The John Hunter Scarab Queen slot, full name John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen, is a 2019 Pragmatic Play game with 25 fixed paylines, a 96.50% RTP and a 10,500x max win. Scarab money symbols on reels 1 to 4 pay out when a Collect symbol lands on reel 5, and three scatters give 8 free spins.
Scarab money symbols on reels 1–4 are paid when a Collect symbol lands on reel 5.
Collect variants can add value, apply a multiplier, expand money symbols or give a respin.
Three scatters on the middle reels trigger 8 free spins, and retriggers are possible.
Volatility is listed as low to medium because sources differ; the max win is 10,500x.
Developer
Pragmatic Play
RTP
96.50%
Volatility
Low to medium (sources differ)
Layout
5 reels × 3 rows
Paylines
25 fixed paylines
Max win
10,500× stake
Released
2019
John Hunter Scarab Queen slot overview
Pragmatic Play, the Gibraltar-based studio behind Gates of Olympus and Big Bass Bonanza, released this Egyptian adventure in 2019 as part of its run of games starring the explorer John Hunter. OLBG’s guide to the John Hunter slots (opens in a new tab) covers the wider series. This one centres on a money-collect mechanic: scarabs carry cash values, and a Collect symbol on the last reel gathers them up. Our Pragmatic Play slots page has more on the studio, and the slots hub lists all our reviews.
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen specifications
Scarab money symbols can land on the first four reels, each showing a cash value. On their own they don’t pay. They sit on the grid waiting for a Collect symbol.
The Collect symbol on reel 5
When a Collect symbol lands on reel 5, it gathers the values of every scarab money symbol on screen and pays them out. That makes reel 5 the most important reel in the game: a screen full of scarabs pays nothing unless a Collect arrives on the same spin.
Collect variants
Not every Collect is the same. Some variants add extra value to the total, some apply a multiplier, some expand the money symbols so they cover more of the reels, and some award a respin for another chance at a collection. The help screen lists each variant and its values.
Eight free spins
Three scatters on the middle reels trigger 8 free spins. Money and Collect symbols stay active throughout the round, so collections can keep happening, and the round can be retriggered for more spins. Our free spins feature guide explains how rounds like this are priced into the RTP.
Scarab money and Collect: a worked example
This illustration uses round numbers to show how a collection adds up at a 50p stake. The values are made up for the arithmetic; the paytable shows the real ones.
Illustrative collection at a 50p stake
Step
What lands
Running total
1
Scarab worth £1 on reel 1
£1 (unpaid)
2
Scarab worth £2.50 on reel 3
£3.50 (unpaid)
3
Scarab worth 50p on reel 4
£4 (unpaid)
4
Plain Collect on reel 5
£4 paid
Alternative 4
Collect with a 2x multiplier on reel 5
£8 paid
The same three scarabs pay nothing without step 4. That is the rhythm of the game: values build up on screen and only become wins when the Collect turns up. Expanding variants change the picture by spreading money symbols across more positions before the collection is counted. Line wins from the 25 paylines are paid separately.
John Hunter Scarab Queen volatility: why sources differ
Our data lists the game as low to medium volatility because different sources rate it differently. That happens more often than you might think. Some studios publish a volatility scale, others don’t, and review sites often label games from their own impressions or from simulated spins. The labels are descriptions, not regulated figures.
What matters for you is the practical meaning. A game at the lower end of the scale pays more of its return through regular smaller wins, so budgets tend to last longer. A 10,500x cap is high for a low-to-medium game, which suggests a small part of the return is held back for rare big collections. If the help screen at your casino shows a volatility meter, trust that over any listing. Our volatility explainer covers how ratings are worked out.
John Hunter Scarab Queen RTP and cost
The RTP is 96.50%, so the house edge is 3.50%: £3.50 lost on average for every £100 staked over a long run. Here is the same edge applied across stakes and playing speeds.
Average cost at 96.50% RTP
Stake
Per 100 spins
Per hour at 8 spins a minute (480)
Per hour at the UK maximum (1,440)
25p (1p a line)
88p
£4.20
£12.60
50p
£1.75
£8.40
£25.20
£1
£3.50
£16.80
£50.40
The fastest pace UK rules allow is one spin every 2.5 seconds, which is 1,440 spins an hour. Fewer spins an hour means a lower hourly cost. Our cost per hour guide and expected value pages show how these figures are built.
A £20 budget on the John Hunter Scarab Queen slot
£20 at three stakes
Stake
Spins covered if nothing wins
Average cost per 100 spins
10,500x at this stake
10p
200
35p
£1,050
50p
40
£1.75
£5,250
£1
20
£3.50
£10,500
With volatility at the gentler end of the scale, a £20 budget usually lasts longer here than on a high-volatility game at the same stake, though nothing is certain in a single session. Lower stakes give more chances for a Collect to land with scarabs already on screen, and for the middle-reel scatters to show up. Our guide to how long £20 lasts on a slot runs similar sums for other games.
The 10,500x max win in context
A 10,500x cap is high for a game rated low to medium. Among Pragmatic Play titles, it edges past Release the Kraken at 10,000x and sits well above The Dog House at 6,750x and Madame Destiny at 1,500x. At the £5 UK maximum for players aged 25 and over, 10,500x is £52,500; at the £2 cap for those aged 18–24, it is £21,000.
The cap would need a large collection boosted by the best Collect variants, most likely inside free spins. It is a rare outcome that the RTP already accounts for. Our page on what max win caps mean has more.
How to play John Hunter Scarab Queen
Join a UK-licensed casino and complete age and identity checks; demos need age verification too.
Open the game and check the help screen for the RTP and the list of Collect variants.
Set your stake. All 25 lines are fixed; the UK cap is £5 a spin at 25+ and £2 at 18–24.
Spin manually and watch reels 1 to 4 for scarab money symbols.
When a Collect lands on reel 5, the scarab values are added up and paid.
Look for three scatters on the middle reels for 8 free spins, and stop at your planned limit.
UK rules for John Hunter Scarab Queen
In Great Britain this game follows the Gambling Commission’s online slot rules. The online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) caps stakes at £5 a spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18–24-year-olds. Autoplay, turbo spins and slam-stop are not allowed, and each spin must take at least 2.5 seconds.
A respin awarded by a Collect variant is part of the feature rather than a new paid spin. The game also can’t celebrate a collection that returns no more than your stake, and the casino must show your net spend and time played. Our game speed rules and autoplay ban pages explain the details.
Pragmatic Play slots like John Hunter Scarab Queen
For more tomb raids and pharaohs, see our Egyptian slots collection.
Where to play John Hunter Scarab Queen in the UK
The partner offers below are slot offers whose spins apply to Big Bass Bonanza (PlayOJO) or to selected games (Coral and Ladbrokes). John Hunter Scarab Queen may not be one of them, so check the game lobby and terms. 18+ and terms apply.
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Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open another; check the terms first.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, Gambling Commission account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
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Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read our Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, Gambling Commission account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RTP of John Hunter Scarab Queen?
John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen has an RTP of 96.50%, giving a house edge of 3.50%. Over a long run that means £3.50 lost on average for every £100 staked, though single sessions vary widely. Confirm the figure in the help screen at your casino. Our RTP guide explains what the percentage does and doesn’t tell you.
How does the Collect symbol work?
When the Collect symbol lands on reel 5, it pays the total value of every scarab money symbol on reels 1 to 4 on that spin. Some Collect variants add value, apply a multiplier, expand the money symbols or award a respin. Without a Collect, scarabs on screen pay nothing. Our hold and win page covers other money-symbol mechanics.
How do you trigger free spins on John Hunter Scarab Queen?
Three scatter symbols on the middle reels trigger 8 free spins. During the round, scarab money symbols and Collect symbols stay active, so collections can keep landing, and the round can be retriggered for extra spins. Since a January 2020 Gambling Commission warning, feature buy-ins aren’t offered to British players. Our scatter symbols guide explains how scatters work.
What is the max win on John Hunter Scarab Queen?
The maximum win is 10,500x your stake. That is £1,050 at 10p, £10,500 at £1 and £52,500 at the £5 UK maximum for players aged 25 and over. It would take a large collection boosted by the best Collect variants, so it is very rare. Our page on slot max wins explains these ceilings.
Is John Hunter Scarab Queen low volatility?
It is listed as low to medium volatility, because sources differ on the exact rating. In practice that means wins tend to arrive more regularly and in smaller amounts than on a high-volatility slot, so budgets usually last longer. The cost per pound is the same either way. Check for a volatility meter in the game, and see our volatility guide.
Who makes John Hunter Scarab Queen?
Pragmatic Play makes John Hunter and the Tomb of the Scarab Queen, released in 2019. The studio was founded in 2015, is based in Gibraltar and is regulated by the Gambling Commission among more than 30 jurisdictions. It is also behind Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza and Big Bass Bonanza. Our Pragmatic Play page covers more of its games.
How many paylines does John Hunter Scarab Queen have?
The game has 25 fixed paylines on a five-reel, three-row grid. All 25 are active on every spin, so a 25p stake is 1p per line and a £1 stake is 4p per line. Scarab collections are paid on top of line wins. Line count doesn’t change the RTP. Our paylines explainer shows how fixed lines work.
Can you play John Hunter Scarab Queen for free?
Some UK casinos offer a demo, but you must pass age verification before playing it, because Gambling Commission rules require age checks for free-to-play games too. A demo uses the same maths as the real version, so it is a useful way to learn how the Collect works without spending. Our page on playing slots for free in the UK explains the rules.
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