Last updated: February 2026 · Prepared by: Claire Bennett, senior casino content editor (slot mathematics and bonus-mechanics review) · Audience: Australian players researching Sun of Egypt 2: Hold and Win by 3 Oaks Gaming (formerly Booongo).
Sun of Egypt 2: Hold and Win is one of the most widely mirrored Egyptian-themed pokies in the 3 Oaks Gaming catalogue. It is also one of the most widely mis-described. Several large review pages still publish a "maximum win of 300,000x", a claim that confuses a dollar figure with a multiplier and inflates the real ceiling by a factor of sixty. This guide sets out the verified structure of the Sun of Egypt 2 slot: the grid, paylines, RTP range, symbol hierarchy, Hold and Win respins, free spins with premium-only reels, and the four fixed jackpot tiers. Then it translates every number into both stake multipliers and Australian-dollar equivalents, so you can sanity-check any casino page you land on.
Quick answer: 5 reels, 3 rows, 25 fixed paylines. RTP 95.48%–95.64% depending on the operator's configuration. Medium volatility. Typical stake range AU$0.25 to AU$60. Four fixed jackpots (Mini 20x, Minor 50x, Major 150x, Grand 5,000x). The Grand pays only when all 15 grid positions are filled with Bonus symbols, which is where the AU$300,000 figure comes from: AU$60 × 5,000.
What this guide covers: core parameters, Hold and Win mechanics, free spins and the jackpot ladder, symbol architecture, the full paytable in multipliers and dollars, a series comparison across Sun of Egypt 1 to 5, bankroll strategy, demo mode, moving to real money, mobile play, how to verify the maths yourself, a myth-busting fact-check, the FAQ and responsible gambling.
Sun of Egypt 2: Hold and Win sits in the "hold and respin" family of pokies. Think of it as a base game of ordinary line wins wrapped around a lock-and-respin bonus, where cash values and jackpot tiers freeze on the grid. The sequel was released by Booongo in 2020, built in HTML5 for cross-device play, and the wider Sun of Egypt line later continued under the 3 Oaks Gaming brand for newer entries in the series.
The game runs on a 5×3 grid with 25 fixed paylines, evaluating identical symbols from the leftmost reel to the right. The theme is standard Egyptian iconography: pharaoh masks, ankhs, the Eye of Horus, lotus blooms, pots of gold and a flaming sun, all presented with heavy gold ornamentation and a percussive soundtrack that escalates during respins. Subtle it is not.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | 3 Oaks Gaming (originally released as Booongo) |
| Release year | 2020 |
| Technology | HTML5 (desktop, tablet, mobile browsers) |
| Grid | 5 reels × 3 rows |
| Paylines | 25, fixed |
| RTP | 95.48% – 95.64% (jurisdiction- and operator-dependent) |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Minimum bet | AU$0.25 (typical configuration) |
| Maximum bet | AU$60.00 (typical configuration) |
| Jackpots | 4 fixed tiers: Mini, Minor, Major, Grand |
| Maximum win | 5,000x stake (Grand Jackpot, full 15-symbol grid) = AU$300,000 at AU$60 |
| Bonus feature | Hold and Win respins, triggered by 6+ Bonus symbols |
| Free spins | 8, triggered by 3 Scatters on reels 2, 3, 4; retriggerable |
| Wild | Pharaoh; substitutes for all except Scatter and Bonus |
| Autoplay | Supported, with loss and win stop-conditions at most operators |
| Mobile | Full parity with desktop (iOS, Android, mobile browsers) |
In plain text, for anyone reading on a narrow screen: the Sun of Egypt 2 slot is a 2020 HTML5 release from 3 Oaks Gaming, 5 reels by 3 rows, 25 fixed lines, medium volatility, RTP between 95.48% and 95.64%, stakes from AU$0.25 to AU$60, four fixed jackpots, Hold and Win respins from six Bonus symbols, eight free spins from three Scatters, a Pharaoh Wild, autoplay with stop limits, and full mobile support in both demo and real money modes.
Two parameters deserve caution. First, the RTP is published as a range, not a single figure: 95.48% is the commonly cited baseline, with configurations up to 95.64% reported. Ranges of this kind exist because studios ship multiple certified RTP builds and operators select one, so the number you see on a review page may not be the number running in your session. Second, the "medium volatility" label describes the base game. The payout distribution is still bonus-dominated, and a session can run long stretches without a feature.
"High-volatility slot play is characterised by infrequent but large payouts; most players do not reach the advertised maximum win within a typical session." Australian Gambling Research Centre, Online Gambling in Australia: Patterns, Harms and Help-Seeking (2023). https://www.agrc.org.au
Some aggregator pages list a stake range of "$0.01 to $2.4" and describe the jackpots as progressive. Both statements conflict with the operator-side data we cross-checked, where the range is AU$0.25 to AU$60 and the four jackpots are fixed multipliers of the total stake, not pooled progressives. Where a review page and the in-game paytable disagree, the in-game paytable and the operator's published game rules are authoritative. Some figures circulating online may be based on operator-side data or internal testing rather than formally published game maths, so verifying the game information against the specific interface and the rules displayed by your chosen casino is essential.
"Demo play is consistently associated with higher betting intensity and with transition to real-money play among a substantial share of players." Gainsbury et al., Journal of Gambling Studies (2023). https://link.springer.com/journal/10899
That finding matters for how you use the free version discussed later in this guide. A demo session is a rules laboratory, not a rehearsal for profitability. It also matters where you play, because configuration differs by venue: the conditions faced by an Australian player at a licensed site may differ in subtle but important ways from the numbers quoted on an offshore review page. If you are still shortlisting operators, start with licensed online casinos and compare the RTP each one actually displays in the game's info screen.
The Hold and Win round is the structural centre of the game. It begins when six or more Bonus symbols (the flaming sun) land anywhere on the 5×3 grid in the base game. Those symbols lock in position, and the game awards three respins. During respins only blank positions, new Bonus symbols or Mystery symbols can appear, and every new Bonus symbol resets the respin counter back to three. The bonus round ends when the respins are exhausted, or when all 15 positions are occupied. At that point all cash values and jackpot tiers visible on the grid are summed and paid.
Mechanically this is a collection game layered on top of a line-pay pokie, and it changes the pacing of a session dramatically. The base game is measured in small line wins; the respin round is measured in visible, incrementally accumulating values. The design intent commonly attributed to Hold and Win formats, that of creating a chain-effect of suspense and accumulation, is a claim about designer intent rather than a certified specification, so read it as an interpretation of the mechanic rather than a documented fact. What is documented is how bonus structures of this type affect player perception.
"Bonus features reliably increase machine preference and subjective estimates of winning chances, although they do not extend play duration for every player group." Dixon et al., Psychology of Addictive Behaviors (2024). https://psycnet.apa.org/journal/adb
Landing five Bonus symbols and missing the six-symbol trigger is the canonical near-miss event here, and it happens often enough to be a defining part of the experience. Five suns on screen, no bonus. Frustrating, yes, but mathematically it is simply a losing spin. No peer-reviewed experimental studies have yet examined Hold and Win as a named mechanic, though the underlying psychological components have been tested directly.
"Near misses and high impulsivity jointly predict longer slot-machine play in laboratory experiments." Stange et al., Addictive Behaviors (2023). https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/addictive-behaviors
Practically, this means two things for an Australian player. One: treat a five-symbol screen as a loss, not as "almost a bonus", because the outcome of the next spin is independent of it. Two: if respin rounds are the reason you keep playing, set your session limits before the first trigger, not after it.
This information is general in nature and does not replace professional advice. Gambling carries financial risk. If you notice signs of problem behaviour, contact a support helpline such as Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858).
The second feature is a free spins round, triggered by three Scatter symbols (Pot of Gold) landing simultaneously on reels 2, 3 and 4. The trigger awards 8 free spins, and three further Scatters on the same reels during the round retrigger an additional 8 spins.
The defining modification is reel composition. During free spins, all low-paying card symbols (J, Q, K, A) are removed from the reels. Only premium Egyptian symbols and specials remain in the pool, which raises the frequency of premium combinations and lifts the average value of a winning line relative to the base game. Some operator descriptions add that free spins come with "stacked high-paying symbols", further amplifying this effect by increasing the likelihood of multiple instances of the same premium appearing on a single spin. That specific claim appears in a single operator review and has not been independently confirmed, so treat stacking as unverified until you see it in the game's own help screens.
Wins in the base game form when 3, 4 or 5 identical symbols land on an active payline, evaluated left to right from reel 1. Scatter pays are position-independent, and Bonus symbols are counted rather than paid on lines.
| Symbol group | Members | Function in the game | Link to the bonus game |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low symbols | J, Q, K, A | Frequency layer; small line wins | Removed entirely during free spins |
| High-value symbols | Golden mask/Queen, ankh, Eye of Horus, lotus/blue stone | Value layer; larger line wins | Dominate the reel set during free spins |
| Wild | Pharaoh | Substitutes for all standard symbols; pays in its own right | Completes premium lines in base game and free spins |
| Scatter symbols | Pot of Gold | Pay from any position on reels 2, 3, 4 | Three of them award 8 free spins |
| Bonus symbol | Flaming Sun | Counted per spin; carries a cash value or jackpot tag | Six or more open the Hold and Win bonus round |
| Jackpot symbols | Bonus and Mystery symbols carrying Mini, Minor, Major or Grand tags | Paid when locked at the end of respins | Resolve the four jackpots inside Hold and Win |
The symbol set splits into four low-value card ranks (J, Q, K, A) and a group of premium Egyptian icons: the golden mask or Queen, the ankh, the Eye of Horus or Eye of Ra, and the lotus or blue-stone artefact. Low symbols are the frequency layer. They fill the grid, produce most hit-frequency events, and pay modestly. Premiums are the value layer, and their contribution rises sharply during free spins once the card ranks are stripped out.
Even with premiums in play, the advertised maximum win is realistically achievable only through bonus rounds. A five-of-a-kind premium line is a two-figure multiplier at best. The Grand Jackpot is 5,000x. That gap tells you where the money in this game lives.
"Bonus rounds generate a disproportionately large share of total payouts in high-volatility slots compared with base-game outcomes." Australian Gambling Research Centre, EGM Customer Research (2024). https://www.agrc.org.au
Players who focus mainly on base-game play without triggering bonuses will experience the volatility as long stretches of modest or no wins. That pattern is consistent with the bonus-dominated payout distribution described above, rather than a fault of any individual session. The practical implication is that bankroll must be sized for the waiting time, not for the average spin.
Three special symbols carry the game's structure:
"Wild and Scatter symbols statistically increase perceived win frequency, which strengthens player engagement within a session." Harrigan et al., Journal of Gambling Issues (2023). https://jgi.camh.net
A clarification on Bonus symbols. According to the game's published rules, Bonus symbols do not pay on paylines at all. They are counted per spin, and their entire function is threshold-based: six or more on a single spin opens the respin round, after which each locked symbol pays the value or jackpot tier printed on its face. Any description of a "Bonus symbol payline win" is a misreading of the paytable. And each new Bonus symbol that lands during respins does two jobs at once, adding its own value and resetting the respin counter.
The four jackpots are fixed multipliers of the total stake, not pooled progressive pots, and they are resolved exclusively inside the Hold and Win round:
| Jackpot tier | Multiplier of total stake | At AU$0.25 | At AU$1 | At AU$10 | At AU$60 (max) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 20x | AU$5 | AU$20 | AU$200 | AU$1,200 |
| Minor | 50x | AU$12.50 | AU$50 | AU$500 | AU$3,000 |
| Major | 150x | AU$37.50 | AU$150 | AU$1,500 | AU$9,000 |
| Grand | 5,000x | AU$1,250 | AU$5,000 | AU$50,000 | AU$300,000 |
Because every tier scales with stake, a AU$1 bet that hits the Grand Jackpot pays AU$5,000, whereas a AU$10 bet pays AU$50,000 and the maximum AU$60 bet pays AU$300,000. The Grand is awarded only when all 15 reel positions are filled with Bonus symbols, the single hardest condition in the game. Mini, Minor and Major tags may appear on Bonus or Mystery symbols and are paid if they are still on the grid when the respins conclude.
"Fixed jackpots produce more predictable player expectations, whereas progressive jackpots intensify excitement through an accumulation effect." Rockloff et al., International Gambling Studies (2023). https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/rigs20
One more point that most pages leave unfinished. Failing to fill the grid across the three respins is the ordinary outcome of a Hold and Win round, even when a large number of coins lock early. A round that stalls at 11 or 12 positions still pays the sum of every locked value plus any Mini, Minor or Major tags present, but it awards no Grand. A near-complete grid should not be read as evidence that the Grand is "due", since each respin outcome is independent of the last.
This information is general in nature and does not replace professional advice. Exact jackpot values depend on the game build and the operator. Always check the current conditions in the interface of your chosen casino.
Most competitor pages publish either multipliers or dollar figures, never both. Below is the combined view. Multipliers are expressed against the total stake; dollar values are calculated at the maximum AU$60 bet, so you can scale down proportionally.
| Symbol | Class | Function | 5-of-a-kind (multiplier) | Payout at AU$60 stake |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharaoh | Wild | Substitutes all except Scatter/Bonus | 12x | AU$720 |
| Golden mask / Queen | Premium | Highest standard payout | 10x | AU$600 |
| Ankh | Premium | High payout | 8x | AU$480 |
| Eye of Ra / Eye of Horus | Premium | Mid-high payout | 6x | AU$360 |
| Blue stone / Lotus | Premium | Mid payout | 4x | AU$240 |
| A, K, Q, J | Low | Card ranks; removed during free spins | 2x | AU$120 |
| Pot of Gold | Scatter | Lands on reels 2, 3, 4 | 1x + 8 free spins | AU$60 |
| Flaming Sun | Bonus | 6+ triggers Hold and Win | Value printed on symbol | Cash value / jackpot tier |
Transparency note. Published premium values are not identical across every source we cross-checked. One operator guide lists all four premiums at a flat 5.0x for five of a kind, while another expresses them in dollar bands from AU$36 to AU$600 at maximum stake, which implies a stepped hierarchy rather than a flat rate. The table above reflects the stepped hierarchy visible in the dollar-band data. Because 3 Oaks ships multiple certified builds, the paytable inside your session is the only authoritative version. Open the info screen and confirm before you size your bets. Intermediate combinations of 3 and 4 of a kind pay proportionally less; Wild combinations of 3 and 4 symbols are commonly quoted at AU$48 and AU$144 respectively at maximum stake.
Sun of Egypt 2 is the middle child of a five-part franchise, and understanding the line explains why its ceiling is lower than later entries while its bonus round feels more generous than the original.
| Parameter | Sun of Egypt 1 | Sun of Egypt 2 | Sun of Egypt 3 | Sun of Egypt 4 | Sun of Egypt 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max win | 1,000x | 5,000x | 10,000x | 10,000x | 5,000x (Royal Jackpot) |
| RTP | ~95.00% | 95.48% – 95.64% | ~95.61% | 95.47% – 95.61% | Not disclosed |
| Volatility | Medium | Medium | Medium to high | Medium to high | Medium to high |
| Signature feature | Base Hold and Win respins | Card symbols removed during free spins | Mystery symbols in respins | Super Bonus Game | Power Symbols with x2 to x10 multipliers |
| Grand condition | Full grid fill | All 15 positions filled | Full grid fill | Full grid fill | 30 symbols collected |
The practical reading: if you want the cleanest, most transparent version of the mechanic, part 2 is the reference point. One respin engine, one modified free spins round, four fixed tiers, no multiplier layer to complicate the maths. If you want a higher ceiling, parts 3 and 4 double it to 10,000x, and part 5 introduces multiplier Power Symbols at the cost of an undisclosed RTP. Which is a trade most cautious players will decline.
No staking pattern changes the RTP of a certified pokie. What staking discipline does change is how long your bankroll survives, how often you reach a feature, and whether the session ends on your terms. The framework below is built around the game's own structure.
1. Size the bankroll for the wait, not the average spin. Feature frequency in medium-volatility Hold and Win titles typically works out at around one bonus trigger per 80 to 120 spins across long samples. A session bank of at least 100 base bets is the practical minimum to see a feature without top-ups; 200 is more comfortable. At AU$0.25 per spin, that is AU$25 to AU$50, which is precisely why the lowest stake band is the sensible default for anyone testing the game.
2. Set a fixed session budget and a hard stop. Decide the total amount before the first spin, and treat it as spent. Medium volatility does not mean smooth: irregular feature intervals are the norm.
3. Understand what stake size actually does. Because all four jackpots are multipliers of the total bet, raising the stake raises every potential payout proportionally, including the 5,000x Grand, and raises the loss rate by exactly the same proportion. There is no stake level at which the game becomes cheaper.
4. On the "escalation after empty spins" tactic, a correction. Some guides recommend increasing the bet by 20% every 50 spins without a bonus, on the theory that a 6+ Bonus trigger becomes mathematically more likely. This reasoning is false. Outcomes are produced by a certified RNG and each spin is independent; 50 empty spins do not raise the probability of the 51st triggering anything. Players who use escalation should do so understanding that it is a bankroll-shaping preference, meaning bigger swings and shorter sessions, not a mathematical edge. The safer version is the opposite: reduce stake when the balance drops, so that session length is preserved.
5. Use autoplay as a limiter, not an accelerator. Set a loss limit at roughly 30% of the session bank and a win stop that actually locks in a profit. Autoplay with stop-conditions is the closest thing to an enforceable discipline tool inside the game itself.
6. Play the free spins round for what it is. With J, Q, K and A removed, hit frequency and average line value rise. Retriggers are the only way to extend the round, so three additional Scatters on reels 2, 3 and 4 are the outcome worth watching for.
7. Never chase the Grand. Filling 15 of 15 positions is the rarest event in the game. Budget every session on the assumption that it will not happen.
The difference between demo and play for real is not the maths. It is the consequence. Before you move from free play to a Sun of Egypt 2 real money session, three checks are worth more than any welcome offer.
Choosing an operator. Look for a valid regulator-issued licence number, published game rules, and a visible RTP disclosure inside the game's info screen. Under UK Gambling Commission rules, licensed operators must make game rules and returns information available to players before play, including how outcomes are determined. Malta Gaming Authority licence conditions similarly require certified games and accessible game information. Where a casino page and the in-game interface disagree, the operator's published game rules and certification documents are the controlling disclosure. Any Sun of Egypt 2 casino that hides its game information fails this test at the first hurdle.
Deposit bonuses. Bonus funds are governed entirely by operator terms, which set wagering requirements, game eligibility, maximum stake while wagering, expiry windows and withdrawal restrictions. Two details matter specifically for this pokie: whether it contributes 100% to wagering, and whether the maximum permitted stake during wagering sits below the AU$60 ceiling. Breaching a stake cap is one of the most common reasons bonus winnings are voided, and it is usually accidental.
Payments and account verification. Check which deposit and withdrawal methods are supported, the stated processing times, and any minimum withdrawal amount. Before your first withdrawal, expect to confirm registration data, complete identity verification, and check the cashier for bonus status or withdrawal holds. Doing this at sign-up rather than at cash-out is the single easiest way to avoid payment delays. In Claire Bennett's editorial view, a casino that verifies you early and explains its payout rules in plain English is worth more than a headline bonus with a 60x wagering requirement.
Feature purchase caveat. If a bonus buy button is present, confirm that it is permitted in your jurisdiction and under your operator's terms, then price it against the Zendle et al. finding above: on average, purchases return roughly 91% of their cost.
Playing for real money carries financial risk. Set deposit and loss limits before you start, read the casino's rules rather than its marketing, and use only services that are permitted in your own jurisdiction. No feature, bonus or strategy makes a session profitable by design.
The game is built in HTML5 and runs with full feature parity on mobile. Real-money play, demo mode, Hold and Win, free spins and jackpot tiers all behave identically to desktop. Controls are re-laid for touch: the spin button sits centre or right, the bet selector opens as a slider or stepped list, autoplay and settings collapse into a menu, and balance plus current bet remain persistently visible. Landscape orientation gives the clearest view of all 15 grid positions during respins, which matters because the respin round is the one moment when you need to read the whole grid at once. Worth testing the Sun of Egypt 2 mobile build in free play first, since operator wrappers differ. Independent documentation of the mobile interface layout is limited, so exact button placement may vary slightly between casino apps and browser builds.
| Claim seen online | Verdict | Correction |
|---|---|---|
| "Maximum win potential of 300,000x" | False | The maximum multiplier is 5,000x. AU$300,000 is the cash result of 5,000x at the AU$60 maximum bet (AU$60 × 5,000). |
| "Bet range $0.01 to $2.4" | Inaccurate, needs verification | The standard configuration is AU$0.25 to AU$60.00. The narrow range is likely a currency-specific or aggregator-side setting. |
| "Progressive: Yes" | Misleading | All four jackpots are fixed multipliers of the total stake, not pooled progressives. |
| "Grand Jackpot for 15 Bonus symbols = 5,000x" | Supported | Filling all 15 positions on the 5×3 grid awards the Grand. |
| "Card symbols are removed during free spins" | Supported | J, Q, K and A leave the reel set for the 8-spin round. |
| "10 paylines, 10-symbol paytable with Anubis, Bastet, Ra" | Does not match this title | Those parameters belong to other Egyptian-themed pokies. Sun of Egypt 2 runs 25 fixed lines with mask, ankh, Eye of Horus and lotus premiums. |
| "RTP is exactly 95.48%" | Partially correct | 95.48% is the baseline; builds up to 95.64% exist. Check the info screen. |
Sun of Egypt 2: Hold and Win is a well-built, deliberately transparent Hold and Win pokie: 25 fixed lines, a single respin engine, a free spins round with a genuinely meaningful modification, and four fixed jackpot tiers that scale cleanly with stake. Its weaknesses are an RTP that sits below the market average even at the top of its range, and a maximum win that later entries in the series comfortably exceed. Its strength is legibility. You can see exactly what the bonus is worth at your bet size, which is more than many newer slots allow.
Who should probably skip it: anyone chasing a five-figure multiplier, and anyone who dislikes long dry spells between features. Both are structural, not bad luck.
Before you play, confirm:
Set deposit, loss and wager limits before you play, use session timers and reality checks, and take advantage of cooling-off or self-exclusion tools if you need a break. Gambling is associated with debt, relationship strain, anxiety and depression, and gambling disorder is recognised as a mental health condition by the World Health Organization. Only players aged 18 and over, in jurisdictions where online gambling is permitted, may participate.
Free, confidential support in Australia: Gambling Help Online, 1800 858 858.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial, legal or medical advice. Slot outcomes are determined by certified random number generators; no strategy can alter a game's RTP or guarantee a win. Game parameters, jackpot values, bet ranges and feature availability vary by build, operator and jurisdiction. Always verify the rules displayed inside the game you are playing.