Last Updated on November 26, 2025
Pragmatic Play’s fishing franchise gets another festive makeover. Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake drops on November 26, 2025 – just in time for Kiwi players looking to reel in some holiday wins. This seasonal release brings dual Free Spins modes and a level-up multiplier system that can push Money Symbol values to 10x their base amount. We’ve tracked down which NZ-friendly casinos carry Pragmatic Play’s full catalogue so you can cast your line straight away. 🎣🎄
Where to Play Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake in New Zealand
These casinos stock Pragmatic Play’s complete slot library and accept New Zealand players:
| Casino | Min Deposit | Withdrawal Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wazamba Casino | $10 NZD | 24-48 hours |
| Nomini Casino | $10 NZD | 24-48 hours |
| Cadoola Casino | $15 NZD | 48-72 hours |
| ALF Casino | $10 NZD | 24-48 hours |
| Gunsbet Casino | $20 NZD | 24-48 hours |
💡 Finding the Game: Search “Big Bass Christmas” or filter by Pragmatic Play / Reel Kingdom in the provider menu. New releases typically appear in the “New Games” section for the first few weeks.
Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake Specs
The full technical breakdown:
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pragmatic Play / Reel Kingdom |
| Release Date | November 26, 2025 |
| RTP | 96.07% (varies by casino) |
| Volatility | High |
| Max Win | 5,000x stake |
| Min/Max Bet | $0.10 – $250 NZD |
| Grid Layout | 5 reels x 3 rows |
| Paylines | 10 fixed |
| Theme | Christmas / Ice Fishing |
| Bonus Buy | Yes (100x and 270x options) |
⚠️ RTP Warning: Pragmatic Play slots often have multiple RTP configurations. While 96.07% is the default, some casinos may run the 95.07% or 94.07% versions. Always check with support if RTP matters to your game selection.
How Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake Works
If you’ve played any Big Bass slot before, the core loop will feel familiar: land Money Symbols, trigger Free Spins, and let the Fisherman Wild collect everything in sight. What sets this version apart is the dual bonus modes and progressive multiplier levels.
🐟 Money Symbols
Fish symbols can appear on any spin carrying random cash values. These don’t pay in the base game – they’re collected during Free Spins when a Fisherman Wild lands. Possible Money Symbol values range from modest to massive:
2x, 5x, 10x, 15x, 20x, 25x, 50x, 100x, 200x, 500x, 1,666x, 2,500x, 5,000x
That 5,000x Money Symbol represents the slot’s entire max win in a single fish – though landing one is exceptionally rare.
🎰 Triggering Free Spins
Land 3, 4, or 5 Scatter symbols (the fish wearing a Christmas hat) to trigger 10, 15, or 20 Free Spins respectively. If you land just 2 Scatters, the game offers a second chance through random helpers:
- Respin: If Scatters can nudge down one position without leaving the reels, a free respin activates
- Random Scatter: A third Scatter may randomly appear to complete the trigger
🃏 The Card Pick – Choosing Your Mode
After triggering Free Spins, you’re presented with 12 face-down cards. Pick one to reveal which bonus mode you’ll play:
- Regular Free Spins: Standard reels with all symbol types
- Frozen Lake Free Spins: Special reels containing ONLY blanks, Money Symbols, and Fisherman Wilds
✅ The Key Difference: Frozen Lake mode strips away regular paying symbols entirely. Every spin focuses purely on Money Symbol collection, making it the higher-potential (but riskier) option.
🎅 The Fisherman Wild (Santa)
The Fisherman – dressed as Santa for this festive edition – only appears during Free Spins. When he lands, he collects the value of ALL Money Symbols currently visible on the grid. This is where the real money gets made.
📈 The Level-Up Multiplier System
This is the mechanic that separates Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake from simpler versions in the series. Every 4th Fisherman Wild you collect triggers two bonuses:
- +10 Extra Free Spins
- Money Symbol Multiplier Increase
The multiplier progression works like this:
| Level | Fishermen Collected | Money Symbol Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Start) | 0-3 | 1x (base value) |
| 2 | 4-7 | 2x |
| 3 | 8-11 | 3x |
| 4 (Max) | 12+ | 10x |
💡 Why This Matters: A 100x Money Symbol at Level 4 becomes worth 1,000x. Combined with multiple fish on screen and extended spins from retriggering, this is how the 5,000x max win becomes achievable.
💰 Ante Bet & Bonus Buy
Two shortcuts exist for players who want faster access to Free Spins:
| Option | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Ante Bet | +50% stake | Increased Scatter frequency in base game |
| Buy Free Spins | 100x stake | Instant trigger + card pick for mode selection |
| Buy Frozen Lake | 270x stake | Instant Frozen Lake Free Spins (skips card pick) |
The 270x Frozen Lake buy guarantees the premium mode but costs nearly triple. Whether that’s worth it depends on your risk appetite and how much you value the focused collection gameplay.
Big Bass Series Comparison
With so many Big Bass variants available, here’s how Christmas Frozen Lake stacks up against its siblings:
| Game | RTP | Max Win | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 2,100x | The original classic |
| Christmas Big Bass Bonanza | 96.71% | 2,100x | First festive reskin |
| Big Bass Splash | 96.71% | 5,000x | Higher max win potential |
| Christmas Frozen Lake | 96.07% | 5,000x | Dual modes + level-up multipliers |
| Big Bass Bonanza 1000 | 96.51% | 20,000x | Supercharged 1000 series version |
💡 Worth Noting: Christmas Frozen Lake has the lowest RTP of the popular Big Bass variants (96.07% vs 96.71%). If RTP is your priority and you just want festive theming, Christmas Big Bass Bonanza offers better theoretical returns.
Honest Take: Is It Worth Playing?
Let’s be straight – Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake is essentially a festive reskin of Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake. Pragmatic Play hasn’t reinvented the wheel here. The Frozen Lake mechanic and level-up multiplier system existed before; they’ve just been wrapped in Christmas decorations.
That said, the formula works. The Big Bass series remains popular for good reason: the Money Symbol collection mechanic creates genuine anticipation, and watching the Fisherman sweep across the reels collecting fish never gets old.
✅ This slot suits you if:
- You enjoy the Big Bass formula and want a seasonal version
- You like choosing between bonus modes rather than leaving it to chance
- The level-up multiplier system appeals to your sense of progression
- You’re playing during November-December and want matching vibes
❌ Look elsewhere if:
- You’ve played Big Bass Secrets of the Golden Lake to death – this is nearly identical
- RTP matters to you (96.07% is below average for Big Bass games)
- You want genuine innovation rather than a themed clone
- You’re chasing the biggest possible wins (Big Bass Bonanza 1000 offers 20,000x)
Bankroll Management for High Volatility
With high volatility and bonus frequency around once every 113 spins on average, you’ll need patience and adequate funds. Here’s what we recommend:
| Bet Size | Session Bankroll | Expected Spins |
|---|---|---|
| $0.20 NZD | $40 – $60 NZD | 200-300 spins |
| $1.00 NZD | $200 – $300 NZD | 200-300 spins |
| $5.00 NZD | $1,000 – $1,500 NZD | 200-300 spins |
⚠️ Bonus Buy Warning: If you’re buying features at 100x or 270x, your session bankroll depletes much faster. A $100 NZD balance only covers one Frozen Lake buy at $1 stakes. Plan accordingly.
Big Bass Christmas Frozen Lake FAQ
What’s the difference between Regular and Frozen Lake Free Spins?
Regular Free Spins use standard reels with all symbol types – you can win from both paylines and Money Symbol collection. Frozen Lake mode removes regular symbols entirely, leaving only blanks, Money Symbols, and Fisherman Wilds. It’s higher risk but more focused on big collection wins.
Can I choose which Free Spins mode I get?
Not directly through natural triggers – you pick a card and hope for your preferred mode. However, the 270x Bonus Buy guarantees Frozen Lake mode, bypassing the card selection entirely.
How do I reach the maximum multiplier level?
Collect 12 Fisherman Wilds during a single Free Spins session. Every 4th Fisherman moves you up a level, so you need to trigger plenty of retriggered spins to accumulate enough Wilds. At Level 4, all Money Symbol values are multiplied by 10x.
Is this better than Christmas Big Bass Bonanza?
Different rather than better. Christmas Big Bass Bonanza has higher RTP (96.71% vs 96.07%) but lower max win (2,100x vs 5,000x) and simpler mechanics. Christmas Frozen Lake offers more complexity and higher ceiling but costs more in theoretical returns.
Why does RTP vary between casinos?
Pragmatic Play provides casinos with multiple RTP configurations (96.07%, 95.07%, 94.07%). Operators choose which version to run based on their own business decisions. Players have no way to tell which version is active without asking support directly.
David is a veteran slots player with over 15 years of playing experience in both online and land based casinos. He knows exactly what makes for a good online casino and is always keen to share his expertise with other players.