Quick verdict: John Hunter and the Book of Tut is Pragmatic Play’s take on the classic “Book of” slot, released in May 2020. It plays on 5 reels and 10 fixed lines with a 96.50% RTP and high volatility. The whole game builds towards one feature: 10 free spins with a special symbol that expands to fill whole reels and can retrigger without limit. Pragmatic Play puts the max win at 5,500x.
Demo tested on mobile by Jason Thompson on 11 October 2026: it loaded and worked.
Recommended casino
1win tops our casino ratings at 9.9/10, which is why we suggest it for John Hunter and the Book of Tut. Its crypto payout reached us 15 minutes after we asked for it in June 2026.
Play at 1win18+. T&Cs apply. Not available in every country. Game libraries vary, so search the lobby for John Hunter and the Book of Tut.
How the free spins work
- Land 3 or more Book of Tut symbols anywhere to win 10 free spins. The book is both the wild and the scatter.
- Before the spins start, one regular pay symbol is picked at random to be the special expanding symbol.
- During the spins, when enough of that symbol land for a win, it expands to cover its whole reel and pays on every line, even if the reels are not next to each other.
- 3 or more books during the round add another 10 free spins, and there is no limit on retriggers.
The best outcome is John Hunter himself as the expanding symbol, since he is the top-paying symbol: five on a line pay 500x your stake. If you have played Book of Dead, this will feel very familiar.
How often does it pay?
Bigwinboard and OLBG both list a hit frequency of about 1 in 3, so roughly one spin in three returns something. Most of those wins are small, and the high volatility means the free spins carry most of the value.
John Hunter and the Book of Tut at a glance
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
|---|---|
| Released | 14 May 2020 |
| Layout | 5 reels x 3 rows, 10 fixed paylines |
| RTP | 96.50% |
| Volatility | High |
| Bet per spin | 0.10 to 100 |
| Max win | 5,500x your stake (Pragmatic Play); some review sites list 5,000x or 6,600x |
| Top symbol | John Hunter: 500x your stake for 5 |
| Bonus buy | Sources disagree on whether it exists in some markets |
The John Hunter series
John Hunter appears in a whole series of Pragmatic Play games, and two later releases reworked this one:
- John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin (October 2022): a mystery symbol expands to fill reels and awards respins in the base game, as well as 10 free spins.
- John Hunter and the Book of Tut Megaways (September 2023): the first Megaways game in the series, with up to 117,649 ways and an expanding symbol in the base game too.
- Earlier adventure: John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen.
Who is it for?
- Fans of classic book slots who want a 10-line game with one big feature.
- Players who can ride out dry spells: this is one of the high-volatility slots, and the expanding symbol does most of the paying.
- If you prefer an Egyptian slot with a different feature, try Legacy of Egypt or Lady of Egypt.
- For a newer Pragmatic book slot, Book of Golden Sands adds 2x and 3x wilds, and its expanding symbol makes the reels grow up to 10 rows tall in free spins.
Where to play John Hunter and the Book of Tut
It is one of the Pragmatic Play slots you will find at most casinos that carry the studio. Check the game info shows 96.50% before you play. Before you deposit at 1win, read the bonus terms on our 1win promo code page. The code to enter is Ultragambler.
John Hunter and the Book of Tut FAQs
What is the RTP of John Hunter and the Book of Tut?
96.50%, according to Pragmatic Play, Bigwinboard, OLBG and VegasSlotsOnline.
What is the max win in John Hunter and the Book of Tut?
Pragmatic Play and PokerListings say 5,500x your stake. Some review sites list 5,000x or 6,600x, so we show the provider’s figure.
How many free spins do you get?
10 free spins for 3 or more Book of Tut symbols, and 3 or more during the round add 10 more, with no limit on retriggers.
What is the expanding symbol?
A regular symbol picked at random before the free spins. During the round it expands to fill its reel and pays on every line.
Can I play John Hunter and the Book of Tut for free?
Free play is available in the demo above, which uses credits rather than real money. It loaded when we tested it on 11 October 2026.
How we checked this
- Release date and series: OLBG, Intergame and Pragmatic’s launch release via European Gaming.
- Layout, 96.50% RTP, high volatility, 0.10 to 100 bets and hit frequency: Pragmatic Play, Bigwinboard, VegasSlotsOnline and PokerListings.
- Free spins, expanding symbol and retriggers: Pragmatic Play, Bigwinboard, OLBG and VegasSlotsOnline.
- Max win: Pragmatic Play, Bigwinboard’s game info and PokerListings say 5,500x; OLBG lists 6,600x and Bigwinboard’s review text 5,000x.
- Top symbol pay: VegasSlotsOnline and Bigwinboard. Respin and Megaways versions: Pragmatic Play’s Respin and Megaways announcements and OLBG.
- Figures last checked: 12 October 2026.
Important: check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted at all. Check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal gambling age in your country, if higher). Only gamble with money you can afford to lose.
