John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen is the third game in Pragmatic Play‘s John Hunter series, released in 2019. It runs on 5 reels, 3 rows and 25 fixed paylines, and its core mechanic is a money collect system: golden scarabs with cash values land on reels 1 to 4, and one of five collect symbols on reel 5 decides how they are paid. All five collect features stay active in free spins, which add a bonus pot paid out on a final respin. The rules list a 96.5% RTP and medium volatility, and the game states a maximum win of 10,500x the total bet.
This review gives the paytable in bet multiples, the value ranges of each collect type, the bonus pot mechanics in free spins and practical notes on Scarab Queen demo play. All figures come from the game’s own rules screens.
Where to Play John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen
The game is part of the standard Pragmatic Play catalogue and is listed at most casinos that carry the provider. The casinos below offer Pragmatic Play slots, accept Australian players and are reviewed on BetsAuthority. Check the RTP in the game rules at the casino before you deposit.
Quick Facts About John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Slot | John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen |
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
| Release | 2019 |
| Layout | 5 reels / 3 rows |
| Paylines | 25 fixed |
| RTP | 96.5% (lower versions exist) |
| Volatility | Medium (official rating) |
| Bet range | 0.25 to 250 per spin (casino limits may differ) |
| Maximum win | 10,500x the total bet |
| Money symbols | Reels 1 to 4, worth 1x to 35x the bet |
| Collect symbols | 5 types on reel 5 |
| Free spins | 8 spins for 3 scatters, unlimited retriggers, bonus pot |
How the Game Works
Line wins pay left to right on 25 fixed lines from the leftmost reel. In multiples of the total bet, five John Hunter symbols pay 32x, four pay 2x and three 0.4x. Five Anubis symbols pay 7x, five holsters 6x and five satchels 5x. Five A, K, Q or J pay 4x; four A pay 0.8x and four K, Q or J pay 0.4x; three of any card symbol pay 0.2x.
The Scarab Queen is the wild. She appears on reels 2, 3, 4 and 5 and substitutes for all symbols except the scatter, money symbols and collect symbols. The pyramid scatter appears only on reels 2, 3 and 4; three of them pay 1x the total bet and trigger free spins.
Money Collect Feature
The golden scarab money symbol appears on reels 1 to 4 and takes a random value of 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 8x, 10x, 12x, 15x, 18x, 20x, 25x, 30x or 35x the total bet. On its own it pays nothing. When one or more money symbols are on screen and a collect symbol lands on reel 5, one of five features is awarded:
- Collect – the values of all money symbols are added together and paid.
- Extra Credit Collect – 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x or 10x the bet is added to every money symbol before they are paid.
- Multiplier Collect – the total of all money symbols is multiplied by 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x or 25x.
- Expanding Collect – every reel with at least one money symbol fills completely with money symbols, the new ones take fresh values, and all are paid.
- Respin Collect – money symbols stay in place, all other positions respin once, and every money symbol on screen after the respin is paid.
Multiplier Collect is the highest-paying outcome in the base game: four scarabs worth a combined 40x the bet under a 25x multiplier would pay 1,000x. A collect symbol without any money symbol on screen pays nothing.
Free Spins and the Bonus Pot
Three scatters on reels 2, 3 and 4 award 8 free spins. Three more scatters during the round add another 8, with no limit on retriggers. Money symbols and all five collect features remain active, and special reels are used.
During the feature, the value of every money symbol that lands is also added to a bonus pot, shown as the Super Respin counter above the reels. This happens whether or not a collect symbol lands on that spin, so collect wins during the round and the pot build in parallel.
When all free spins have been played, the pot returns to the reels as a giant money symbol covering reels 1 to 4, and one final respin is played on reel 5. If a collect symbol lands there, the pot is paid; if not, the pot is lost. The rules do not guarantee the final collect, so the pot shown during the round is a potential win, not a credited one.
Bonus Buy and Ante Bet
The demo version used for this review has no bonus buy button and no Ante Bet, and the rules screens describe neither. Free spins can only be triggered by the three scatters on reels 2, 3 and 4.
RTP, Volatility and Max Win
The demo’s rules screen gives a theoretical RTP of 96.5%, bets from 0.25 to 250 and a medium volatility label. Casinos can run lower RTP configurations that look identical, so check the RTP line in the game rules at your casino. The in-game banner states a maximum win of 10,500x the total bet.
Worked Example: The Bonus Pot
In the demo round captured for this review, played at A$2, the 8 free spins paid A$58 through regular collect features, including an Expanding Collect. Meanwhile the scarab values that landed raised the bonus pot to A$148, or 74x the bet. On the final respin no collect symbol landed on reel 5, so the A$148 pot was not paid and the round closed at A$58.
Had a Multiplier Collect with 5x landed on that last respin, the pot alone would have paid A$740. This all-or-nothing final spin is the main source of variance in the bonus.
Bankroll Tips
- Collect wins need two conditions on one spin (money symbols and a reel 5 collect), so many spins with scarabs pay nothing.
- Budget for at least 200 spins; free spins need one scatter on each of reels 2, 3 and 4.
- Treat the bonus pot as unpaid until the final respin settles.
- Set loss and time limits before starting and use your casino’s deposit limit tools.
- Each spin is independent; past results do not affect the next one.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Five collect features, all available in the base game | Money symbols pay nothing without a collect |
| Multiplier Collect up to 25x | Bonus pot is lost if the final respin misses |
| 10,500x maximum win | No bonus buy in the reviewed version |
| Unlimited free spins retriggers | Only 8 spins per trigger |
| Medium volatility and free demo | Lower RTP versions may be used by casinos |
Demo Play vs Real Money
The demo on this page uses the same maths as the real version. Because there is no bonus buy, the demo is the practical way to see how often each collect type appears and how frequently the final pot respin pays.
For real money, choose a casino that shows the RTP in the game info, processes verified withdrawals on time and offers deposit and session limits. Our casino reviews compare these points.
Frequently Asked Questions
The game rules state a theoretical RTP of 96.5%. Casinos can run lower versions, so check the rules screen inside the game before playing.
The in-game rules rate it as medium volatility.
Scarab money symbols land on reels 1 to 4 with values from 1x to 35x the total bet. They pay only when a collect symbol lands on reel 5 on the same spin.
Collect pays all money values; Extra Credit Collect adds 1x to 10x to each money symbol first; Multiplier Collect multiplies them by 2x to 25x; Expanding Collect fills reels with money symbols; Respin Collect holds money symbols and respins the rest.
Three scatters on reels 2, 3 and 4 award 8 free spins, retriggerable without limit. Money values that land go into a bonus pot, which returns as a giant money symbol for a final respin and is paid if a collect symbol lands on reel 5.
The game’s own banner states a maximum win of 10,500x the total bet.
Responsible Gaming Note
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen is entertainment, not a way to make money. Only play if you are 18 or older, set limits before you start and stop when you reach them. If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential support is available 24/7 from Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.
Final Verdict
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen builds its value around scarab money symbols and five ways to collect them, with Multiplier Collect reaching 25x and a free spins pot settled on one final respin. The 96.5% RTP, medium volatility and 10,500x cap come from the game itself. Use the demo to see how often collects connect, confirm the RTP at your casino and play within a fixed budget.
