Editorial note: this is a general guide to how Book of Ra works. Slot rules, feature availability and RTP can vary between operators and game versions, so always check the in-game information panel before you spin. Slots are games of chance — nothing here is a prediction of results, and no strategy changes the odds.
Book of Ra slot review
Book of Ra is the original Book of Ra game, an Egyptian adventure slot from Novomatic, released online in 2005 and supplied through its Greentube studio. It has five reels, three rows and nine paylines, and the Book symbol acts as both wild and scatter. Three or more Books start 10 free spins with a special symbol that expands to fill whole reels.
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How Book of Ra plays
The base game is a classic line slot. Nine paylines run across a 5x3 grid, and players can choose how many of them to play. An explorer leads the higher-paying symbols, joined by a scarab beetle and a statue, while the card ranks A, K, Q, J and 10 make up the lower-paying wins.
The Book of Ra symbol does two jobs at once:
- Wild: it substitutes for the other symbols to help complete line wins.
- Scatter: it pays from anywhere on the reels and triggers the free spins when three or more appear.
After a win, the game also offers an optional gamble, a double-or-nothing step where a correct guess doubles the prize and a wrong one loses it. It can be ignored by collecting the win.
Free spins and the expanding symbol
Landing three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels awards 10 free spins. Before the round begins, the game picks one regular symbol at random to be the special expanding symbol for the whole feature.
During the free spins, whenever the special symbol lands, it can expand to cover its entire reel and pay as a scatter, so it does not need to sit on a single payline to win. This is the heart of the game: an expanding high-paying symbol such as the explorer can fill several reels at once.
Novomatic has since followed the original with versions such as Book of Ra Deluxe and Book of Ra Magic. The classic game stays the simplest of the family, with nine lines and a single expanding symbol.
Game information
| Provider | Novomatic (Greentube) |
|---|---|
| Released | 2005 |
| Reels and lines | 5 reels, 3 rows, 9 paylines |
| RTP | Shown in the game’s information panel |
| Stake per spin (UK) | UK stakes are capped at £5 a spin (£2 for players aged 18 to 24) |
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All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to this slot game are subject to change at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes Book of Ra?
Novomatic makes Book of Ra, and its online versions come from the Novomatic studio Greentube. The classic online game dates from 2005.
How does the expanding symbol work?
At the start of free spins, one symbol is picked at random. During the round it can expand to cover its whole reel and pay anywhere on the screen.
What slots are similar to Book of Ra?
Book of Dead, Book of Tut and Book of the Fallen share its Egyptian book theme. The tiles at the top of this page show them, and you can play them at Fortune Games.
What is the RTP?
The game’s information panel shows it. RTP can differ between operators and game versions, so check the panel in the version you play.
Related guides
Novomatic & Greentube studio guide
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