Release the Kraken at a glance

Release the Kraken - play it at Bethall Casino

Pragmatic Play's 5-reel ocean adventure with free spins and pick bonuses, returning 96.50% over time, with wins coming less often but bigger.

Redeem Offer 18+ only. Licence OGL/2009/4490/245. Please play responsibly.

Meet Release the Kraken from Pragmatic Play

Ocean chaos with kraken powers. Release the Kraken is a 5-reel, 4-row slot from Pragmatic Play with 20 fixed paylines and an ocean monster theme. The game launched in 2020 and delivers high volatility, meaning wins come less often and can be much bigger. You'll encounter a kraken character across various bonus features: roaming wilds that stick and shift each spin, spreading wilds that infect adjacent symbols, and locking wilds that expand reels. The base game triggers either free spins or a pick bonus depending on which symbols land on reel 5.

Is this slot right for you? This slot suits players who enjoy long spins between wins but appreciate when payouts arrive. High volatility makes it less suitable if you prefer steady, frequent small wins. Bets range from NZ$0.20 to NZ$240, so you can stake modestly or go larger depending on your bankroll. The roaming wilds and multiplier system appeal to players who like dynamic bonus rounds where one feature can grow throughout free spins, reaching up to 10x your win multiplier.

Pick chests, build your multiplier. The Roaming Kraken Free Spins mode defines your experience here. Triggered when bonus symbols land on reels 1 and 3 alongside free spins on reel 5, you pick chests to unlock between 1 and 12 free spins. During the round, the payline count jumps to 40, and every wild that lands raises your win multiplier by 1x up to a maximum of 10x. The wilds stick and move to a new position each spin, potentially building your multiplier significantly across the feature.

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5 key figures

Release the Kraken: the core numbers

These five figures shape how Release the Kraken plays and what it means for your session.

Pragmatic Play

Made byPragmatic Play

Return rate96.50%

Win patternHigh

How wins form5x4

Release the Kraken

Launched01/01/2020

Release the Kraken: how it plays

What you control on each spin

Use this when you're ready to place your first bet and want to see what happens next.

Release the Kraken betting range

You set your stake before each spin, choosing between NZ$0.20 and NZ$240. Pick the amount that suits your session, then spin. At NZ$5, you're playing at the example level most players use to learn the game.

Three matching symbols pay

Matching symbols land across the 20 fixed paylines to form a win. You need at least 3 of the same symbol on a payline, reading left to right from the first reel. The payout depends on which symbol matched and your stake.

Your chance at bonus features

The base game runs on the standard 5 reel, 4 row grid with 20 paylines. Land a BONUS symbol on reels 1 and 3, and a FREE SPINS or CHEST BONUS symbol on reel 5 to trigger a bonus round. Between bonuses, you chase regular wins and random kraken events.

Free spins are within reach

The Roaming Kraken Free Spins round starts when BONUS lands on reels 1 and 3 plus FREE SPINS on reel 5. You pick chests to reveal free spins—up to 12 in total—before you hit Collect. The free spins play with 40 paylines and a multiplier that climbs with each wild.

Release the Kraken: staying in control

Before you start, set a loss limit or deposit limit through Bethall Casino's tools to keep your session in check. You can also use session time reminders or self-exclusion if you need to step away. These controls are yours to adjust anytime.

Release the Kraken screens

Your first look at Release the Kraken

Winning combination across paylines

Kraken multiplier building on free spins

Chest pick during bonus feature

Wild symbol spreading and sticking

Free spins round with roaming wilds

Free spins, chests and wilds

Understand how bonuses land, what each one offers, and how multipliers work during free spins.

Your free spins round with roaming wildsPick chests to add free spins up to 12 total, then play with 40 paylines active. Every wild hit raises your multiplier by 1x up to 10x for all remaining spins. Wilds stick and roam to new positions each spin.

Pick your way through the treasure chestPick 3 chests one at a time, each revealing a random money prize. Keep picking while prizes land. A collect item ends the round. This bonus triggers only when bonus symbols land naturally on reels 1 and 3 with a chest bonus on reel 5.

Pick and collect with locking wildsOne of three random base game events triggered by tentacle picks. Teal kraken wilds lock in place while reels keep spinning. Chest picks award more wilds, keep spinning, double all wins, or collect to end the feature.

Giant symbols guarantee big coverageOne of three random base game events triggered by tentacle picks. A purple kraken wild guarantees a colossal 3x4 wild symbol lands after the reels stop, covering multiple positions at once.

One paid option here

Release the Kraken: the bonus buy option

18+Buy Free Spins instantly for NZ$500 at the top bet, or skip it and trigger them naturally.

NZ$500 (x100)

Instant free spins for NZ$500

Skip the wait and jump straight to Roaming Kraken Free Spins by staking NZ$500 at your NZ$5 bet. You'll enter the bonus round at 1x multiplier with free spins to collect and wilds ready to roam.

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Where can you find the full paytable?

A page on the Pragmatic Play site shows the complete paytable for Release the Kraken with all symbol payouts. Pragmatic Play Slot Index (Casino Slot Games)

One figure here

How 96.50% return plays out over 100 staked

RTP is a long-run average calculated over millions of spins. The 96.50% figure below applies to the standard game only, so you know what to expect across all your base game and bonus rounds.

RTP 96.50% · Standard game

You get back per 100NZ$96.50

Edge per 100 stakedNZ$3.50

Try it free first

Free play and paid play

You'll know how to try the slot free and when to switch to playing for real money.

Spin with no real money

Spin the reels with virtual credit at no cost and with no real winnings. You'll see how the Kraken wilds spread, how free spins multiply your wins, and what the bonus chests pay, all without risking money.

Play demo

Bet and win real money

Play at Bethall Casino with real money bets from NZ$0.20 to NZ$240 per spin. Your winnings go into your account balance and you can withdraw them whenever you choose.

Play for real

What the series offers

Release the Kraken Megaways and Release the Kraken 2

Release the Kraken Megaways reaches 96.40% RTP with a x10,000 maximum win, while Release the Kraken 2 sits at 96.03% RTP and x5,000 maximum win.

Release the Kraken Megaways

RTP96.40%

Biggest payoutx10 000

Year2024

Release the Kraken® 2

RTP96.03%

Biggest payoutx5 000

Year2022

Release the Kraken

RTP96.50%

Year2020

What you cannot know about Release the Kraken

Bethall Casino believes in straight talk about what slot sessions can and cannot deliver.

Bonus rounds: when they comeThe bonus round may arrive on your tenth spin or your thousandth. No pattern predicts when the Kraken triggers free spins or the chest bonus, whatever your bet size or play length.

One session, one outcomeYou might win on your first spin or lose your session stake. The RTP of 96.50% applies across thousands of spins across all players; it tells nothing about what your session will bring.

Will you hit the maximum?Release the Kraken's maximum win reaches x10,000 your bet, a ceiling hit so rarely that no session should count on it. You may never see a win near the top of the paytable.

Release the Kraken questions

Your Release the Kraken questions answered

Bethall Casino explains what this slot does and what you'll see on the reels.

What RTP does Release the Kraken run at?+

Release the Kraken plays at 96.50% RTP in the standard game. This figure means that for every NZ$100 you stake, the game returns an average of NZ$96.50 over a large number of spins. Individual sessions will vary.

How do free spins trigger in Release the Kraken?+

Free spins start when you land a BONUS symbol on both reels 1 and 3, plus a FREE SPINS symbol on reel 5, all in the same spin. You can also buy free spins for 100 times your bet. The round then opens a chest-pick sequence to determine how many spins you receive.

Can I play Release the Kraken without real money?+

Yes. The demo version of Release the Kraken plays exactly like the real-money game but you don't stake or win actual money. Use demo mode to learn how the reels, paylines and bonus features work before you decide to play for real.

Where do Release the Kraken 2 and Megaways differ from the original?+

Release the Kraken 2 is a separate game with a different layout and maximum win of x5,000. Release the Kraken Megaways, released in 2024, runs on Megaways technology with a maximum win of x10,000 and an RTP of 96.40%. Each is its own game.

What happens if I buy the free spins bonus?+

When you buy free spins for NZ$500 at the example bet of NZ$5, you skip the natural trigger and jump straight to the chest-pick round. The cost is 100 times your current bet. You cannot buy the Sunken Treasure bonus; it triggers naturally only.

Why does Release the Kraken have a NZ$0.20 minimum bet?+

Release the Kraken runs on a 5 reel by 4 row grid with 20 fixed paylines. You can bet from NZ$0.20 up to NZ$240 per spin. Lower bets let you play more spins with the same money; higher bets mean bigger potential wins from your stake.

When should you take a break from Release the Kraken?

High-volatility slots can feel compelling; planning ahead protects your bankroll and wellbeing.

Before you start playingDecide on a budget that suits your finances before your session starts. Stick to that amount regardless of whether you're winning or losing on the day.

Plan to stop, win or loseSet a stopping point in advance, including after a win. Walking away when you've reached your limit keeps play enjoyable instead of chasing losses.

Can account limits help you control your play?Bethall Casino offers deposit limits and loss limits on your account. Use these tools to enforce the boundaries you set for yourself.

When fun becomes something elseIf Release the Kraken or any slot stops feeling like entertainment, take a break or self-exclude. Support is available from Gambling Helpline New Zealand, Problem Gambling Foundation of New Zealand and The Salvation Army Oasis.