John Hunter And The Book Of Tut Pros & Cons
John Hunter and the Book of Tut delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- Strong 96.5% RTP — better than older book slots
- Classic, reliable expanding-symbol free spins
- Book doubles as wild and scatter
- Free spins are retriggerable
- 5,000x+ max win for a single expanding symbol
- Clean Egyptian theme and presentation
- Completely unoriginal — a Book of Dead clone
- High volatility — long cold stretches
- Bonus fizzles if a low expanding symbol is chosen
- Only 10 paylines — limited base-game action
- Nothing here you haven't seen in other book slots
John Hunter and the Book of Tut Slot Review
Pragmatic Play looked at how much money Book of Dead and Book of Ra were making and thought, fair enough, we'll have some of that. John Hunter and the Book of Tut is their entry into the Egyptian "book" genre, starring their recurring adventurer John Hunter digging through a tomb in search of the Book of Tut. If you've played any book slot, you'll know the drill instantly: it's a 5x3, 10-payline game where one golden book does everything, and the free spins hinge on a single expanding symbol.
The stats put it right in the genre's pocket. RTP is a healthy 96.5% — better than the original Book of Ra, it's worth noting — it's high volatility, and the max win lands around 5,000x to 5,500x depending on the source. Bets run roughly $0.10 to $100. The Book of Tut acts as both wild and scatter; land 3 or more and you get 10 free spins with one randomly chosen expanding symbol that can blanket the reels. It retriggers, too. It's a faithful, well-made book slot rather than a reinvention — the free demo on SlotsGamblers will show you the expanding-symbol round in a couple of minutes.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| Release Date | 2020 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines / Ways to Win | 10 Fixed |
| RTP (Return to Player) | 96.5% |
| Volatility Level | High |
| Min Bet | $0.10 |
| Max Bet | $100 |
| Max Win Potential | 5,000x – 5,500x bet |
| Free Spins | 10 (expanding symbol) |
| Book Symbol | Wild + Scatter |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
📚 Key Features & Mechanics
📚 The Book of Tut — Wild, Scatter, Everything Signature
As with every book slot, one symbol carries the whole game. The Book of Tut works as a wild, substituting for all regular symbols to complete wins, and as a scatter, with 3 or more anywhere on the reels triggering the free spins (and paying a scatter win too). It's the symbol you're always watching for — in the base game it helps complete lines, and three of them is the gateway to the bonus that the entire slot is built around.
📚 Free Spins & The Expanding Symbol — The Main Event
Land 3 or more Books and you get 10 free spins. Before they begin, one regular symbol is randomly chosen as the special expanding symbol. During the round, whenever that symbol could form a win, it expands to cover its entire reel and pays across the reels like a scatter, no matter the exact positions. Draw a high-value symbol — ideally the explorer himself — and a single spin can carpet the screen for a huge payout. You can also retrigger by landing 3+ Books again for another 10 spins. This expanding mechanic is exactly why the max win reaches the 5,000x+ region.
📚 96.5% RTP — A Genuine Edge Over Older Book Slots
Here's a real point in its favour. The original Book of Ra Deluxe runs around a stingy 95.1%, and plenty of older book slots are tighter still. Book of Tut's 96.5% RTP is noticeably more generous, sitting right alongside Book of Dead (96.21%) and ahead of the Novomatic classics. For a genre where the math really matters over a long, swingy session, that extra return is a legitimate reason to pick this one over the older names.
📚 High Volatility — Same Book-Slot Truth
No surprises here: like every book slot, this is a high-variance game. The base game can run cold for a long time while you hunt for three Books, and an unlucky expanding symbol (a low-value one that doesn't connect) can make a bonus fizzle. The flip side is the upside — a well-placed high expanding symbol pays big. Play it for the bonus chase, keep your stakes sensible, and don't expect steady base-game returns.
Symbol Values & Paytable
Values shown for a $1 bet, 5-of-a-kind on the 10 paylines. Egyptian premiums up top, royals below:
| Symbol | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
|
John Hunter (Top)
|
$4.00 | $40.00 | $500.00 |
|
Pharaoh Mask
|
$2.00 | $15.00 | $150.00 |
|
Anubis Statue
|
$1.50 | $8.00 | $75.00 |
|
Scarab / Eye
|
$1.00 | $5.00 | $50.00 |
|
A / K (High Card)
|
$0.50 | $2.00 | $15.00 |
|
Q / J / 10 (Low Card)
|
$0.25 | $1.00 | $10.00 |
Similar Games You Might Like
Book of Dead
The book slot Book of Tut is modelled on. Same explorer-in-a-tomb setup and expanding-symbol bonus, slightly lower RTP. The obvious comparison play if you want the most popular version of the formula.
Book of Ra Deluxe
The original that started the whole genre. Lower RTP and older graphics, but a bigger theoretical ceiling and serious nostalgia value. Worth a look for book-slot history fans.
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen
Another John Hunter adventure, but with a tumbling-reel, money-collect style bonus instead of a book mechanic. Same character and theme if you want a different feature set.
Legacy of Dead
A higher-RTP (96.58%) book slot from Play'n GO with the same expanding-symbol bonus. A great alternative if you want the formula with one of the best returns in the genre.
Book of Tut — Free Spins At A Glance
| Element | Detail | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
|
Trigger
|
3+ Book of Tut symbols | Book is wild and scatter |
|
Free spins
|
10 spins | Retriggerable with 3+ Books |
|
Expanding symbol
|
1 random symbol chosen | Expands to fill its reel, pays as scatter |
|
Best outcome
|
John Hunter as expanding symbol | Full-screen explorer = headline win |
|
Max win
|
5,000x – 5,500x bet | Via expanding symbol + retriggers |
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
Can I play John Hunter and the Book of Tut for free?
Yep. There's a free demo on SlotsGamblers and most Pragmatic Play casinos, running the same Book mechanic and expanding-symbol free spins as the cash version. Given the variance, a few minutes in the demo is well worth it before depositing.
What is the RTP of John Hunter and the Book of Tut?
It's 96.5%, which is strong for a book slot — better than the original Book of Ra and right alongside Book of Dead. Some casinos may run alternative RTP settings, so a quick check of the info screen is still worth doing.
How do the free spins and expanding symbol work?
Land 3 or more Book of Tut symbols to get 10 free spins. At the start, one regular symbol is randomly chosen as a special expanding symbol. During the round, when that symbol can form a win it expands to cover its whole reel and pays across the reels. The feature retriggers with another 3+ Books, and a high expanding symbol is where the big wins come from.
Is this the same as Book of Dead?
Mechanically, very nearly — both are Egyptian explorer book slots with a wild/scatter book and an expanding-symbol free-spins round on 5x3, 10 lines. Book of Tut is Pragmatic Play's version; Book of Dead is Play'n GO's. The RTPs are close (96.5% vs 96.21%), so it largely comes down to which theme and studio you prefer.
What is the maximum win in John Hunter and the Book of Tut?
The top win is around 5,000x to 5,500x your bet, depending on the source. You reach it during free spins when a high-value expanding symbol fills the reels across multiple spins, ideally with a retrigger. It's high volatility, so it's rare but real.
Is it available in Canada?
It is. You'll find it at licensed Canadian casinos carrying Pragmatic Play, it takes CAD, and it runs fine on desktop and phone. Check the RTP version in the info screen before a real-money session.