Scarab Bonanza

Scarab Bonanza is an Ancient Egypt-themed pokie from Nailed It! Games, first released in June 2025. Cleopatra appears alongside a decorated five-reel grid, while the main features revolve around golden Scarab symbols, four fixed jackpot prizes, a multiplier that can reach 10x and Wild Reels created through collecting Cleopatra Wilds.

I like the way this theme fits the mechanics. The Scarab symbol has a natural connection with Egyptian mythology, while Cleopatra works well as the character responsible for the Wild Reel feature. Unlike a slot where the bonus mechanics seem unrelated to the artwork, Scarab Bonanza has a consistent visual identity.

My rating is 3.9 out of 5. The collecting features are clear and the jackpot symbols give the game something to watch beyond ordinary payline wins. However, the structure is very similar to several other Nailed It! Games releases, so I would give it more credit for presentation than originality.

Cleopatra and the Egyptian setting

Ancient Egypt is one of the most familiar themes in online pokies, so simply adding pyramids and scarabs doesn't make a release particularly original.

What I appreciate here is the clarity of the presentation. Cleopatra stands beside the decorated reels, the Scarab symbols are immediately recognisable and the collecting indicators are easy to follow.

The game uses ordinary left-to-right paylines for standard paying symbols. The premium symbols include Egyptian decorations and ceremonial objects, while the lower-paying set uses familiar playing-card ranks.

The Scarab feature operates separately from those conventional payline combinations.

How Scarab prizes are awarded

Scarab symbols can reveal cash or fixed jackpot values when they appear across at least three consecutive reels beginning with the first reel.

That means the symbols don't have to form an ordinary matching line in the same way as regular paytable icons.

Cash values vary depending on the reel, with later reels capable of revealing larger prizes and jackpot tiers.

I particularly like the fact that the higher jackpot values are linked to the special Scarab system rather than appearing as a random reward with no connection to the main grid.

These are fixed stake-multiple prizes. Their values shouldn't be confused with a progressive jackpot pool that changes as other players wager.

The Scarab Multiplier makes near-misses useful

The Scarab Multiplier begins at 1x and can grow to 10x.

When Scarab symbols land on the first two reels but fail to form a complete qualifying payout, the meter can increase by 1x.

Once a normal Scarab win occurs, the relevant cash and jackpot values are affected by the accumulated multiplier, which then resets under the standard rules.

I like how the feature turns an incomplete special-symbol arrangement into visible progression.

However, I wouldn't describe this as a strategy or an opportunity to predict when a bigger payout will occur. The next relevant reel combination remains random, regardless of how promising the multiplier looks.

Cleopatra Wilds and expanding reels

Cleopatra represents the Wild symbol. When she lands on reels two, three or four, the appearance contributes to the collection indicator associated with that reel.

Collecting two qualifying Wilds in the same indicator activates the Wild Reel feature.

The selected reel becomes fully Wild for the next two spins, substituting for eligible regular symbols.

It's possible for several reels to become Wild if their collections are completed, although the resulting payouts still depend on the ordinary paytable and the symbols on the remaining reels.

For me, this is the best visual feature in Scarab Bonanza. The full-height Cleopatra Wilds suit the Egyptian theme and make the transformed reel easy to recognise.

Scarab Bonus creates a guaranteed special-symbol combination

Scarab symbols that don't produce a normal payout may contribute towards the collection associated with Scarab Bonus.

When this feature activates randomly, additional Scarab symbols are placed onto the board, creating a qualifying Scarab payout.

The accumulated Scarab Multiplier can make the resulting prize considerably more valuable than the same combination would be at its starting multiplier.

This is an effective use of the existing game mechanics. Rather than switching to an entirely separate bonus screen, Scarab Bonus develops the same symbols and prizes that already matter during ordinary spins.

The qualification is that a guaranteed payout isn't a guaranteed large win. The revealed cash and jackpot values still determine the final result.

RTP and the volatility discrepancy

The published top RTP is 96.11%, which I consider a reasonable theoretical return for a modern fixed-payline pokie.

There is one specification I would verify before treating it as definitive: volatility. The current Slots Bonanza card lists Medium, while some independent game databases classify Scarab Bonanza as High.

I prefer using the classification displayed in the actual game's information screen rather than silently replacing one figure with another.

Whichever configuration is being played, RTP remains a long-run mathematical expectation. A high multiplier or a nearly complete Wild Collection doesn't guarantee the next result.

Does Scarab Bonanza have Free Spins or Bonus Buy?

The core special features are Wild Reels, Scarab Prizes and the randomly triggered Scarab Bonus. They shouldn't be confused with a conventional Free Spins round triggered by three or four Scatter symbols.

The catalogued version also doesn't list a standard fixed-price Bonus Buy.

I think this is worth explaining because a casino directory may label any special feature as a bonus round. Scarab Bonus has its own distinctive rules and doesn't require the same terminology as a traditional Free Spins game.

How it compares with Shamrock Bonanza

Shamrock Bonanza uses a very similar foundation: Wild Reels lasting two spins, special cash-prize symbols, a multiplier reaching 10x and a randomly activated feature that adds special symbols to the grid.

The biggest difference is the atmosphere. Scarab Bonanza uses Egyptian mythology and Cleopatra, while Shamrock Bonanza uses the familiar Irish luck theme.

I would choose between them primarily according to the presentation I prefer, while still checking the active RTP and volatility specifications.

My assessment

Scarab Bonanza is a visually attractive release with a consistent Egyptian identity and a straightforward collecting-symbol feature system. The Scarab prizes, Wild Reels and random bonus work together without needing complicated cascading rules.

Its weakness is that the mathematics and feature structure feel familiar across several games from the same studio. There isn't a major new mechanic that completely changes the experience.

I rate Scarab Bonanza 3.9 out of 5. It's worth exploring for players who enjoy fixed paylines, collectible cash symbols and expanding Wilds, although the volatility classification should be confirmed in the exact game version.

Visit the Bonanza pokies catalogue to explore more games with different features and themes. All payouts are random, and a high multiplier doesn't guarantee a profitable session.

Scarab Bonanza In Comparison Table