Rise of Merlin app guide

What the Rise of Merlin app experience looks like

If you have played Book of Dead, Rise of Merlin will feel familiar in structure. It is a five-reel, three-row game with ten lines, a combined wild and scatter symbol, and a free spins round where one symbol can expand to fill whole reels. The difference is in the details: the special symbol is a glowing orb rather than a book, and the expanding symbol works with different thresholds for high and low payers.

The 5 × 3 grid is comfortable in portrait on any modern phone. Symbols are large, the orb stands out clearly, and the stake and spin controls sit beneath the reels. Landscape adds size but is not necessary.

The Magical Orb: wild and scatter in one

The Magical Orb does two jobs. As a wild, it substitutes for other symbols to complete lines. As a scatter, landing three or more anywhere on the reels triggers the free spins feature and also pays a prize based on how many orbs landed.

Play’n GO’s description also says players can be waved into the free spins feature at other times. The rules screen inside the game explains when this can happen, so read it before relying on any summary, including this one.

A combined wild-scatter is common in book-style games. Our scatter symbol glossary entry explains how scatters differ from line symbols.

Rise of Merlin free spins and the expanding symbol

Three or more orbs award 8 free spins, and each retrigger adds another 8. At the start of the round, one symbol is chosen at random to be the special expanding symbol for the whole feature.

When enough of that symbol land during a free spin, it expands to cover its reels and pays as if it filled them. The threshold depends on the symbol: high-paying symbols need fewer to expand than low-paying ones. The normal spin win is paid first, then the expanded symbol’s win is paid on top.

Because the expanding symbol can pay on reels that are not next to each other in some book-style games, it is worth checking the paytable for exactly how expanded wins are counted in this version. Our expanding wild glossary entry and the page on book slots apps cover the wider family of games using this idea.

How to play Rise of Merlin in a casino app

1. Open the casino app and sign in. Face ID or fingerprint login saves time if your app supports it.
2. Search “Merlin” in the lobby and choose Rise of Merlin by Play’n GO.
3. When the game has loaded, open the menu and read the paytable, the orb rules and the RTP line.
4. Pick your stake. The app stops at £5 per spin, or £2 if you are 18 to 24.
5. Tap spin for each round; there is no autoplay in the UK.
6. If three or more orbs land, the free spins begin and the game picks the expanding symbol for the round.
7. Keep an eye on the balance and net position line, and leave when your planned session is over.

For help with stake controls or reading a paytable on a small screen, see how to read a paytable on mobile.

Rise of Merlin RTP and volatility: what to expect in a session

The top published RTP is 96.58%, a theoretical cost of £3.42 for every £100 staked over the long run. Play’n GO offers lower settings too, so your casino may run a version that returns less; the rules screen shows which.

High volatility is typical of expanding-symbol games, because the free spins carry most of the value. Long runs of small or empty spins are normal between features.

Actual results will swing much further than those figures. Set your budget and a time reminder before you start; our reality check guide shows how on iPhone and Android.

Max win: 5,000× your stake

The cap is 5,000 times your stake, which is £500 at 10p, £1,000 at 20p and £5,000 at £1. In expanding-symbol games the ceiling is usually only reachable with a high-paying symbol expanded across the reels during free spins, which is very rare. Most sessions end below where they started.

UK rules in the Rise of Merlin app version

• Maximum stake of £5 per spin from age 25, and £2 for players aged 18 to 24.
• No autoplay and no turbo; each spin lasts at least 2.5 seconds.
• Bonus buy is switched off for British players.
• Your balance and net position remain visible throughout.

More detail is in our guide to UK stake limits on mobile slots.

Trying the Rise of Merlin demo

As with any UK-licensed game, the demo only becomes available after your age has been verified. It is a sensible way to see how the expanding symbol behaves before staking real money. Demo credit has no value and cannot be cashed out.

Rise of Merlin vs Book of Dead and similar slots

Legacy of Dead is the closest match on paper. Rise of Athena is the calmer, medium-volatility sibling. Explore more of the studio’s games on our Play’n GO page.

Pros and cons of Rise of Merlin on mobile

Where to play Rise of Merlin on your phone

Search each lobby before depositing, as Play’n GO ranges differ. 10bet’s casino welcome offer (18+, new UK customers, T&Cs apply) doubles a first deposit made within 7 days of joining, up to £25 of bonus, as long as you select it at sign-up; the bonus must be played through 10 times on slots within 3 days and winnings from it are capped at £1,000. New Ladbrokes customers (18+, T&Cs apply) who deposit and spend £10 on slots can collect 50 free spins daily for 10 days, up to 500 in all, each worth 10p on selected games with no wagering; claim each batch from the inbox by 23:59 and use it within 7 days, and note that PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe, Moneybookers and prepaid-card deposits don’t count.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.