Overview
Released by Pragmatic Play on December 1, 2021, Christmas Big Bass Bonanza is a festive reskin of the original Big Bass Bonanza - the angler mascot becomes Santa, but the underlying 2,100x-max-win structure is the same game.
A snowy North Pole fishing theme - Santa stands in for the series' usual angler, casting a line for a bass wearing a Christmas hat, with baubles, decorated tackle, and a sleigh among the reels' high-value symbols.
Bonus Features Breakdown
Fish Scatter & Free Spins Trigger
Landing 3, 4, or 5 fish scatter symbols (a leaping fish wearing Santa's hat) on a single spin awards 10, 15, or 20 Free Spins respectively.
Santa Wild & Fish Collection
The Santa Wild substitutes for all other symbols except scatters, and collects the cash value of any Money Fish symbols visible on the reels when it lands during Free Spins.
Wild Meter & Retriggers
Every 4th Wild collected during Free Spins retriggers the feature, awarding 10 more free spins and raising the money-collection multiplier - 2x on the first retrigger, 3x on the second, 10x on the third.
Bonus Buy
Where permitted by local regulations, players can pay 100x their stake to buy directly into the Free Spins round instead of triggering it naturally.
Betting Range & Jackpot
Total bets run from $0.10 up to $250 per spin. Christmas Big Bass Bonanza doesn't carry a jackpot round - its biggest built-in win comes from the Santa Wild's cash-collection mechanic during Free Spins, capped at 2,100x your total stake.
RTP & Volatility
RTP: 96.71%. Volatility: High.
Our Take
This is the same cash-collection formula as the original Big Bass Bonanza, right down to the exact multiplier progression - 2x, 3x, then 10x across three retriggers - and the 2,100x max win. Pragmatic Play's own game page confirms the mechanics are unchanged; only the presentation is festive, with Santa standing in for the angler and a bauble/sleigh symbol set replacing the original's tackle-box imagery.
The one genuine mechanical upgrade over the original is Bonus Buy: Big Bass Bonanza has no way to pay directly into Free Spins, but this Christmas edition lets you buy in for 100x your stake where permitted. That's a real, practical improvement even though the core math and ceiling are otherwise identical to a four-year-old base game.
Because it shares its math model with the original rather than the newer 5,000x-cap Big Bass format used by Big Bass Splash and Big Bass Halloween 3, don't expect this to compete with those titles on ceiling - the 2,100x cap is a meaningful step down from either.
As with the rest of the Big Bass series, Pragmatic Play publishes this title in multiple RTP configurations (we've seen 96.71%, 95.67%, and 94.62% cited across sources) - check the in-game paytable rather than assuming the headline 96.71% figure is what's actually live at your casino.
Pros & Cons
What We Liked
- Proven cash-collection formula, with a retrigger multiplier that climbs from 2x up to 10x
- Bonus Buy option (where permitted) - a genuine upgrade the original Big Bass Bonanza doesn't have
- Distinctive, well-executed festive reskin rather than a token palette swap
- Confirmed, consistent 5-reel, 3-row, 10-payline structure with a straightforward $0.10-$250 bet range
Where It Falls Short
- 2,100x max win is the same lower ceiling as the original Big Bass Bonanza, well below the 5,000x cap on Big Bass Splash and Big Bass Halloween 3
- High volatility means longer dry spells between meaningful wins
- Mechanically identical to a slot that's been out since 2020 - the Christmas theming is the only real differentiator
- Bonus Buy may be restricted or unavailable in several regulated markets
Where to Play Christmas Big Bass Bonanza
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Christmas Big Bass Bonanza?
Christmas Big Bass Bonanza has a default RTP of 96.71%, confirmed on Pragmatic Play's own game page, though lower configurations (95.67% and 94.62%) are also published and can be run by individual casinos - check the in-game paytable to confirm which version you're playing.
Is Christmas Big Bass Bonanza different from the original Big Bass Bonanza?
Mechanically, barely - the reel structure, 2,100x max win, and retrigger multiplier progression (2x/3x/10x) are all the same. The main differences are the festive Santa theme and the addition of a Bonus Buy option, which the original doesn't have.
How do I trigger Free Spins in Christmas Big Bass Bonanza?
Land 3, 4, or 5 fish scatter symbols on a single spin for 10, 15, or 20 Free Spins respectively. Where permitted, you can also buy directly into the round for 100x your stake.
What is the maximum win on Christmas Big Bass Bonanza?
The maximum win is 2,100x your total stake, awarded through the Santa Wild's cash-collection mechanic and retrigger multipliers during Free Spins.
Where can I play Christmas Big Bass Bonanza?
Christmas Big Bass Bonanza is available at Vavada Casino from our ranked casinos.
For similar games, check out our Christmas Slots page, or our Fishing Slots page.