
Sun of Egypt: Hold and Win is the debut title in the Hold and Win line from 3 Oaks Gaming (formerly Booongo). Released in 2019, it quickly captured players’ attention by marrying a classic Egyptian setting with a modern “lock-and-re-spin” mechanic. The 5 × 3 matrix carries 25 fixed paylines, while stakes range from 0.25 to 60 coins per spin, suiting virtually every bankroll. The theoretical return-to-player (RTP) floats between 95.3 % and 96 %, and medium variance balances entertainment value with the chance of sizable hits up to 1 000 × the bet.
Visually the slot is steeped in sunset-tinted sand dunes: distant pyramids, shimmering heat and palm silhouettes form the backdrop, with papyrus-style frames encasing the reels. A soundtrack of ethnic drums, strings and flutes, layered with gentle orchestration, heightens the treasure-hunt mood. Built natively in HTML5, the game launches instantly on desktop, tablet and smartphone, iOS or Android alike.
From a maths standpoint, Sun of Egypt is a solid medium-volatility machine. Dry spells are shorter than in high-variance Megaways, yet the fixed jackpots—Mini, Minor, Major and Grand—help deliver punchy moments, lifting overall potential to a respectable 1 000×.
Developer background in brief
3 Oaks Gaming, a UK-based distributor, acquired the Booongo catalogue in 2021 and now publishes it under a unified brand. By spring 2025 the Sun of Egypt series numbers four instalments, each sequel upping the ante with bigger grands (up to 10 000 × in Sun of Egypt 3), Boost/Super re-spins and higher RTP. The original release, however, remains popular thanks to its straightforward rules and clean Hold and Win implementation—ideal for mastering the mechanic without side features.
How Sun of Egypt: Hold and Win plays
Gameplay is intuitive: choose coin value, set total bet, hit Spin. Combinations count left-to-right from reel 1, requiring at least three identical symbols. Premium rewards start at four- and five-of-a-kind. The “i” icon opens the paytable and rules; Autoplay handles 5–1 000 spins with win/profit/loss stops.
Symbols split into two groups. High-payers are Cleopatra, Ankh, Eye of Ra and Golden Crown. Low-payers are card royals A, K, Q, J. Five Cleopatras yield 600 coins, while five Js award 45. Full figures are listed below.
Pay-table and winning lines
Symbol | 3 symbols | 4 symbols | 5 symbols |
---|---|---|---|
Cleopatra | 12 | 120 | 600 |
Ankh | 9 | 90 | 300 |
Eye of Ra | 9 | 60 | 240 |
Golden Crown | 6 | 45 | 180 |
A | 3 | 18 | 120 |
K | 3 | 15 | 90 |
Q | 3 | 12 | 60 |
J | 3 | 9 | 45 |
Raising stake size scales every value proportionally—at 1-coin denomination a Cleopatra line pays 36 000 coins. Paylines are locked, so payout depends solely on total stake, not on “coins per line”.
A handy extra in the menu highlights every active payline, helping new players visualise diagonal routes.
Special features and gameplay highlights
- Wild (golden sun marked WILD) lands on reels 2-5, substituting all regular icons. A five-wild line equals Cleopatra’s top award.
- Scatter (golden pyramid) appears only on reels 2-4; three award 8 free spins plus 2 × total bet.
- Free spins remove low symbols (A, K, Q, J), leaving premiums, wilds, suns and scatters. A second trio of pyramids re-triggers 8 extra spins without limit.
- Bonus Sun triggers Hold and Win when six or more orbs land; each carries 1 ×–25 × stake.
- Fixed jackpots: Mini 20 ×, Minor 50 ×, Major 150 ×, Grand 1 000 ×, credited instantly when their labels appear on an orb.
- Turbo mode shortens spin animation, nearly doubling spin speed—perfect for wagering sessions.
- Autoplay lets you preset spin count and stop conditions for safer bankroll control.
The Hold and Win bonus round in depth
Landing six Bonus Suns clears the reels and locks these symbols. You receive 3 re-spins; every new sun locks and resets the counter to three. The feature ends when no spins remain—or when all 15 positions are filled, awarding the Grand Jackpot 1 000 ×. Independent tests peg average trigger frequency at roughly 1 in 135–160 spins, though variance may widen that window.
Tip: Two empty re-spins may hint that the round will finish soon, but miracle clusters do arrive on the final shot. Keep stakes constant mid-feature to avoid runaway losses.
Advanced strategy and bankroll management
1. Plan long sessions. Target 300–400 spins; variance settles and both bonus types approach expected frequency.
2. Use a stake ladder. Start at 2–3 % of roll; after five dead spins move one stake step up. Hit a bonus or big win, drop back. This times bigger wagers to bonus triggers without draining funds fast.
3. Pick the best RTP. A 0.7-point RTP gap equals 700 € over 100 000 € staked—choose the 96 % version when available.
4. Set a hard loss limit. Stop once 20–25 % of your session bankroll is gone; breaks beat tilt every time.
5. Bank big hits. Wins above 100 × are statistically rare—withdraw part instead of raising stakes and giving it back.
Demo mode explained
Demo mode uses virtual credits and toggles via “Play Demo” or the “Demo / Real” slider. If the game still asks for a deposit, allow pop-ups and check for a small switch in the top-right corner. Credits reset on reload, so practice is unlimited.
Suggested training plan:
- 500 spins at minimum stake—observe hit distribution;
- 300 spins at mid stakes—track balance swings;
- 200 turbo spins—measure bankroll velocity;
- 100 laddered spins—dry-run strategy before real money.
Mobile compatibility and technical notes
Over 70 % of 2025 spins occur on mobile, and Sun of Egypt is ready. The UI auto-adapts portrait/landscape; phones under 5″ collapse controls behind a hamburger icon, keeping 60 FPS even on 2021 hardware.
Four graphic profiles—Low, Medium, High, Auto—let Auto drop heavier effects if frame-rate dips, preserving smooth play and battery life.
Fair-play policy and certification
The RNG is certified by iTech Labs and GLI, verifying randomness, fixed RTP and math integrity. Licences from Curaçao and the Isle of Man oblige 3 Oaks Gaming to publish build reports after each update.
Conclusion: should you chase the riches of the Egyptian Sun?
Sun of Egypt: Hold and Win still impresses with evocative art, clear rules, medium volatility and frequent features. Fixed jackpots deliver adrenaline spikes; sensible autoplay limits aid bankroll discipline. While the RTP isn’t record-breaking and high-rollers may prefer sequels with 10 000 × grands, newcomers and medium-risk fans will feel right at home.
Try demo mode, refine the stake ladder—and may fifteen blazing suns lock in at the very moment your bet peaks!
Developer: 3 Oaks Gaming.