Is the expanding symbol always the book?
No. The book has its own wild and scatter roles. Before the feature, the game selects an ordinary symbol to become the special expanding symbol for that sequence. A book that helps a regular combination is not automatically the symbol that will fill a reel.
| Role | What to read separately |
|---|---|
| Book as scatter | Its qualifying count, cash award and free-spin trigger. |
| Book as wild | Which regular combinations it can help form. |
| Selected expanding symbol | The symbol chosen for this feature and its expansion condition. |
| Ordinary line symbol | Its own count and award in the paytable. |
This distinction is supported by Play’n GO’s walkthrough and rules document GRS0595-3, dated 14 September 2022. We checked those sources on 1 November 2026. The document is a dated supplier-authored copy; it does not prove a current casino account’s build.
Our wild-symbol guide explains substitution more generally. It should not replace Book of Dead’s particular feature rules.
What starts the free spins, and can they retrigger?
The dated rules award ten free spins for three or more scatters, with another ten for a qualifying retrigger. The selected expanding symbol applies throughout the free-spin sequence. Selection is random, rather than a choice of the symbol with the largest paytable award.
Count the trigger separately from the expansion result. Starting ten free spins does not mean there will be ten expanding-symbol awards. A free-spin result still has to meet the relevant condition.
The casino free-spins guide covers that promotional question; this page concerns the game feature.
Why did my selected symbol not expand?
Play’n GO’s walkthrough describes ordinary winning combinations being evaluated before the selected symbol can expand. Expansion occurs when it can award an additional qualifying prize on active paylines. The selected symbol merely appearing is not the complete condition.
| Observed result | What it does and does not establish |
|---|---|
| One copy of the selected symbol | Its presence alone does not establish a paying expansion. |
| Enough eligible selected symbols | Check that the count meets that symbol’s paytable condition. |
| Selected symbols on separated reels | The feature can pay without those reels being adjacent. |
| An ordinary win paid before expansion | That award and any additional expansion award need separate accounting. |
Do not copy a two-symbol requirement from a premium symbol into every card symbol. Different entries can require different counts. Use the selected symbol’s row, the active lines and the actual final result.
A symbol chosen for one feature does not establish the symbol that will be selected for a later feature. This is a rule for the current sequence, not a prediction method.
Can reels one, three and five form an expansion win?
The published feature rule allows expanded symbols on non-adjacent reels to form a winning combination. For a simplified illustration, suppose E is the selected symbol and its qualifying count is three. An eligible result has E on reels one, three and five.
If expansion qualifies, those three reels fill with E while reels two and four can remain different symbols. The feature’s non-adjacent evaluation explains why the intervening reels do not necessarily prevent that special award.
This illustration does not redefine ordinary line wins. A normal combination elsewhere still follows its normal position and direction rules. It also assumes a qualifying count; it does not prove that every possible chosen symbol pays from three.
The payline guide explains why an active line and the total number of visible symbol positions are different things.
How do line stakes and the whole round differ?
Use invented award values to show the units. Suppose a £1 paid round uses ten equally priced active lines. The line stake is 10p. Assume a qualifying award is quoted at 40 times the line stake and applies to each of ten lines.
| Illustrative calculation | Result |
|---|---|
| £1 total stake ÷ ten lines | £0.10 per line |
| 40 × £0.10 on one qualifying line | £4 |
| Ten such qualifying lines | £40 returned |
| Whole round if £40 is its only return | £40 − £1 = £39 profit |
The 40-times rate is invented, not a quotation from Book of Dead’s paytable. The example shows why a line-based rate must not be applied to the full £1 and then multiplied by ten again.
The dated rules distinguish the ordinary symbol table’s line-stake basis from the separate scatter table’s total-bet basis. Keep the heading with the figure. A scatter cash award, an ordinary line award and an expansion award cannot be added correctly if their units have been mixed.
A full feature record also needs any returns from the triggering result and later free spins. Do not subtract the original paid stake again for every included feature spin, or call an interim £40 the completed round’s final return.
Does this also explain Legacy of Dead or GO Collect?
This page concerns the original Book of Dead model. A title containing Legacy, GO Collect or another suffix identifies a separate product whose rules need checking. Similar artwork and an expanding-symbol label do not establish an identical trigger, paytable or feature state.
Nor does a headline RTP tell you how often the chosen symbol will expand. The exact version’s expected return, feature frequency and the result of one session are different measurements.
Our named-slot finder deals with locating a specific title. Its existing availability intent remains separate from this mechanics explanation.
What has been checked for GB readers?
BetVictor had a public Book of Dead listing on 1 November 2026. The corresponding register checks showed BV Gaming Limited, account 39576, with Active Remote Casino permission and betvictor.com with the domain label Active. We did not log in or launch the game.
The listing supports the dated availability example; its public symbol table was not used as the paytable for this explanation. The supplier rules are the source for the feature mechanics. Before committing money, read the exact game help, selected stake, active lines and current return information.
If a result remains unclear, retain its round reference, selected expanding symbol, feature state and credited awards. Ask the operator to explain the settlement rather than borrowing a table from another game.
Related questions
Can I choose the expanding symbol in Book of Dead?
The cited original rules select it randomly before the feature. A symbol you would prefer does not become selectable because it has a larger paytable award.
Do expanding symbols have to be on neighbouring reels?
The cited feature rule allows non-adjacent expanded reels to form a qualifying combination. The required symbol count and active lines still apply.
Does every free spin expand a symbol?
No. The selected symbol needs the applicable paying condition; merely receiving a feature spin does not guarantee an expansion award.
Is the Book of Dead bonus the same as casino bonus credit?
No. One is a game feature; the other is an account promotion with separate conditions. A game’s use of the word bonus does not establish promotional wagering requirements.
Is the current RTP always 96.21%?
Do not assume one figure from the title. Read the exact version’s information. This feature explanation does not certify the RTP in a logged-in casino account.