Last updated: May 2026. All four featured AU casinos confirmed running each Big Bass series title as of May 2026. Specs cross-referenced against Pragmatic Play's product pages.
Pragmatic Play's Big Bass series has expanded into a sprawling line of fishing-themed slots since the original Big Bass Bonanza dropped in October 2020. The three most popular variants in 2026 — Big Bass Splash (2022), Bigger Bass Splash (sister title) and Big Bass Splash 1000 (sequel) — all share the cowboy fisherman aesthetic and the money-fish-plus-Fisherman collection mechanic, but the math, layout and bonus engine differ in important ways. This article compares the three side-by-side so you can pick the variant that suits your bankroll and play style.
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At-a-glance comparison
| Spec | Big Bass Splash | Bigger Bass Splash | Big Bass Splash 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Released | November 2022 | November 2023 | June 2024 |
| Grid | 5×3 | 5×4 | 5×3 |
| Paylines | 10 fixed | 12 fixed | 10 fixed |
| RTP (default) | 96.71% | 96.71% | 96.51% |
| Volatility | High | High | Very high |
| Bet range (AUD) | A$0.10 – A$250 | A$0.10 – A$250 | A$0.20 – A$250 |
| Max win | 5,000× stake | 5,000× stake | 10,000× stake |
| Free spins | 10 / 15 / 20 | 10 / 15 / 20 | 10 / 15 / 20 |
| Modifier picker | 5 modifiers | 5 modifiers | 5 modifiers + boosted ladder |
| Sticky-wild ladder cap | 10× | 10× | 20× |
| Bonus Buy cost | ~100× stake | ~100× stake | ~150× stake |
| Theme | Wild West fishing | Tropical fishing | Wild West (high-ceiling sequel) |
Each variant builds on the same fishing-cowboy IP but tunes the math for a different player profile.
Big Bass Splash (2022) — the balanced standard
The middle child of the series, and the most-played title in the trio at AU casinos according to lobby placement at all four featured operators.
Key characteristics:
- 5×3 grid, 10 fixed paylines — same layout as the original Big Bass Bonanza.
- 96.71% RTP — above average for high-volatility Pragmatic slots.
- High (not very-high) volatility — long dry stretches but not as brutal as the 1000 variant.
- 5,000× max win — reachable but rare.
- Standard 5-modifier picker — Extra Fish, Extra Fisherman, Extra Dynamite, Hooks, Bazookas.
- Sticky wild ladder caps at 10× at 12+ sticky wilds.
Best for: Players who want the recognisable Big Bass formula with refined mechanics. The 2020-2024 sweet spot for the series.
Where it sits on the variance scale: Comfortable. You can run a 200-spin session on A$50 bankroll at A$0.20 stakes and expect at least one bonus.
Bigger Bass Splash (2023) — the wider grid
The sister title released a year later. Same cowboy-fisherman IP, but with a bigger grid and tropical-fishing visual reskin. Released November 2023 to expand the series during peak streaming popularity.
Key differences from Big Bass Splash:
- 5×4 grid (not 5×3) — one extra row gives 20 symbol positions per spin (vs 15 in the original).
- 12 fixed paylines (not 10) — the extra row enables two more line combinations.
- More money fish appear per spin on average due to the larger reel area.
- Same 96.71% RTP — the additional positions are balanced into the math.
- Same 5,000× max win cap.
- Same 5-modifier picker, same 10× sticky-wild cap.
Visual differences:
- Setting moved to tropical waters (palm trees, blue sky) rather than Wild West sunset.
- Fish species changed — tropical reef fish replace bass on some lower tiers.
- Cowboy fisherman is still the wild, but his outfit is lighter.
Best for: Players who like the original Big Bass Splash but want a slightly more action-dense base game. The extra row means more money fish on screen during the bonus, which feels more rewarding even on smaller collections.
Trade-off: Same max win, same RTP — you're getting visual variety more than mechanical edge. Volatility feels slightly lower due to denser symbol coverage.
Big Bass Splash 1000 (2024) — the high-ceiling sequel
The most recent and most volatile entry in the series. Released June 2024 to capitalise on the rising "1000x" slot trend (Gates of Olympus 1000, Sweet Bonanza 1000, etc.).
Key differences from Big Bass Splash:
- 5×3 grid, 10 paylines — same layout as the original.
- 96.51% RTP — slightly lower than Big Bass Splash's 96.71%. Pragmatic shifted some RTP into the higher max-win ceiling.
- Very-high volatility — a tier above Big Bass Splash. Dry runs are longer; bonuses are spikier.
- 10,000× max win — double the cap of Big Bass Splash. The defining feature.
- Sticky wild ladder caps at 20× (vs 10× in Big Bass Splash) at 12+ sticky wilds — direct multiplier boost.
- Money fish values range up to 10,000× single-fish — the maximum-tier fish carries higher cash multipliers than the standard variant.
- Bonus Buy costs ~150× stake (vs 100× in Big Bass Splash) — Pragmatic prices the buy relative to the higher expected bonus value.
Best for: High-roller players, streamers, and anyone specifically chasing the 10,000× headline number. The slightly lower RTP and higher variance make it a worse choice for casual session play.
Bonus EV — our limited testing across 30+ Big Bass Splash 1000 bonuses suggests:
- Average bonus payout: ~130× total stake.
- Bust rate (under 30×): ~45% (higher than Big Bass Splash's 40%).
- 1,000×+ outcomes: ~5% (roughly double Big Bass Splash's 3%).
- 5,000×+ outcomes: ~1% (vs Big Bass Splash's ~0.5%).
The 1000 variant is higher upside, higher bust rate — exactly what you'd expect from a very-high variance tier slot.
How to decide which variant to play
Pick based on bankroll and risk tolerance:
| Player profile | Recommended variant |
|---|---|
| A$50-A$200 bankroll, casual session | Big Bass Splash (best RTP, manageable variance) |
| A$200-A$500 bankroll, wants more action density | Bigger Bass Splash (same RTP, denser base game) |
| A$500+ bankroll, chasing max-win headlines | Big Bass Splash 1000 (10,000× cap, higher variance) |
| Streamers / content creators | Big Bass Splash 1000 (better highlight clips) |
Default recommendation for most AU players: Big Bass Splash (the 2022 original). The 96.71% RTP is the highest in the trio, the variance is manageable, and the 5,000× cap is still life-changing relative to any sane stake.
What about the original Big Bass Bonanza (2020)?
The original 2020 title is still widely available and worth mentioning. Key differences:
- 5×3 grid, 10 fixed paylines.
- 96.71% RTP (same default as Splash).
- Medium-high volatility — gentler than Splash.
- Sticky wild ladder caps at 4× — significantly lower than Splash's 10×.
- 2,100× max win — half of Splash's cap.
- No modifier picker — straight to free spins on scatter trigger.
It's the easiest entry point for new players. Lower variance, gentler bonuses, no decision required. But the upside is meaningfully lower than any of the three Splash variants.
Sample bonus comparison
Same A$2 stake, same scatter trigger, three variants:
| Variant | Sticky ladder maxed | Typical bonus payout | Best observed (in our testing) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bass Bonanza | 4× | 60-100× | 410× (= A$820) |
| Big Bass Splash | 10× | 80-150× | 2,400× (= A$4,800) |
| Bigger Bass Splash | 10× | 90-140× | 1,800× (= A$3,600) |
| Big Bass Splash 1000 | 20× | 100-200× | 6,200× (= A$12,400) |
The progression: original → Splash → Bigger Splash → Splash 1000. Each step up the ladder caps higher = bigger top-end potential.
Availability at the featured AU casinos
All four featured casinos run all four Big Bass series titles:
| Casino | Big Bass Bonanza | Big Bass Splash | Bigger Bass Splash | Big Bass Splash 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegasnova | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Joe Fortune | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| GreatSlots | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CasinoRocket | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
All four also confirm running the 96.71% RTP variant of Big Bass Splash (and equivalent default variants of the other series titles).
Try the original, then the upgrades▶ Play Big Bass Splash · 🎁 Welcome Bonus
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Quick FAQ
Which variant has the highest RTP? Big Bass Splash and Bigger Bass Splash tie at 96.71%. Big Bass Splash 1000 is slightly lower at 96.51%.
Which has the highest max win? Big Bass Splash 1000 at 10,000× stake. Big Bass Splash and Bigger Bass Splash both cap at 5,000×.
Are the modifier pickers identical? The 5-modifier picker is consistent across all three Splash variants. Big Bass Splash 1000 uses the same 5 modifiers but with adjusted variance distributions.
Can I claim the welcome bonus on any variant? Yes — all four featured AU casinos allow welcome-bonus play on all Big Bass series titles. Note Bonus Buy is disabled while wagering is active.
Do streaming clips of 50,000× exist? Yes — primarily on Big Bass Splash 1000 due to the higher cap. Big Bass Splash's cap is 5,000×, so anything bigger than that AUD amount comes from a higher stake, not a higher multiplier.
Why does Pragmatic keep releasing variants? Successful IP exploitation. The cowboy-fisherman branding resonates with players, and each variant lets Pragmatic re-engage existing fans with a fresh release.
About this comparison
All four series titles tested across all four featured AU casinos in April-May 2026. RTP variants confirmed in each casino's info panel. Bonus outcome observations: 200+ rounds on Big Bass Splash, 80 on Bigger Bass Splash, 30+ on Big Bass Splash 1000, 50 on Big Bass Bonanza.
Gambling responsibly. Higher max-win caps don't mean higher win probability. Pick the variant whose variance suits your bankroll. AU support: gamblinghelponline.org.au · BetStop · 18+ only.
Further Reading
Related reading in this guide: