Pragmatic Play slots are amongst the most popular in the UK and beyond. With games such as Sweet Bonanza, Gates of Olympus, The Dog House and the iconic Big Bass series, you’ll find Pragmatic slots at all UK slot sites. Below, you’ll find all Questions & Answers interviews with Anastasios Ioannidis, Affiliate Manager at ARRISE.
What to expect
Big Bass Q&A (October 2026)
The Big Bass Q&A with Anastasios Ioannidis covers how the original Big Bass Bonanza stood out from other fishing slots and how the series has grown through Megaways, 1000 and 3 Reeler versions. It also covers how themes are chosen and which releases are coming next.
Q: Big Bass Bonanza launched in December 2020 and quickly became one of Pragmatic Play’s defining titles. What do you feel Big Bass brought to the table that has let it carve out its own identity in a sea of fishing-themed slots?
AI: “The original Big Bass Bonanza was an instant hit when it launched, tapping into the popular fishing theme with wilds collecting cash-value fish, while introducing some unique new touches. Players loved the light-hearted theme, fisherman 'Steve', as he's affectionately known, and the familiar money collection mechanic in free spins. But the key differentiator was the introduction of a multiplier trail to the bonus game, building momentum as more fishermen land and more fish are reeled in. The audiovisual presentation also ensured the release stood out, with bigger win animations and a modern visual identity.
Big Bass' main mechanics and defining characteristics have remained largely unchanged ever since, bar the odd tweak and addition here and there. And the series has spawned an entire generation of new adventures, each unmistakably Big Bass. By keeping the central mechanics and character, but putting him in fresh new environments, this has helped expand the series in an entertaining yet cohesive way.”
Q: Big Bass Bonanza Megaways was the first to use Big Time Gaming’s engine, taking the format up to 46,656 ways to win. What made Megaways the right first big development for the brand?
AI: “Following the success of the original, it was only natural that the team would build on and evolve the experience. Bringing Megaways on board was a sure-fire way of injecting even more excitement to the underwater adventure, while maintaining all the core concepts that made the original so iconic. Introducing higher volatility action, dynamic reels, and a larger 6x6 format, the second Big Bass slot made as big a splash as the first, paving the way for the wide selection we have today.”
Q: The ‘1000’ releases, Big Bass Bonanza 1000 and Big Bass Splash 1000, pushed max wins to 25,000x, far beyond the early games. What’s driving that appetite for ever-higher max-win potential?
AI: “Bringing Big Bass into the '1000' fold was all about further diversification and iteration: about taking what really resonates with players and building on the experience for both existing fans seeking something different and new players attracted by the supercharged win potential. It’s always easy to rely on bigger-than-ever numbers to grab attention, but the higher max win in the 1000 series is just a by-product of levelling up the core, award-winning gameplay, not necessarily the focus of the release.”
Q: Big Bass Bonanza 3 Reeler stripped things right back to 3 reels. What drove those smaller-format developments?
AI: “It’s all about keeping the long-running series fresh and catering to different player tastes. In contrast to the Megaways versions, which beef up the Big Bass grid and potential ways to win to offer a really dynamic experience, the 3-reel, 3-row version keeps things simple for players who prefer that kind of experience. Big Bass Bonanza 3 Reeler features faster-paced fun at a smaller scale with only five paylines but packs just as much bite.”
Q: The series has wandered well beyond fishing: Club Tropicana cocktails, Amazon Xtreme, Day at the Races, a Vegas edition, even a boxing theme. Does any theme now have Big Bass crossover potential?
AI: “The ongoing success of the Big Bass franchise lies in its power to venture into new creative territory without losing the core experience players love. Indeed, Steve's side quests have proved just as popular as his original angling adventures. One of the latest releases, Big Bass Blast, showcases this perfectly by pairing classic fishing elements and cash-collect mechanics with electrified reels and an overhauled bonus game experience.
But while the joy of the franchise is its versatility, that doesn’t mean every creative idea will work within the player-favourite formula. Themes are carefully selected to marry up with the mechanics, while taking the format in exciting new directions. There are areas Steve is sure to stay clear of, but if there’s an adventure to be had, you can guarantee he’ll be geared up and ready to go!”
Q: Big Bass Day at the Races landed right around the Cheltenham Festival and tied neatly into OLBG’s horse-racing roots. How important is timing releases to real-world events and seasons?
AI: “Pragmatic Play is committed to delivering immersive gaming experiences that tap into major cultural moments. If you'll excuse the pun, it is important for some games to have a hook, and horse racing and other major sporting events present the perfect opportunity for bringing certain themes into the spotlight.
The Big Bass formula has the flexibility to do so, and this summer saw the famous fisherman swap boats for boots in Big Bass Football Bonanza. The game captured the electric atmosphere surrounding the world’s most-watched football tournament, complete with team-based wilds and a stadium backdrop.
Seasonality also plays a big role in the roadmap, and the spooky and festive seasons just wouldn't be complete without Steve's latest slots adventures: keep an eye out for Big Bass Halloween Splash 1000 and Big Bass Christmas Blast 1000 launching over the next couple of months!”
Q: Speaking of Halloween, these entries lean into darker horror imagery. How does the team balance experimenting with tone against keeping the bright, accessible feel the brand is known for?
AI: “Steve never takes himself too seriously, especially when it comes to combining fishing with another action-packed activity: so why should Halloween be any different? It may have a darker side, but Halloween’s also a great opportunity to play with the theme in a fun and quirky way. A green zombified Steve may enter the picture with a chainsaw in tow, but he’s still a fisherman at heart (even if it isn’t beating).”
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Q: Looking ahead, what can players expect next in the Big Bass series?
AI: “Steve recently completed another trip to the Las Vegas Strip in Big Bass Vegas 1000, featuring those familiar fish money symbols with values up to 1000x, 2 wild collection meters in free spins, and a host of explosive features offering even more chances to land a whopper. After the launch of Big Bass Halloween Splash 1000 on the 12th of October and Big Bass Christmas Blast 1000 on the 16th of November (2026), both offering 20,000 x bet max win potential, everyone’s favourite fisherman will round off the year with Big Bass Cluster Catch in December. Looking further ahead, the world is still very much his oyster.”
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