Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel Slot Review – RTP, Max Win & Free Demo
Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel casts out a new fishing adventure in the popular Big Bass slot series. Developed by Pragmatic Play in partnership with Reel Kingdom, this sequel hooks players with the same cheerful fisherman action and some fresh twists. Importantly, you can try the Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel free demo to experience its gameplay firsthand without spending a cent. The demo mode showcases how the slot’s features work – from snagging fish money symbols to triggering the golden fisherman bonus – letting you practice and have fun risk-free.

This guide breaks down how to play Keeping It Reel, explains its key stats like RTP (Return to Player), volatility, and max win, and compares it to other Big Bass games. You’ll also find a few tips to help make the most of its features. If you’re wondering whether this fishing slot lives up to its predecessors or looking for advice on reeling in the big catch, read on.
Place in the Big Bass Series
Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel is the latest entry in the Big Bass series of slots. Keeping It Reel stands out by introducing a couple of new mechanics while preserving the charm that made the franchise a hit. On the surface it looks familiar – a 5-reel fishing adventure with the same cartoon underwater backdrop – yet underneath, there’s a new Golden Fisherman symbol and a prize net feature that set it apart from previous titles. Moreover, it boasts the highest maximum win of the series at 10,000x, eclipsing earlier games’ potential. This installment keeps the Big Bass vibe intact but cranks up the excitement for seasoned players.
Core Gameplay Overview
At its core, Keeping It Reel is a 5-reel, 3-row video slot with 10 fixed paylines and a lighthearted fishing theme. The gameplay is straightforward: spin the reels to line up matching symbols for cash wins, while hoping to land enough scatter symbols to trigger the free spins bonus. In fact, you can activate an optional Ante Bet, which increases your bet by 50% per spin but doubles your chance to trigger the bonus (by adding extra scatters, with no change to the RTP). The base game features familiar card ranks (10 through Ace) as the low-pay icons and assorted fishing gear as the premium symbols – with the red bobber float being the most valuable of the bunch. Wins land when at least three matching symbols line up left-to-right on a payline (only two are needed for the top float symbol). There’s no wild symbol active in the base game, so initial play is all about catching line wins or teasing the bonus. However, the real excitement kicks in once you enter free spins, where money fish symbols and the fisherman collector come into play for big prize potential. Thanks to this simple yet engaging loop of spinning and fishing for rewards, the slot is easy for anyone to pick up, especially if you try a few rounds on the free demo first.

Key Game Facts and Slot Specs
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Provider: | Pragmatic Play (Reel Kingdom) |
| Release date: | October 24, 2022 |
| Reels / Rows: | 5 / 3 |
| Paylines: | 10 |
| RTP: | 96.07% |
| Volatility: | High |
| Max win (x): | 10,000x |
| Min bet / Max bet: | 0.10 / 250 |
| Series / Theme: | Big Bass series / Fishing |
How to Trigger the Free Spins Bonus
Hit 3 or more scatter symbols to launch the free spins bonus (3 scatters award 10 free spins, 4 grant 15, and 5 give 20). Occasionally, if only 2 scatters land, a hook animation can pull in a third one as a second chance. Once free spins begin, fish symbols gain cash values and the fisherman symbol (now active as a wild collector) can appear on the reels. Whenever fish land at the same time as a fisherman, he reels in each fish’s value and adds those prizes to your win. There are actually two types of fisherman: the regular angler and a special Golden Fisherman. The golden fisherman not only collects all fish values on-screen, he also scoops up the total value accumulated in the prize net above the reels. The prize net is basically a pot that holds the value of any fish that land without a fisherman. When a Golden Fisherman shows up, he awards whatever is in that pot (plus any fish on the screen).

Free spins also include a couple of random perks to help you out. If a spin ends with a fisherman present but no fish, the game might randomly add some fish symbols to the reels so your fisherman isn’t empty-handed. Conversely, if fish land with no fisherman in view, a hook can randomly yank a fisherman onto the reels to collect them. On top of that, every fisherman symbol (regular or golden) that lands is collected on a meter. For every 4 fishermen collected, you get +10 extra free spins and your fish collection multiplier increases (up to 2×, 3×, and finally 10×). The feature can retrigger up to three times in total, maxing out at a 10× multiplier level. That final level is where the slot’s biggest win potential comes into play – if you manage to reach the 10× stage and land a Golden Fisherman with a pile of big fish (and a fat prize pot), you could haul in the largest catch.
RTP, Volatility and Hit Profile
Keeping It Reel comes with a default 96.07% RTP (Return to Player). This figure indicates that, on average over the long run, the game returns about €96.07 for every €100 wagered (though individual sessions can vary widely, especially given this slot’s high volatility). Also keep in mind that Pragmatic Play allows some casinos to offer lower RTP versions (around 95% or 94%), so it’s best to play where the game is set to the full 96.07% if possible.
As for volatility, Keeping It Reel is rated High. In practical terms, that means the slot can go through dry spells with relatively few wins, then suddenly pay out a big prize. You might spin dozens of times with only small hits (or no wins at all) before hitting a bonus that makes up for it. Be prepared for an up-and-down ride – it’s normal to go through cold streaks, but the trade-off is the potential for very large wins when luck is on your side.
Max Win Potential and Math Model
The maximum win in Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel is a whopping 10,000× your bet. That top payout is dramatically higher than previous Big Bass titles – for example, the original Big Bass Bonanza capped around 2,100×, and even newer entries like Big Bass Splash were about 5,000×. By pushing the max potential to 10k, Keeping It Reel gives players a shot at a truly massive catch – albeit an extraordinarily rare one.


In practical terms, hitting anything close to the 10,000× cap would require a perfect storm in the free spins. You’d likely need to reach the final 10× multiplier level via retriggers and have a screen full of high-value fish (plus a large accumulated prize pot) collected by a Golden Fisherman. Essentially, the biggest wins come from maxing out the bonus round – normal base game hits can’t reach those heights (even five floats are only 200×). For those eager to chase the bonus, there is a Bonus Buy option available in some jurisdictions, allowing you to purchase the free spins round for 100× your bet. The RTP remains 96.07% when buying the feature. It’s a quick way to jump into the action, though of course it’s a gamble in itself with no guaranteed payoff.
Mobile and Cross-Platform Experience
As expected for a modern slot, Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel is fully optimized for mobile play. Whether you’re on a smartphone or a tablet, the game runs smoothly via any HTML5-compatible browser – no download needed. The bright underwater graphics look crisp on smaller screens, and the simple 5×3 layout means the interface (spin button, bet controls, menu) is easy to use on touch devices. We tried the free demo on a mobile phone and encountered no lag or scaling issues. Overall, the mobile experience is just as enjoyable as the desktop version, so you can comfortably cast your line on the go without missing any features.

Pros and Cons at a Glance
Pros: This slot comes with some strong selling points. First off, it offers a significantly higher maximum payout than its predecessors – the 10,000x potential really ups the excitement. Moreover, the new Golden Fisherman and prize net mechanics add a fresh layer to the familiar gameplay, giving even long-time Big Bass fans something new to enjoy. The game also maintains the light-hearted visuals and straightforward play style that made the series popular, so it’s immediately approachable for both newcomers and returning players.
Cons: On the downside, the high volatility can make it a grind at times. Long dry spells with minimal wins are possible, especially if the free spins feature takes a while to hit, which can test one’s patience. Similarly, watching fish values escape from the prize net in the bonus can be disheartening. And in terms of innovation, Keeping It Reel doesn’t stray far from the formula – aside from the prize pot twist, it’s very much the same fish-collecting concept as before. If you didn’t enjoy the previous Big Bass games, this one likely won’t change your mind.

Final Verdict
Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel reels in another enjoyable catch for fans of the series. It enhances the familiar formula with a clever new mechanic (the golden fisherman and prize net) and a much bigger prize ceiling, without straying too far from what made the originals enjoyable. Sure, it’s not a revolutionary overhaul – at heart it’s the same charming fishing trip with high volatility – but the tweaks here provide enough fresh excitement to keep players engaged. If you loved the previous Big Bass titles, you’ll likely appreciate what Keeping It Reel brings to the table: a chance at an even bigger catch and a few extra thrills along the way.

FAQ for Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel
Q: Is there a free demo for Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel?
A: Yes. You can play the Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel slot for free on this site or on the provider’s official site. The demo lets you spin the reels and experience the bonus features with play money, so you can get familiar with the gameplay without risking any real cash. It’s a great way to test the waters and see if you enjoy the slot before betting real money.
Q: What is the RTP of Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel?
A: The default Return to Player is 96.07%. In theory, this means for every $100 wagered, the game pays out about $96.07 on average over the long run. Keep in mind some versions of the game might use a slightly lower RTP (around 95% or 94%), so try to play the 96.07% version for the best returns.
Q: What is the max win on Keeping It Reel?
A: The maximum possible win is 10,000 times your bet. Achieving that would require an exceptionally lucky free spins round – likely by reaching the 10× multiplier level and catching a lot of valuable fish with a golden fisherman. 10,000x wins are technically possible but extremely rare.

Q: Is Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel a high volatility game?
A: Yes. It’s a high volatility slot, meaning wins are less frequent but can be much larger. You might go many spins with no significant win, then suddenly hit a big payout. It’s a high-risk, high-reward style that requires patience for those dry spells.
Q: How does Keeping It Reel differ from other Big Bass Bonanza games?
A: The core gameplay is similar – it’s still about catching fish in free spins – but Keeping It Reel adds a unique twist with its Golden Fisherman and prize net features. In previous Big Bass games, any fish not collected on a spin were just lost, but here those values can accumulate in a pot until a golden fisherman grabs them. It also offers a much higher max win (10,000x) than earlier titles. Other than that, the look and feel (5×3 reels, cartoon fisherman theme, etc.) will be very familiar if you’ve played the others.
Q: Can you buy the bonus round or use an Ante Bet in Big Bass Bonanza Keeping It Reel?
A: Yes. If you’re outside the UK, you have the option to buy the free spins bonus for 100× your stake. This instantly triggers the free spins feature (with 10 spins as if you hit 3 scatters). The game’s RTP stays 96.07% for the bonus buy. Additionally, there’s an Ante Bet feature you can toggle on during base play. It increases your bet by 50% per spin and doubles your chances of triggering free spins naturally (by adding extra scatters to the reels). Many players use Ante Bet to hunt the bonus more actively, but remember it does cost more per spin.