Release the Kraken slot

How the Release the Kraken slot machine works

Release the Kraken is a video slot from Pragmatic Play with an underwater theme built around the giant squid of sailors’ legends. The reel window is five columns wide and four rows tall, 20 positions in all. In the base game it pays on 20 fixed paylines: set routes across the reels, each needing matching symbols from the leftmost reel to pay.

The distinctive part is what happens in the bonus. During free spins the same 5x4 window pays on 40 lines instead of 20, so more routes run through every symbol position. The help screen sets out the trigger for free spins, how prizes on the extra lines are calculated and any random features in your version.

1. Choose a total stake. It covers all 20 lines; you can’t switch lines off.
2. Spin. The random number generator fixes every reel stop before the animation finishes.
3. Each of the 20 lines is checked for matching symbols from reel 1, with wilds substituting where the rules allow.
4. Line wins are added together and paid; scatter symbols are checked for the bonus trigger.
5. If free spins start, the game plays them on 40 lines at the stake that triggered them.

20 and 40 paylines on a 5x4 grid, worked through

With four rows, a 5x4 slot has four straight lines across, and the rest of its lines zigzag, step or dip between rows. Doubling to 40 lines doesn’t add positions to the grid; it adds more routes through the same 20 positions. A symbol in the second row of reel 3 might sit on six lines in the base game and many more in free spins, so the same landing can complete more wins.

The first two rows show a trap that catches many players: a “win” of 25p or 75p on a £1 spin is still a loss of 75p or 25p. UK rules stop the game celebrating those results, which is why some wins arrive quietly; see why your slot win didn’t celebrate. The figures in the table are for illustration only; the real prizes are in the game’s paytable.

Free spins and bonus features in Release the Kraken

Free spins are the heart of the game. The confirmed change is the jump from 20 to 40 paylines, which raises the chance that each spin’s symbols connect into line wins. Much of a high-volatility game’s return is concentrated in its bonus, so how often you reach free spins, and what you land once there, largely decides how a session goes.

We haven’t been able to confirm the game’s other features, such as any random base-game modifiers, from the developer, so we don’t describe them. The game’s information screen is the authoritative list for your version. For how bonus rounds are designed in general, see what triggers a bonus round and our page on the free spins feature.

Bonus buys are not offered on slots supplied to Great Britain, so the free spins in a UK version can only be reached through normal play, however the game is described elsewhere.

Release the Kraken RTP and house edge

The Release the Kraken RTP is 96.50% in its default version. That means the game is designed to return £96.50 of every £100 staked across millions of spins, a house edge of 3.5%. The word “default” is a reminder that suppliers can offer casinos alternative settings; the figure in your game’s help screen is the one that applies. Our explainer on RTP variants shows how much a lower setting adds to the cost.

Those costs are averages over an enormous number of spins. Over 100 spins, a high-volatility game produces results scattered widely on both sides, and losing several times the average is common.

What high volatility means on Release the Kraken

Volatility measures how spread out results are around the average. Statisticians call it standard deviation; slot studios condense it into labels like low, medium and high. This game is rated high, which in practice means three things: a large share of spins pay nothing; many paid spins return less than the stake; and a small number of results, mostly from the bonus, are very large compared with the stake.

That shape is the price of a 10,000x ceiling. To pay rare, very large prizes while still returning 96.50% overall, the game must pay less often the rest of the time. No hit frequency has been published by the developer, so we don’t quote one; the guide on hit frequency explains why that number is rarely released. If you prefer a calmer balance, our page on low-volatility slot machines explains the alternative.

Release the Kraken max win at UK stakes

The Release the Kraken max win is 10,000 times your stake. Turned into pounds at common stakes, that is:

In Britain the stake cap is £5 per spin for players aged 25 and over and £2 for those aged 18 to 24, which is why the ceiling depends on age. The Gambling Commission’s stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab) sets out how operators apply the bands. The ceiling is a theoretical maximum; nearly every session ends far below it. Our explainer on max win caps covers how studios set the limit.

Sea-themed slots like Release the Kraken

Razor Shark shares the 5x4, 20-line shape and an ocean theme, with a slightly higher RTP. Great Blue is an older Playtech favourite, and Rage of the Seas uses ways rather than lines. Wild West Gold shows what a permanent 40-line 5x4 layout from the same developer looks like. For a head-to-head on one of these, see Razor Shark vs Big Bass Bonanza.

Is Release the Kraken worth playing?

The game suits adults who like bonus-led play and treat their stake as the cost of entertainment, with a fixed budget. It doesn’t suit anyone hoping a session will pay for itself; over time the house edge makes losses the likely outcome.

Myths and facts about the Release the Kraken slot

• “After a long dry spell the Kraken is due.” There is no “due”. Each spin is independent; see the gambler’s fallacy on slots.
• “Playing at a quiet time of day pays better.” The RNG takes no notice of the clock or of other players.
• “More lines means better odds.” Line count is part of the game’s maths; 40 lines in free spins is built into the 96.50%, not added on top.
• “A small win means the machine is warming up.” Results don’t build towards anything; a 25p win on a £1 spin is simply a 75p loss.

The Release the Kraken demo and UK slot rules

A Release the Kraken demo can be played as free demo play, after age verification; British-licensed operators have had to check age before offering free-to-play games since May 2019. It is a fair way to see the 5x4 lines in action, because demo results must reflect the real game, but it can’t predict paid results.

The UK version follows the Commission’s responsible product design standard (opens in a new tab): since 31 October 2021 there has been no autoplay, a minimum of 2.5 seconds per spin, no turbo or slam-stop, no celebrating returns that are no bigger than the stake, and a running display of your net position. Casinos must also offer reality checks (opens in a new tab) that remind you how long you’ve been playing. The celebration ban is explained in detail in the losses disguised as wins rule.

Where to play Release the Kraken in the UK

Release the Kraken is distributed by Pragmatic Play, whose games are widely carried, but no list stays fixed; search a casino’s lobby by name rather than assume it is there. When you find it, open the help screen and check the RTP before staking. You can read more about the studio on Pragmatic Play’s website (opens in a new tab).

The partner offers below are for new customers aged 18+ and full terms apply. Coral and Ladbrokes give 10p free spins on selected games after you bet £10 on slots; PlayOJO’s 80 no-wagering spins, for a first deposit of at least £10, are played on Big Bass Bonanza rather than this game. Set a deposit limit first and stop when your budget is used. Free help is available 24/7 from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. See more games on our slot machines page.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.