’t need to be next to each other — if you land three or more anywhere on the reels, you still get paid according to the paytable.
This is the core reason why Free Spins have so much high-win potential.
Retriggering Free Spins
- Landing another 3 or more Book symbols during the bonus gives you 10 extra spins.
- There’s no limit to how many times you can retrigger the feature.
- Multiple retriggers often lead to the biggest total payouts, especially with a high-value Expanding Symbol.
Difference from Base Game
- In regular spins, symbols must land on active paylines from left to right to pay.
- In Free Spins, expanded symbols pay on all lines regardless of position, making full-screen wins possible.
With these mechanics in mind, the rest of the article will focus on how to prepare your bankroll, adjust bets, and use retriggers strategically to get the most value from every bonus round.
Preparing Your Bankroll Before Free Spins
Book of Dead is a high-volatility slot, meaning big wins are possible, but they don’t come often. The Free Spins feature is where the largest payouts happen, but reaching it can sometimes take dozens — or even hundreds — of spins. If you don’t manage your bankroll correctly, you might run out of funds before you even trigger the bonus.
Here’s how to prepare and pace yourself to maximize your chances of reaching and fully enjoying Free Spins.
1. Start with a Realistic Budget
Decide how much you’re willing to spend before you start playing, and stick to that amount no matter what happens.
- Small bankroll (around €50): focus on minimum bet levels and all 10 paylines active.
- Medium bankroll (€100–€300): slightly higher bets are possible, but keep them consistent.
- Large bankroll (€500+): you can afford a more aggressive strategy, but still avoid max bets early in the session.
Tip: Divide your bankroll into smaller session amounts — for example, if you have €100, treat it as four separate €25 sessions.
2. Play on All 10 Paylines
Always keep all 10 paylines active, even with a small stake.
- Reducing the number of lines lowers your total bet, but also significantly decreases your chances of landing three Book symbols to trigger Free Spins.
- It’s better to lower your coin value instead of turning off paylines.
3. Bet Size Strategy Before the Bonus
Your primary goal is to stay in the game long enough to trigger Free Spins without depleting your balance too quickly.
- Start with lower bets to maintain stability during long losing streaks.
- If you hit a small or medium-sized win, consider slightly increasing your bet to capitalize on the momentum.
- Avoid sudden max bets — they can drain your bankroll before the bonus appears.
Example for a €100 bankroll:
- Start at €0.50 per spin.
- After a solid win (10x–20x your stake), increase to €0.75 or €1.
- Return to €0.50 if your balance drops back down.
4. Prepare Mentally for Variance
High-volatility games like Book of Dead can be emotionally challenging:
- You might spin 100+ times without triggering a bonus.
- The bonus itself can be either disappointing or extremely rewarding.
Staying calm and sticking to your plan is key to surviving the dry spells and being ready when the Free Spins finally arrive.
By carefully managing your bankroll, betting smartly, and keeping expectations realistic, you set yourself up to enter the bonus round with enough balance to fully enjoy its potential and ride out the natural ups and downs of the game.
Maximizing the Expanding Symbol
The Expanding Symbol is what makes Book of Dead’s Free Spins truly powerful.
This single feature can transform a regular win into a massive payout, but the outcome largely depends on which symbol is chosen and how you play around it. Understanding its mechanics and value is essential if you want to maximize your winnings.
Why the Expanding Symbol Matters
- Once Free Spins are triggered, the game randomly selects one symbol to serve as the Expanding Symbol for the entire bonus round.
- When enough of these symbols land to form a win, they expand vertically, covering their entire reels.
- Unlike in the base game, these expanded symbols pay on all lines, even if they aren’t next to each other.
- A full screen of high-value symbols can result in the game’s maximum payout.
This mechanic is why many of Book of Dead’s biggest wins come from Free Spins rather than the base game.
Symbol Tiers and Their Potential
Not all symbols are equal. Understanding their payout structure will help you set realistic expectations during the bonus round:
| Symbol | Max Payout (5 of a kind) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Rich Wilde | 5,000x line bet | Very rare |
| Pharaoh | 2,000x line bet | Rare |
| Anubis | 750x line bet | Moderate |
| Horus | 750x line bet | Moderate |
| K, A | 120x line bet | Frequent |
| Q, J, 10 | 80x line bet | Very frequent |
How to Play Based on the Symbol You Get
- Rich Wilde – The Jackpot Symbol
- The dream scenario: five Rich Wilde symbols can deliver the 5,000x top payout.
- These symbols are rare, so don’t expect them to land often.
- If you get Rich Wilde, focus on retriggering spins rather than increasing your bet, as it may take many spins to land a significant win.
- Pharaoh or Anubis – Strong High-Value Symbols
- These offer excellent payouts with a reasonable chance of appearing.
- A full screen of Pharaoh symbols is achievable and can result in life-changing wins.
- Prioritize keeping your balance stable to maximize the number of spins and increase retrigger chances.
- Low-Value Symbols (K, A, Q, J, 10)
- These hit more frequently but with smaller payouts.
- The goal here is volume: more spins and more retriggers.
- If you start with a low-value symbol, consider slightly increasing your stake — frequent wins can help sustain your balance.
Tips to Maximize Expanding Symbol Wins
- Always play with all 10 paylines active — this gives every expansion the maximum possible payout coverage.
- Stay consistent: avoid sudden large bets unless you’re confident your bankroll can handle it.
- Focus on retriggers: the longer the bonus lasts, the more chances you have to land multiple full expansions.
- Don’t chase a specific symbol: you can’t control which one appears, so adapt your playstyle to the symbol you get.
The Expanding Symbol is the heart of Book of Dead’s Free Spins feature. By understanding the value of each symbol and adjusting your strategy accordingly, you’ll be in the best position to turn a single bonus round into a session-defining win.
Smart Betting During Bonus Rounds
Your bet size strategy plays a crucial role in how much you can win during Book of Dead’s Free Spins — and how long your bankroll lasts before you trigger them. Since the Free Spins feature is where the biggest payouts happen, your approach should balance risk, reward, and sustainability.
Below are practical guidelines on how to bet smartly before and during the bonus rounds.
1. Why Bet Size Matters
In Book of Dead, all Free Spin payouts are multiplied by your current bet size.
- A higher stake means significantly bigger wins when Expanding Symbols hit.
- A lower stake allows you to spin longer and wait out dry streaks without draining your bankroll.
The key is to find a middle ground that keeps you in the game while giving you a realistic shot at meaningful payouts.
2. Adjusting Your Bets Before Free Spins
Since you don’t know exactly when Free Spins will trigger, it’s best to pace yourself with smaller bets at first and increase only when conditions are right.
Recommended approach:
- Start low: Begin with a modest stake that allows for at least 100 spins.
- Gradual increases: After a medium win (10x–20x your bet), slightly raise your stake to capture potential momentum.
- Reset when losing: If your balance drops sharply, return to the original lower bet size.
Example – €100 bankroll:
- Start at €0.50 per spin.
- Increase to €0.75 or €1 after a solid win.
- Return to €0.50 if balance falls back below €80.
3. Betting During Free Spins
Once Free Spins are triggered, you can’t change your stake — it’s locked at the amount you were betting on the spin that activated the bonus.
This makes pre-bonus planning essential:
- If you were playing at a very low stake, even a full-screen Rich Wilde win won’t be as impactful.
- If you were playing too high, you risk burning through your bankroll before even reaching the feature.
Pro Tip: Increase your stake just slightly when you feel close to triggering the bonus — for example, after several hundred spins without Free Spins. This balances risk and reward without taking extreme risks.
4. Bet Strategies by Bankroll Size
| Bankroll Size | Suggested Approach |
|---|---|
| Small (€50–€100) | Minimum coin value, all 10 paylines active. Focus on staying in the game until Free Spins trigger. |
| Medium (€100–€300) | Start low, increase gradually after wins. Never risk more than 2–3% of your balance on a single spin. |
| Large (€300+) | Moderate-to-high stakes, but short sessions. Play aggressively only if you can handle variance. |
5. Common Betting Mistakes to Avoid
- Jumping to max bet too early: High stakes with no Free Spins trigger can wipe out your balance quickly.
- Playing on fewer than 10 paylines: This drastically reduces your chances of hitting three Books to activate the bonus.
- Ignoring session limits: Always set a maximum loss and stop when you reach it.
Smart betting isn’t about chasing the biggest wins — it’s about creating consistency. By pacing your bets and planning ahead, you give yourself the best shot at triggering Free Spins with a stake that matches your bankroll and your goals.
Retrigger Strategy – Extending the Bonus Round
In Book of Dead, triggering the Free Spins feature is only the first step toward a potentially massive win. The real magic happens when you retrigger the bonus round by landing additional Book symbols during Free Spins. Every retrigger adds 10 extra spins, and there’s no upper limit — meaning a single bonus session can keep running for a very long time if you’re lucky.
Mastering how to maximize retriggers is key to unlocking the slot’s full potential.
Why Retriggers Are Crucial
- More chances for full-screen wins: The longer the bonus lasts, the more opportunities you have to land expanding symbols across multiple reels.
- Bigger total payouts: Even if your Expanding Symbol isn’t high-value, extended bonus rounds allow small wins to add up to something significant.
- Momentum effect: Retriggers often come in streaks, especially when Books appear more frequently during Free Spins.
Example: A bonus round starting with 10 spins can stretch to 40 or 50 spins through multiple retriggers, turning a small feature into a session-defining win.
Understanding Retrigger Odds
Retriggers are random, but there are patterns to keep in mind:
- They aren’t guaranteed — expect to go through many Free Spins rounds without retriggering.
- On average, seeing a retrigger once every few bonus sessions is realistic.
- Multiple retriggers in the same round are rare but incredibly profitable.
This variance is why bankroll preparation and consistent play are so important.
Practical Retrigger Tips
- Stay Patient Between Bonuses
- Don’t increase your stake dramatically just because you haven’t triggered a bonus in a while.
- Retriggers can happen back-to-back or not at all — randomness is part of the game.
- Focus on Survival
- The more spins you can afford before hitting a bonus, the higher your chance of seeing retriggers later.
- Lower your stake if you’re burning through your bankroll too quickly.
- Watch for Early Books
- If Books appear frequently in the early Free Spins, there’s a higher chance of retriggers.
- Prepare mentally for the possibility of a long session — and big payouts.
- Celebrate but Stay Disciplined
- A retrigger can feel like a huge win by itself, but don’t get carried away.
- Stick to your bankroll plan and avoid drastically changing your playstyle mid-session.
Retrigger Example in Action
| Stage | Spins Remaining | Total Spins Played | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Trigger | 10 | 0 | Start of bonus round |
| First Retrigger | 20 | 10 | +10 spins added |
| Second Retrigger | 25 | 15 | Another +10 spins |
| Final Total | 35 | 25 | Bonus extended 3.5x |
A single retrigger can double your total spins, while multiple retriggers can extend the feature for dozens of extra rounds — and potentially multiply your winnings several times over.
Retriggers are the heart of high-volatility gameplay in Book of Dead. By staying patient, protecting your bankroll, and recognizing the value of each extra spin, you can transform an ordinary bonus into an unforgettable run.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even experienced players can make costly mistakes when chasing Free Spins in Book of Dead.
This slot’s high volatility rewards smart play but punishes impatience and poor bankroll management.
Here are the most frequent errors to watch out for — and how to avoid them.
1. Playing with Fewer Than 10 Paylines
Some players reduce the number of active paylines to lower their total bet.
This is a critical mistake:
- The Free Spins feature can only be triggered by landing three Book symbols, and fewer paylines drastically reduce your chances.
- It’s always better to lower your coin value while keeping all 10 paylines active.
Rule of thumb: Fewer lines = fewer Books = fewer bonuses.
2. Going Too Big Too Soon
Jumping straight to high stakes may seem exciting, but it’s a fast track to burning through your bankroll.
- Free Spins can take 100+ spins to trigger, so betting too high early on may leave you with no funds when the bonus finally appears.
- Instead, start small, increase gradually after wins, and save bigger bets for later in the session.
3. Ignoring RTP Variations
Not every casino runs the same RTP version of Book of Dead:
- 96.21% RTP – Standard, fair version.
- 94.25% RTP – Lower return, worse for long-term play.
Always check the game’s info panel before playing. If RTP isn’t listed, consider choosing another casino.
4. Chasing Losses
It’s natural to want to recover money after a losing streak, but raising your bet size aggressively out of frustration is dangerous.
- Book of Dead is unpredictable — losses can snowball quickly.
- Stick to your pre-set limits and accept that some sessions will simply be cold.
5. Playing Without a Stop-Loss or Win Goal
Without clear boundaries, it’s easy to either:
- Lose more than you planned, or
- Give back your winnings by continuing to play after a big win.
Set two limits before starting:
- Stop-loss: The maximum amount you’re willing to lose.
- Win goal: A target profit at which you’ll cash out and walk away.
6. Skipping Demo Practice
Jumping straight into real-money play without trying the demo version first is a missed opportunity.
- The demo lets you practice bet sizing and understand volatility without financial risk.
- You can also test how different Expanding Symbols behave during Free Spins.
7. Expecting Every Bonus to Pay Big
Not every Free Spins round will deliver a massive payout — sometimes you’ll get very little back.
- This is part of the game’s design and high-volatility nature.
- Focus on long-term sessions, not single bonus results.
Quick Recap: Stay Smart, Stay in Control
| Mistake | Better Approach |
|---|---|
| Playing < 10 paylines | Play all 10 lines, lower coin value instead |
| Betting max from start | Begin small, increase slowly |
| Ignoring RTP | Check before you play |
| Chasing losses | Stick to limits and bankroll plan |
| No stop-loss or goal | Set both before you spin |
| Skipping demo | Practice for free first |
| Expecting every bonus to be huge | Think long-term, stay realistic |
Avoiding these mistakes will protect your bankroll, improve your odds of reaching Free Spins consistently, and keep the game fun instead of stressful.
Final Tips for Book of Dead Free Spins
To make the most out of Book of Dead Free Spins, keep these essential points in mind:
- Always play with all 10 paylines – never reduce them, even with a small bankroll.
- Manage your balance carefully – aim for at least 100 spins to reach the bonus.
- Stay patient – Free Spins can take time to trigger, and retriggers are rare but valuable.
- Adapt to your Expanding Symbol – high-value symbols need more spins, low-value symbols thrive on retriggers.
- Set limits before playing – define both a stop-loss and a win goal.
- Use the demo mode – practice strategies risk-free before betting real money.
By combining discipline, smart bankroll management, and a solid strategy, you’ll give yourself the best chance to turn a single Free Spins round into a truly rewarding session.
Try Book of Dead Free Spins Yourself
Now that you understand how to maximize your wins in Book of Dead Free Spins, it’s time to put that knowledge into action.
Whether you want to practice risk-free or play for real stakes, there’s a way to start right now.
Play for Free – Practice Mode
- Test your strategies and get comfortable with the Free Spins mechanics using virtual credits.
- Perfect for learning how different Expanding Symbols work without risking your bankroll.
- No registration or deposit required — just launch the demo and spin.
Play for Real Money – Chase the Big Wins
- Experience the real thrill of Book of Dead with actual payouts on the line.
- Choose a licensed and secure online casino for safe and fair gameplay.
- Look for welcome bonuses or free spins packages specifically for Book of Dead.
Responsible Gaming Reminder: Free Spins can deliver incredible wins, but they also come with risk. Play only with money you can afford to lose, set strict limits, and treat each session as entertainment — not a guaranteed way to earn.
Start small, stay disciplined, and let your strategy guide you to the most exciting part of Book of Dead: the Free Spins feature.