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Bao Shi by Play’n Go
Thu Oct 9, 2025
When looking up the meaning of Bao Shi in Yabla’s Chinese-English-Pinyin dictionary, you’ll find options ranging from “to give the correct time,” to “release on bail,” to “precious stone.” For Play’n GO’s slot release of the same name, the third translation seems the most fitting. That said, don’t expect a flood of jewels on the reels—this game leans far more into golden imagery, wild symbols, multipliers, and upgrading high-paying icons than into glittering gemstones.
A Story Guarded by the Lion God
The slot’s atmosphere is set by a pair of glowing eyes peering down from above the reels. They belong to Lioras, the Lion God of Prosperity, who once protected the temple of Bao Shi until a greedy warlord cursed him into stone. Players step in to break the enchantment, and in doing so, help release wilds, multipliers, and upgraded symbols. It’s a nice touch of lore that gives the game more weight than many generic Asian-themed titles.
Game Setup and Symbols
The reels sit in a 5×4 grid with 1,024 ways to win, paying left to right. The slot is on the volatile side, rated 7/10, and comes with a top RTP of 96.2% (from five available settings). Stakes are flexible, ranging between €0.10 and €100 per spin.
On the paytable, the lower end is made up of 10–A card royals, while premiums include lanterns, coins, fish, and sycees. The regular Lioras symbol pays up to 4x the stake for five of a kind, but during special features he transforms into the Golden Lioras, worth 6x for five of a kind. Wilds come in the form of Drums and Gold Coins, appearing only on reels 2–4 and substituting for everything except scatters.
Lioras Blessings
Drums collected by the stone guardian can trigger his blessings at any time. When this happens, 2–3 Gold Coins drop onto the grid, substituting for other symbols (except scatters, Drums, and Golden Lioras). In the base game, these coins may also reveal x2 or x3 multipliers, which combine and apply to all wins. On top of that, every regular Lioras on the reels upgrades to its golden counterpart.
Free Spins
Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters unlocks 8, 12, or 15 free spins. Here, all Lioras symbols are automatically upgraded to Golden Lioras. The blessings feature is even stronger, dropping 3–5 Gold Coins that may carry x2, x3, x4, or x5 multipliers, all of which stack together. Free spins can also be retriggered, with each scatter adding +1 spin, up to a maximum of 100 free spins.
The Weight of the Lion
Play’n GO has never been shy about producing Asian-inspired slots, and at first glance Bao Shi might feel like just another entry in that crowded lineup. But it does manage to carve out its own personality, largely thanks to the presence of Lioras, whose stern gaze gives the game a unique identity.
Feature-wise, Bao Shi keeps things simple. The gameplay mostly revolves around feeding Drums to the guardian for blessings or holding out for free spins. This can make the base game feel slow at times, especially since there’s no bonus buy option. Still, the numbers tell an enticing story: a potential win of up to 15,000x the stake, though—as with most Play’n GO titles—players shouldn’t expect to see the ceiling hit very often.
If you’re patient and enjoy the idea of upgrading symbols into their golden versions, stacking multipliers, and chasing that one big hit, Bao Shi has enough charm to keep you interested. Just don’t be surprised if the Lion God tests your perseverance before letting his temple treasures loose.
