Desert Treasure Pros & Cons
Here's what works and what doesn't.
- Clean graphics, nice Egyptian theme
- 3x multiplier in free spins
- Medium volatility stays balanced
- Gamble feature for extra risk
- Works great on mobile
- 95.04% RTP way below standard
- Only 1,000x max win
- Just 9 paylines
- No modern mechanics
- Free spins trigger rarely
Desert Treasure Slot Review: Old-School Egyptian Vibes
Desert Treasure is Bally's classic Egyptian slot from 2012. Pyramids, scarabs, pharaohs - you know the drill. We tested this at SlotsGamblers, and it's pretty basic but solid. The RTP is 95.04%, which is weak, and the max win is only 1,000x your bet. Not amazing numbers.
Medium volatility keeps things balanced. You'll hit wins often enough to stay interested, but don't expect huge payouts every session. Betting goes from €0.10 to €100, so casual players and mid-rollers can both play. The main feature is free spins with a 3x multiplier, plus there's a gamble option if you like risk.
Graphics look suitable for a 2012 slot. Clean Egyptian artwork, smooth animations, decent soundtrack. Runs perfect on mobile. The whole game is dead simple—pick your bet, spin, done. No complicated mechanics to figure out. It's good if you want something chill and straightforward, but there are way better Egyptian slots out there now with higher RTPs and bigger max wins. Let's break down everything.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bally Technologies |
| Release Date | 2012 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines | 9 (fixed) |
| RTP | 95.04% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Min Bet | €0.10 |
| Max Bet | €100.00 |
| Max Win | 1,000x |
| Hit Frequency | ~28% |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
Symbols & Payouts
8 regular symbols plus wild and scatter. Mix of Egyptian stuff and card values.
🔱 Pharaoh - High Value
Top symbol. Golden Egyptian ruler. Five pharaohs pay 1,000x your line bet—even three pay 100x. The bright gold design looks sharp. You want these to line up for max wins. Lands rarely though.
💎 Treasure Chest - High Value
Gold coins and jewels spilling out. Five chests pay 500x your line bet. Second-best symbol. Shows up more than pharaohs, delivers decent wins. Clean artwork, sparkles nicely.
🪲 Scarab - Medium Value
Blue and gold beetles. Classic Egyptian look. Five scarabs pay 250x. Lands pretty regularly. Glows when you win—a good mid-tier symbol between treasure and cards.
🏺 Vase - Medium Value
Egyptian vase with hieroglyphics. Five pay 150x. Weathered details, gold accents. Hits often enough to pad your balance between bigger wins.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Red ace with Egyptian borders. Five pay 100x. These show up constantly for small wins. Keeps your balance from tanking too fast.
🃏 King (K) - Low Value
Blue king card. Pays 75x for five. Lands all the time. Fills gaps between features with tiny payouts.
🃏 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Green queen card. Five pay 50x. Another frequent hitter. Adds up over time.
🃏 Jack (J) - Low Value
Purple jack card. Pays 25x for five. Lowest symbol but lands constantly. Keeps you playing longer.
🌟 Wild - Special
Golden artifact. Substitutes for everything except scatter. Appears on all reels. Helps complete wins—no multipliers or expanding, just standard wild behavior.
📜 Scatter - Special
The pyramid symbol triggers free spins. Need 3+ anywhere to activate. Five scatters pay 100x total bet plus trigger the feature. Glows gold when it lands.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Pharaoh
|
1,000x | 500x | 100x |
|
Chest
|
500x | 250x | 50x |
|
Scarab
|
250x | 100x | 25x |
|
Vase
|
150x | 75x | 20x |
|
Ace
|
100x | 50x | 15x |
|
King
|
75x | 40x | 10x |
|
Queen
|
50x | 25x | 8x |
|
Jack
|
25x | 15x | 5x |
|
Wild
|
Substitutes | - | - |
|
Scatter
|
100x + Free Spins | 10x | 2x |
Bonus Features
Free spins with a 3x multiplier and a gamble game. Simple but effective.
| Feature | Trigger | What It Does | How Often |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Spins
|
3+ Scatters | 15 spins, 3x multiplier on all wins | Rare (~1/150) |
|
Gamble
|
Any win | Double (red/black) or 4x (suit guess) | After every win |
RTP & Volatility
95.04% RTP is low. Medium volatility. 1,000x max win.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
€0.10 |
|
Max Bet
|
€100 |
|
Max Win (€0.10)
|
€100 |
|
Max Win (€100)
|
€100,000 |
|
RTP
|
95.04% |
|
Volatility
|
Medium |
Mobile
Works perfectly on phones. iOS and Android are both fine. No app needed —runs in the browser. Touch controls are responsive, and buttons are sized right. Looks good on small screens.
Tips:
Start Small
Bet €0.20-€0.50 first to see how it plays. Low RTP means money won't last as long as better slots.
Skip Gamble on Big Wins
Don't risk anything over 50x. SlotsGamblers tested this a ton, and we lost way more than we won. Gamble tiny wins only.
Budget for Features
Free spins trigger roughly every 150 spins. Plan for 200+ spins per session to hit the feature at least once.
Bet Sizing
Keep bets at 1-2% of bankroll max. €100 total? Bet €1-€2. Medium volatility still delivers dry spells.
Cut Losses
Stop at 50% down from the starting balance. The math works against you, chasing losses burns cash.
Similar Games
Book of Dead
Play'n GO's Egyptian slot with 96.21% RTP: higher volatility, 5,000x max win—way better features.
Cleopatra
IGT classic with 95.02% RTP. Similar style to Desert Treasure, but different bonus mechanics.
Legacy of Egypt
Play'n GO again with 96.50% RTP: modern graphics, better features, multipliers up to 5x.
Eye of Horus
Blueprint Gaming with 96.31% RTP. Expanding wilds in free spins, better math overall.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How often do free spins trigger?
About once every 150 spins, based on our testing. Pretty rare, you need patience.
Can you retrigger free spins?
Yeah, land 3+ scatters during the feature, and you get 15 more spins. We chained 30+ once, but it's uncommon.
Should I use the gamble feature?
Nah, skip it if you win over 50x your bet. We tested it a ton at SlotsGamblers and lost way more than we doubled.
Why is the RTP so low?
It's from 2012, before higher RTPs became standard. You're giving back almost a whole point more than modern 96%+ slots.
What's the max win on one spin?
1,000x your total bet. €100 spin = €100,000 max, but you'd need perfect pharaoh combos during 3x multiplier spins.
How does this compare to the Book of Dead?
Book of Dead has better RTP (96.21%), higher max win (5,000x), and more volatile gameplay. Desert Treasure is simpler but pays back less.
Do free spins always have a 3x multiplier?
Yep, every single win during those 15 spins gets tripled automatically. No exceptions.
Can you change the paylines?
No, all 9 paylines are fixed. Minimum €0.10 bet covers all lines automatically.