Dig Dig Digger
Dig Dig Digger is BGaming’s take on the “book” format: a 5×3 slot with 10 paylines, a single symbol that acts as both wild and scatter, and free spins in which a randomly chosen symbol expands to fill whole reels. The theme is an Egyptian dig led by a red-haired archaeologist. What separates it from most book slots is that one round can collect up to nine expanding symbols, and the bonus buy lets you choose how many you start with.
The rules list a base RTP of 94.94%, BGaming rates the volatility as very high and the maximum win is 7,500x the bet. This review covers the paytable, the activation rules for expanding symbols, the nine-tier bonus buy with its separate RTP figures, and what to look for in the Dig Dig Digger demo.
Where to Play Dig Dig Digger
Dig Dig Digger is part of the BGaming catalogue. The casinos below are reviewed on BetsAuthority and accept Australian players. Check the rules inside the casino’s version for the RTP line, since the base RTP of 94.94% is below average, and note that the Buy Bonus may be unavailable in some jurisdictions.
Quick Facts About Dig Dig Digger
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Slot | Dig Dig Digger |
| Provider | BGaming |
| Release | July 2021 |
| Layout | 5 reels / 3 rows, 10 fixed paylines |
| RTP | 94.94% base; 94.99% Chance x2; 95.13% to 95.76% Buy Bonus |
| Volatility | Very high (BGaming rating) |
| Maximum win | 7,500x the bet |
| Wild / scatter | Golden DIG shovel (one symbol does both) |
| Free spins | 10 spins for 3+ scatters, retriggerable |
| Special feature | Expanding symbols, up to 9 per round |
| Bonus buy | 110x (1 symbol) to 591x (9 symbols); Chance x2 at +60% per spin |
| Demo bet range | 0.10 to 20 per spin |
How Dig Dig Digger Works
All 10 paylines are active on every spin. Wins pay left to right on consecutive reels, the line bet is one tenth of the total bet, and only the highest win per line is paid. Scatter wins are based on the total bet and are added to line wins. A Gamble round (colour x2, suit x4) is offered after base game wins.
The golden DIG shovel is both the wild and the scatter. As a wild it substitutes for every symbol and pays 10x, 100x, 1,000x and 5,000x the line bet for two to five on a line. As a scatter it pays 2x, 20x and 200x the total bet for three, four and five anywhere, and three or more start free spins.
Paytable
The archaeologist is the top regular symbol with the same payouts as the shovel: 10x, 100x, 1,000x and 5,000x the line bet. The vase pays 5x, 40x, 400x and 2,000x; the scarab and the ankh key each pay 5x, 30x, 100x and 750x. These four premiums all pay from two of a kind. The hieroglyph royals pay from three: A and K pay 5x, 40x and 150x, while Q, J and 10 pay 5x, 20x and 100x.
BGaming’s data gives a hit rate of roughly one win every 3.4 spins and free spins about once every 173 spins. Most base game wins are small royal lines; the game’s return is concentrated in free spins.
Free Spins and Expanding Symbols
Three or more shovels award 10 free spins. Before the round starts, one regular symbol is picked at random as the expanding symbol. When enough of it lands, every instance expands to cover its whole reel, and the expanded reels pay on all 10 lines without needing to be adjacent. Activation depends on symbol tier: a premium (archaeologist, vase, key, scarab) needs 2 or more on different reels, while a royal (A, K, Q, J, 10) needs 3 or more on different reels.
Each retrigger adds 10 more spins and a new expanding symbol, up to nine in one round. Every expanding symbol chosen stays active until the round ends, so later spins have several symbols that can fill reels at the same time. The screenshots below come from a bought round with three expanding symbols (scarab, J and 10): J expanded across four reels on one spin, and 10 across three reels on the next.
An expanded archaeologist on all five reels pays 5,000x the line bet on each of the 10 lines, which is where the 7,500x cap comes into play. Royals expand more often in practice but pay far less: five expanded 10s pay 100x the line bet per line, or 100x the total bet.
Buy Bonus and Chance x2
The Buy Bonus menu sells 10 free spins with a chosen number of expanding symbols. At a 0.10 bet the demo prices are 11.00 for one symbol, 17.20 for two, 23.50 for three, and so on up to 59.10 for nine, which is 110x to 591x the bet. Chance x2 adds 60% to each spin (0.06 at a 0.10 stake) to raise the chance of a natural trigger. The two options cannot be combined.
RTP and Volatility
The rules screen lists an overall theoretical RTP of 94.94% for normal play and 94.99% with Chance x2. Buy Bonus RTP depends on the number of expanding symbols: 95.13% (1), 95.76% (2), 95.64% (3), 95.56% (4), 95.48% (5), 95.59% (6), 95.50% (7), 95.43% (8) and 95.51% (9). The two-symbol buy has the highest stated return, and all buy options return slightly more than spinning normally.
Volatility is rated very high. Results depend on which symbol is chosen to expand: a premium choice can produce large lines from only two copies, while a royal choice needs three and pays much less.
Worked Example: Expanding J
At a A$1 bet the line bet is A$0.10. Suppose J is the expanding symbol and J lands on reels 1, 2, 3 and 5. All four reels fill with J, and because expanded symbols do not need to be adjacent, the game pays four of a kind on all 10 lines: 20x the line bet (A$2) times 10 lines, or A$20. Regular line wins from the same spin are added. If the expanding symbol had been the vase, two copies on any two reels would already have been enough to expand.
Bankroll Tips for Dig Dig Digger
- Free spins average 1 in 173 spins; plan for at least 300 spins per session.
- The base RTP of 94.94% is below average; factor this into session length.
- Bonus buys range from 110x to 591x; at A$1 a nine-symbol buy costs A$591.
- Chance x2 raises each spin by 60% for a 0.05 percentage point RTP gain.
- Set deposit, loss and time limits before you start.
Pros and Cons of Dig Dig Digger
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Up to 9 expanding symbols in one round | Base RTP of 94.94% |
| Premium symbols expand from just 2 copies | Royal expanding symbols pay little |
| Bonus buy with selectable symbol count | Buy prices up to 591x the bet |
| 7,500x maximum win | Very high volatility |
| Buy Bonus RTP up to 95.76% | Free spins about 1 in 173 spins |
Demo Play vs Real Money
BGaming’s official demo is a fun-money build, with bets from 0.10 to 20 and the full Buy Bonus menu. It lets you compare a cheap one-symbol buy with a multi-symbol buy across several attempts, and see how often premiums versus royals are selected. Real-money stake limits and buy availability depend on the casino.
For real-money play, choose a casino that displays the RTP in the game info, pays verified withdrawals promptly and offers deposit limits and time-outs. See our casino reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
The rules list 94.94% for regular play, 94.99% with Chance x2, and between 95.13% and 95.76% for the Buy Bonus depending on how many expanding symbols you buy.
In free spins one regular symbol is chosen as the expanding symbol. Premium symbols expand when 2 or more land on different reels, royals when 3 or more do. Expanded symbols pay on all lines without needing to be adjacent.
Each retrigger adds another expanding symbol, up to 9 in one round. All of them stay active until the free spins end.
In the demo, prices run from 110x the bet for one expanding symbol to 591x for nine.
BGaming lists the maximum win as 7,500x the bet.
Yes. The golden DIG shovel substitutes for all symbols, pays as the top symbol on lines and pays as a scatter anywhere on screen.
Responsible Gaming Note
Dig Dig Digger is a very high volatility game of chance, and bonus buys can use a balance quickly. Only play if you are 18 or older, set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach them. Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.
Final Verdict
Dig Dig Digger extends the book format with up to nine expanding symbols per round, a lower activation threshold for premiums and a bonus buy where you choose the symbol count. The cost is a 94.94% base RTP, very high volatility and buy prices of up to 591x. Use the official demo to understand how symbol choice affects results, check the RTP at your casino, and keep any bonus buys small relative to your budget.
