Vampire's Charm rules and expanding-symbol guide

Vampire’s Charm is PG Soft catalogue ID 58. The checked English supplier document is version 1.0 r904, updated 8 July 2025. It defines a five-reel, three-row game with ten paylines and a special symbol that can expand and shift towards the left before wins are evaluated.

The reference states 96.75% RTP, medium volatility and an advertised 20,000× maximum. Those facts identify r904; they are not evidence that the title or same setup is available through an operator serving New Zealand.

Verified specification

Field	PG Soft r904 evidence	Practical check
Catalogue identity	ID 58	Exact title and supplier
Layout	5 reels × 3 rows	Complete reel window
Pay system	10 lines	Consecutive reels from the left
RTP	96.75%	Help-screen value
Volatility	Medium	Supplier classification
Overall hit rate	35.84%	Long-run model statistic
Main-game special event	Random trigger	One non-Scatter identity chosen
Free-spin trigger	3, 4 or 5 Scatters	10, 15 or 20 spins
Retrigger	Yes	Check remaining-spin counter
Maximum win	20,000×	Advertised cap

PG Soft divides return into 46.38 percentage points for ordinary main-game results, 20.18 for the expanding-symbol event and 30.19 for free spins. Their hit rates are 32.75%, 2.50% and 0.59%. These are model components; adding the last few session outcomes cannot reveal when the next event will occur.

Ten paylines and Scatter substitution

A line wins when matching symbols continue from the leftmost reel towards the right. Only the highest win on a line is paid. The PDF unusually states that Scatter substitutes for all symbols, so it should not be described as a conventional non-substituting trigger without checking the exact build.

Ten fixed lines mean a combination must follow one of the documented paths. Three matching symbols visible in arbitrary positions do not automatically form a win. The paytable and line diagram should be opened together when reconstructing a result.

Because Scatter can substitute, one symbol may participate in a line award and in feature triggering according to the game’s evaluation. Capture the full board rather than assuming an apparently missing ordinary symbol invalidates the line.

Random expansion in the main game

On any main-game spin, the Expanding Symbols feature may trigger randomly. One symbol identity is selected, excluding Scatter. All copies of that selected symbol expand and are shifted to the leftmost reels before wins are paid.

The order matters: selection happens first, then matching copies are expanded and repositioned, then line wins are evaluated. A screenshot after the move can conceal where the symbols originally landed. A short screen recording or before-and-after pair is stronger evidence.

“Shifted to the leftmost reels” is not the same as locking the original positions. The mechanic deliberately reorganises the chosen identity so it can form left-starting paylines. Do not count both the original and shifted symbols as separate copies unless the live history explicitly represents them that way.

The event is random rather than meter-based. Several spins without expansion do not make it due, and a recent trigger does not suppress the next one. Its 2.50% hit-rate component is a long-run reference, not a countdown.

Free-spin trigger and starting supply

Three Scatters award 10 free spins, four award 15, and five award 20. At feature start, the game randomly chooses a special expanding symbol, again excluding Scatter. That identity remains the focal symbol for the feature.

During free spins, all copies of the chosen symbol expand and shift to the leftmost reels before wins are paid. Unlike the random main-game event, the selection is made at the beginning of the feature, so the player can track one identity throughout.

Free spins can retrigger. A retrigger changes the remaining-spin counter but does not necessarily replace the selected identity. Record the counter and the feature header after each trigger event; the loaded Help file is the authority if a version behaves differently.

Starting supply and final supply are separate measures. Twenty is the largest initial award from five Scatters, not an absolute feature maximum when retriggers are possible. The official file does not state an average number of retriggers.

How to audit the leftward shift

Before settlement, note the selected identity and its original reel positions. After expansion, mark the reels occupied by the transformed group from the left edge. Then trace every paying path on the ten-line diagram.

Suppose the selected symbol originally appears on reels two, four and five. The animation expands those copies and moves the resulting set to the earliest reels. The final line layout, rather than the landing coordinates alone, determines the award. This is why a still image after settlement cannot fully explain the mechanism.

If multiple lines use the same shifted symbols, each line is evaluated under the paytable, with only the highest combination on that line paid. Avoid multiplying the visible symbol count by a paytable value without checking each documented line.

Worked feature example

Imagine four Scatters start 15 free spins and the game chooses the high-value portrait as the special symbol. On the first spin, two portraits land on later reels. They expand and move left before the game checks its ten paylines.

A later free spin lands three Scatters and retriggers. Record the extra spins added to the counter separately from the portrait expansion occurring on that same screen. One operation controls spin supply; the other constructs potential line wins.

If the feature ends after the counter reaches zero, the selected symbol does not remain special in the next paid spin. A new random main-game event would make its own selection. Keeping the two modes separate prevents false claims of persistence.

Maximum, simulation and reference bets

The advertised maximum is 20,000× the bet. The document reports maximum exposure of 1,696× in one billion simulated spins. The observed simulation figure is not the cap, and the cap is not an indication that such a result is typical.

Reference bet sizes are 0.02, 0.2 and 1 across ten levels, with a default EUR range from €0.20 to €100. Those values should not be converted into an NZD minimum or attributed to any operator. Read the actual stake and currency from the client.

The return split shows how much of the model is allocated to the special event and feature, but not the distribution of award sizes inside them. A 2.50% expanding-event hit rate does not mean every event pays or pays at a common multiple.

Mobile, controls and history

PG Soft lists iOS, Android, HTML5, macOS and Windows, with a 1080×2340 portrait reference. On a mobile display, the chosen symbol, original positions, shift animation and all ten lines should remain distinguishable. Reduced motion should not remove access to the final state or history.

If a connection fails during the shift, open game history and locate the round ID. Match total bet, selected symbol, final reel arrangement, line awards and settlement. Starting another spin before saving that record can make an otherwise simple complaint difficult to reproduce.

Demo and New Zealand boundary

PG Soft may provide its own catalogue preview. Neither sponsored route on this page is represented as a Vampire’s Charm demo. An official rules document verifies product behaviour, not distribution to New Zealand players.

Check an authenticated lobby, territorial terms and the Help screen loaded in that session. If it shows another version or RTP, preserve both records with dates. An operator deployment should be documented on its own evidence rather than blended into r904.

Who may prefer the game

Vampire’s Charm may suit readers who want a compact fixed-line game with a visually clear symbol transformation. It may be less appealing to those who prefer ways, clusters or persistent symbols, because the selected identity is reorganised for each relevant outcome rather than held on the board.

Medium volatility is not a guarantee of moderate losses. The dramatic leftward expansion can make a near miss feel consequential even when the next spin remains independent. Establish time and spending limits before play.

Evidence checklist

1. Match catalogue ID 58 and version 1.0 r904.
2. Verify 96.75% in the live Help screen.
3. Open the ten-line diagram before counting wins.
4. Record the selected special-symbol identity.
5. Capture positions before and after the shift.
6. Separate retriggers from symbol expansion.
7. Note the starting and final spin supply.
8. Save round ID, stake and settlement.

FAQ

What RTP does r904 state?

The checked file states 96.75%.

How many paylines are used?

Vampire’s Charm uses ten fixed lines.

What starts the expanding event?

It may trigger randomly during a main-game spin.

How many free spins can start?

Three, four or five Scatters award 10, 15 or 20 respectively.

Can free spins retrigger?

Yes, r904 explicitly allows retriggers.

Is New Zealand access confirmed?

No. That needs current operator-specific evidence.

Sources

• PG Soft, Vampire’s Charm Game Information, version 1.0 r904, updated 8 July 2025.
• PG Soft official catalogue record for game ID 58, checked 9 October 2026.

How to verify the version you can actually open

A provider page proves that a title exists and describes the supplier's intended rules. It does not prove that a casino accepts players in New Zealand, that the title is enabled for a particular account, or that the highest published RTP is the version in the lobby. Treat availability, operator eligibility and product configuration as three separate checks.

Start with identity, then configuration

Open the game only through the authenticated casino lobby. The information or help panel should identify PG Soft, the exact title and the active mathematical return. Compare the reel or grid layout, paylines or cluster rules, named features and symbol behaviour with the official product material. Similar artwork or a matching title is not enough when the help file is missing or inconsistent.

When the supplier publishes several RTP values, report all of them as configurations. Do not assume the highest option is deployed. RTP is a theoretical long-run measure across a very large number of rounds; it is not a refund rate for one player and cannot predict the next result. Volatility is different: it describes how unevenly results are distributed on the provider's scale.

Read stake controls as money, not interface decoration

Provider sheets often quote a reference range in euros. That range does not establish New Zealand-dollar support or the limits in a specific account. Before a paid round, identify the total amount that will leave the balance. If the interface separates denomination, coins and lines, verify the combined total. If Extra Bet is active, calculate its full cost before pressing spin.

Feature-buy prices are multiples of the current bet, not promised returns. A 100x purchase at a $1 stake costs $100; at a $2 stake it costs $200. Availability can vary by market and some mathematical configurations may not support the control. If the live help does not explain the price, delivered feature and active RTP, leave the option unused.

Keep simulation figures in their proper scope

A game sheet may publish a maximum result observed in a large simulation. That is not automatically the contractual maximum payout and never describes a likely session. Preserve the provider's wording, sample size and configuration. Check the live rules for a binding cap and the operator terms for any separate payout limit. Do not turn an extreme result into a promotional headline.

Audit a disputed round

If an animation freezes or a connection drops, do not repeat the wager immediately. Reopen the game through the authenticated lobby and inspect round history. Record the time, total stake, balance movement and round identifier. The result can be settled by the gaming system even when the device never displays the final animation. Send evidence through verified operator support; never disclose a password, recovery phrase or one-time code.

Read the paytable as a calculation document

The paytable should explain what creates a win, which symbols substitute, where special symbols can land and how multiple awards combine. For line games, confirm direction and active paylines. For cluster games, confirm adjacency, minimum group size and the order of collection. For respins, identify what remains locked, what resets the counter and what ends the feature. A graphic effect can illustrate those rules but cannot replace them.

Separate addition from multiplication. Several prize values may be added before a multiplier applies, while reel-specific multipliers can sometimes multiply together only when each reel participates in the same win. Reconstruct one low-stake result from game history. If the arithmetic cannot be matched to the help file, stop and ask the operator rather than guessing.

Do not confuse hit frequency with a profitable round

Provider sheets can publish hit frequency or category probabilities. A hit simply means a round returned a qualifying amount; it can be smaller than the stake. “Big”, “Mega” or “Epic” thresholds are provider reporting categories, not promises. They are useful for comparing mathematical versions only when definitions and samples are the same.

Random outcomes do not become due after a long gap. A feature that appeared repeatedly in a demo or marketing clip has no obligation to repeat in a funded session. Previous rounds do not create a debt from the next random result.

Confirm market and device behaviour independently

A title can exist in the supplier catalogue while an operator disables it for a territory, currency, device or bonus. Language localisation is not evidence of legal availability. Confirm the operator's identity, accepted countries and current lobby separately from the provider review.

On mobile, verify that balance, total bet, feature state and help remain visible without overlap. On desktop, check that browser zoom does not hide a purchase control or change the apparent denomination. Mathematical configuration should not change merely because the screen changes; if the help shows another RTP, treat it as a different deployment and record it.

Keep a compact evidence record

For any fact used in a review, save the title, provider, official URL, document date when available, access date and exact territorial scope. For a live session, add the operator domain, Game ID, RTP, currency and a non-sensitive screenshot of the help panel. This makes later corrections possible when a supplier updates a sheet or an operator changes configuration.

Missing information should remain missing. Do not estimate an RTP from results, convert a euro reference range into an operator's NZD limit, or treat another casino's configuration as evidence. A transparent “not confirmed” is more useful than a precise-looking number without the correct source.

Use limits that survive the feature design

Collection meters, expanding grids, sticky symbols and near misses can make a session feel unfinished. Unless the rules explicitly preserve progress, the visible state has no value after the round or feature ends. Set a money limit and time limit before launch, count feature buys immediately, and stop at the limit even when a meter appears close to an upgrade.

No random game is an income plan. Do not borrow, use essential funds or raise the stake to recover a loss. If play stops feeling recreational, use timeout, deposit-limit or self-exclusion tools and consult the site's responsible gambling guide.