Book Of Ra Slot
What Makes Book of Ra So Special?
| Main Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic / Greentube |
| First Release (land-based) | 2004 |
| Online Launch | 2005 (Classic version) |
| Reels / Paylines | 5 reels, up to 9 adjustable paylines |
| RTP | ≈ 92.13 % (Classic online) |
| Volatility | High |
| Top Jackpot | 5,000× stake for 5 Explorer symbols on a payline |
| Bonus Feature | 10 Free Spins with random expanding symbol |
| Special Symbol | Book (acts as Wild + Scatter) |
Book of Ra isn’t just another Egypt slot. When Novomatic brought it to British arcades and then online, you got a pure shot of adventure. The explorer, golden scarabs, and that mysterious Book sweep you into a world of hieroglyphs, a tense soundtrack, and rapid-fire spins that feel like a chase scene. It’s lean, clear, and built around a single idea that keeps paying out.
The Book symbol
You only need the Book to notice the difference. It’s both wild and scatter, so it completes wins and triggers the bonus. Land 3, 4, or 5 Books anywhere and you pocket 2×, 20×, or 200× your total bet. At the same time, you unlock 10 free spins—which is where the slot really comes alive.
Expanding Free Spins
Before free spins begin, a random symbol from the paytable is selected to expand, except the Book. Whenever that symbol appears during the bonus, it expands to fill its reel. It then pays on any line, even if the symbols aren’t next to each other. That’s your route to the top win of up to 5,000× per spin with the Explorer.
Why it caught on in the UK
You get high volatility, nine adjustable lines, and clear rules you pick up in moments. One hot run on free spins can turn into a payout of thousands or even tens of thousands of pounds, yet the game stays true to its classic arcade roots. Simple setup, striking theme, real swings. That’s why Book of Ra became a cult favourite across the UK.
How to Play Book of Ra
Getting started
You journey into ancient Egypt on a classic 5 × 3 grid. In the original Book of Ra you can activate 1–9 paylines, while Book of Ra Deluxe offers up to 10. Wins are awarded when three to five matching symbols land on an active line, or just two for premium icons, starting from the leftmost reel.
Set up your bet
- Set your stake: Adjust the coin value from £0.01 to £5.00.
- Choose lines: Select how many paylines to activate. Each line increases your total bet.
- Spin: Press Start or Autoplay* and watch the reels spin.
- Optional Gamble: After any win, you can try the card-guess gamble for a 50/50 chance to double or lose your payout, up to £140,000.
*Autoplay is disabled for players located in Germany under GlüStV 2021 regulations.
The Book symbol
The golden Book of Ra acts as both wild and scatter. As a wild it substitutes for any symbol to complete winning lines. As a scatter, three, four, or five books anywhere award 10 free spins plus an instant 2×, 20×, or 200× your total bet.
Free spins and expanding symbols
Triggering the feature grants you 10 free spins. Before they begin, one regular symbol is randomly selected as a special expanding symbol.
- When it appears, it expands to cover the entire reel after line wins are paid.
- Expanded wins pay on all lines even if the symbols are not adjacent.
- Land three or more Books during free spins to retrigger 10 extra spins with the same expanding symbol. There is no specified limit to retriggers.
A five-of-a-kind Explorer during free spins can pay up to 5,000× the line bet.
Book of Ra Versions You Can Play
| Version | Reels / Paylines | Main Twist | Max Win (x stake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 5 / 9 | Original graphics and sound; straightforward free spins feature with 1 expanding symbol | 5,000x |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 5 / 10 | Sharper HD visuals, larger symbols, plus one extra payline | 5,000x |
| Book of Ra Deluxe 6 | 6 / 10 | Optional sixth reel doubles your total bet; bigger line wins possible | 7,500x |
| Book of Ra Magic | 5 / 10 | Up to 9 expanding symbols during free spins | 5,000x |
| Temple of Gold, Jackpot etc. | 5 / 10-30 | Fixed or progressive jackpots, extra pick-and-win bonus rounds | Varies |
Book of Ra Classic
Looking for the original experience? The Classic uses 5 reels and 9 fixed paylines, keeping that authentic Egyptian theme. It’s easy to pick up and gets you straight into free spins with a single expanding symbol. Ideal if you fancy some stripped-back retro play.
Book of Ra Deluxe
This version gives you 10 paylines, sharper HD graphics and smoother animations. The sound draws you further into the tomb yet keeps that classic charm. Many players in the UK enjoy this version as it strikes the right balance between modern upgrades and traditional gameplay with familiar payouts.
Book of Ra Deluxe 6
After bigger wins? Activate the sixth reel to double your total bet. That extra reel brings the chance of stronger line wins and six of a kind combos. Land the Explorer across all six reels and you could score up to 7,500x your stake. It’s a high risk, high reward slot.
Book of Ra Magic and Spin offs
You still play with 10 paylines, but the bonus ramps up quickly. During free spins, up to nine symbols can become expanding symbols for screen-filling wins. Games like Temple of Gold or Jackpot feature fixed or progressive jackpots and pick-and-win bonus rounds for even more ways to win.
Choose your style: retro origins, HD upgrades, sixth reel power, or a hunt for jackpots.
RTP and Volatility Breakdown
Understanding RTP in Book of Ra
Return to Player, or RTP, is the long-term percentage of stakes a slot is expected to pay back. Novomatic offers several RTP profiles for every Book of Ra release, and the casino decides which one you play. In the UK, most online sites use mid-range settings like those shown below. Treat these as the typical configurations you’ll encounter, not a guarantee for a short session, as real results will always fluctuate around that theory.
| Book of Ra Title | Typical Online RTP | Land-Based RTP* |
|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 94.26 % | 92.13 % |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 95.06 % | 94.26 % |
| Book of Ra Deluxe 6 | 95.03 % | 94.26 % |
| Book of Ra Magic | 95.03 % | 94.26 % |
| Book of Ra Jackpot | 95.18 % | 94.26 % |
*RTPs in UK arcades and casinos are often lower due to legal payout limits.
Volatility in Book of Ra Slots
Every Book of Ra version is highly volatile, so the game tends to save value for streaky bonus bursts rather than frequent small wins.
- Long dry spells are common, especially at minimum stakes (e.g., £0.10–£0.20 per spin)
- Payouts can spike during the 10 free games, when one random symbol expands to cover reels and pays on any line
- Hit frequency sits around 28–30%, yet most RTP is packed into the bonus, so results can swing sharply
What to Expect When You Play
If you want adrenaline and the chance at a 5,000× stake full screen explorer, Book of Ra delivers. You should also be prepared for stretches of 50–150 spins with little return. A sensible plan is a bankroll that covers at least 200 spins, giving you a fair shot at triggering free games more than once. To improve your long-term odds, pick a version with the higher RTP when possible, such as Deluxe instead of Classic. The experience remains just as volatile, but the maths tilts ever so slightly in your favour.
Where to Play Book of Ra in the UK
Play Only on UKGC-Licensed Sites
If you want to spin Book of Ra legally in the UK, choose a casino listed on the official register from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). The UKGC issues nationwide remote gaming licences under the Gambling Act 2005. As of 2024, these brands are authorised to offer Book of Ra and other Novomatic titles to players in the UK:
- DrückGlück.co.uk – SkillOnNet Ltd.
- JackpotPirates.co.uk – Sächsische Spielbanken GmbH
- MerkurSlots.co.uk – edict Malta Ltd.
- Tipico Games (tipico.co.uk/casino) – Tipico Casino Ltd.
- bwin.com – Entain plc
What Rules Apply
Licensed platforms adhere to strict player-protection rules: a £1,000 monthly deposit limit, a mandatory 5-second spin interval, and a £1 maximum stake per spin. Deposits and withdrawals use certified payment methods and 256-bit SSL encryption for security.
Demo Mode and Mobile
UK law allows free-to-play versions only after age verification, but most licensed sites still display a demo button once you log in. The HTML5 version of Book of Ra Deluxe runs smoothly on iOS, Android, and Windows with no extra software. Prefer apps? You’ll find native casino apps from Tipico and DrückGlück in the UK App Store and on Google Play.
How to Pick Your Casino
Beyond licensing, compare the features that matter to you. MerkurSlots, for example, offers 100% up to £100 plus 50 free spins. If fast payouts are a priority, Tipico processes PayPal withdrawals within 24 hours. Also look for:
- Transparent bonus wagering requirements, usually 30–35×
- 24/7 English-language live chat and phone support
- Self-exclusion tools like the instant “panic button” for a 24-hour lockout
Stick to the UKGC register and these checks to play Book of Ra safely for real money or to try the demo.
Winning Strategies and Tips
Manage your bankroll
Set a session budget before you spin and split it into roughly 100–150 bets. Book of Ra hits around 30% in most versions, so cold streaks are common. Start small at the minimum bet, usually £0.10 or £0.20, to help weather any swings. Only increase your stakes after a sizeable win that more than doubles your starting balance. Never chase your losses.
Know the bonus round
Land three, four, or five Book symbols to trigger 10 free spins plus a randomly chosen expanding symbol. The Books also pay scatter wins worth 2x, 20x, or 200x your total bet. During the feature, the special symbol expands to fill its reel and pays on any position, so paylines don’t matter. Picture symbols—Explorer, Pharaoh, Scarab, Statue—need only 2+ to pay. Card values need 3+ but appear more frequently, which helps to even out results.
Make free spins count
- Retriggers: Land 3+ Books again for another 10 spins, up to a theoretical maximum of 90 in one bonus round.
- Top symbol: Explorer pays 500x for five and can reach around 5,000x your stake if expanded across all reels.
- Fast-stop: Stopping the reels yourself won’t affect the RNG outcome. Use it only to control the pace of play.
Stay realistic
Volatility is 5/5. You might go a long stretch without a feature, then hit a big win. Every spin is independent. Nothing is ever “due.”
Gamble option
After any win, you can use the Gamble feature and pick red or black for a 2x payout. Be disciplined—no more than two consecutive gambles—so you don’t give back strong wins.
Quick reference
- Budget for 100+ spins.
- Only increase stakes after doubling your balance.
- Set a stop-loss at 50% of your original bankroll.
- Cash out at 200%–300% of your bankroll or after a 500x win.
Similar Slots Worth Trying
Enjoy the allure of ancient tombs in Book of Ra? There’s a wealth of similar slots to discover. The games below keep the classic book-style excitement, so you can jump right in without having to learn new rules—yet each one throws in a unique twist to keep things feeling fresh.
Egyptian Picks
Legacy of Dead by Play’n GO delivers plenty of pharaoh energy with glittering tombs and a bonus round featuring a special expanding symbol. You’ll get 10 free spins and a standard RTP of 96.58%, with the chance to retrigger and unlock up to nine expanding symbols for some serious win potential. Eye of Horus from Merkur/Blueprint offers something a bit different. During its free spins, an expanding wild steadily upgrades the lower-value symbols, increasing your chances of a bigger payout. Both games boast atmospheric soundtracks and striking visuals to keep that mystical ancient Egyptian feel front and centre.
More Fan Favourites
Book of Dead, also from Play’n GO, whisks you away with Rich Wilde and features high volatility in line with Book of Ra Deluxe, along with a 96.21% RTP. Ramses Book by Gamomat gives you more control over your risk with a gamble ladder and card gamble option after every win, and its 10 free spins can award a random expanding symbol. Prefer a different backdrop but the same core gameplay? Rise of Merlin swaps the sands for a wizard’s den, offering 10 free spins and unlimited retriggers, allowing you to stack up expanding symbols as you go.
| Slot Title | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Key Bonus Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.58% | High | 10 FS + expanding symbol, retriggers up to 9 symbols |
| Eye of Horus | Merkur / Blueprint | 96.31% | Med-High | 12 FS with symbol upgrade via expanding wild |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.21% | High | 10 FS + expanding symbol, gamble feature |
| Ramses Book | Gamomat | 96.18% | High | 10 FS + expanding symbol, ladder/card gamble |
| Rise of Merlin | Play’n GO | 96.58% | High | 10 FS, retriggers add extra expanding symbols |
Why These Work
You get to enjoy the familiar book-style gameplay, with added extras like symbol upgrades, generous retriggers, or gamble ladders. They’re simple to pick up and play, while still offering enough variety to keep things exciting.