Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is one of the most recognisable pokies ever made, and it remains a firm favourite with New Zealand players who enjoy a bit of Egyptian adventure. Built by Swedish studio Play'n GO and released back in 2016, this slot follows treasure hunter Rich Wilde as he explores an ancient tomb in search of the fabled Book of Dead. You can spin it in NZD at offshore-licensed casinos, and the free demo above lets you try it with no account and no deposit. Kiwis often search for the Book of Dead pokie or its RTP before playing, so here is an honest rundown of how the game actually works.
How Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead plays
The game uses a classic five-reel, three-row grid with ten fixed paylines, so it is easy to pick up whether you are new to pokies or a seasoned player. Wins are formed left to right, and Rich Wilde himself is the top-paying symbol alongside a scarab, Anubis, the pharaoh and the usual card royals. The star of the show is the golden Book of Dead, which acts as both the wild and the scatter. It substitutes for other symbols to complete lines and, when three or more land anywhere on the reels, it triggers the free spins round. Before those spins begin, the game randomly selects one regular symbol to become a special expanding symbol. Whenever that symbol appears during the round it expands to cover the whole reel, which is where the biggest hits tend to come from. There is also an optional gamble feature after most wins, letting you guess a card colour or suit to try to boost the payout.
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead RTP, volatility and max win
The default return to player (RTP) sits at 96.21 percent, which is around the industry average, though some casinos run lower configured versions, so it is worth checking the paytable. This is a high-volatility pokie, meaning wins can be less frequent but larger when they arrive, so patience and sensible staking matter. The maximum win is 5,000 times your stake per spin, typically reached when the expanding symbol fills multiple reels during the free spins.
Playing Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead in New Zealand
New Zealand players can enjoy this slot at online casinos that accept Kiwi customers and NZD. At present these sites are licensed offshore rather than at home: domestic online-casino licensing is due to arrive through the Department of Internal Affairs' Online Casino Gambling Act from December 2026, so until then the casinos listed on this page operate under overseas regulators. You can always try the free demo above first to see if the game suits you before committing any real money at a casino below.
Is Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead worth playing?
For a slot that is nearly a decade old, Book of Dead has aged remarkably well. Its simple ten-line layout, punchy high-variance maths and that single expanding symbol make every free spins round feel genuinely tense, which is exactly why it still fills the pokies lobbies at Kiwi-facing casinos. It will not suit everyone: the high volatility means dry spells are common, so it rewards a measured bankroll rather than chasing losses. If you like adventure themes and the thrill of one big expanding symbol, it is well worth a few spins on the free demo first. Whatever you decide, keep it fun and within your limits, and read our responsible gambling guide for tools and support if play ever stops feeling like entertainment.
