Book Of Ra Pros & Cons
Book of Ra delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- 5,000x max win hits hard when it lands
- Expanding symbol feature creates massive wins
- Simple gameplay, easy to understand
- Available at basically every online casino
- Low £0.10 minimum bet to start
- 92.13% RTP is terrible, worst we've seen
- High volatility drains bankroll in minutes
- Graphics and sound are dated and boring
- Free spins trigger rarely, brutal dry spells
- No progressive jackpot or buy bonus
Book of Ra Slot Review: The Ancient Egyptian Classic That Started It All
Book of Ra dropped in March 2005 and it's still getting played constantly. Novomatic made this one back when online slots were basic, and honestly, it shows. The RTP sits at 92.13% - terrible by today's standards - but players keep coming back for the expanding symbol free spins feature.
Here at SlotsGamblers, we tested this Egyptian classic to see if it holds up 20 years later. Short answer? Not really. High volatility plus low RTP is a brutal combo. You'll burn through cash waiting for the bonus to hit. Max payout is 5,000x your bet, so at least there's decent win potential when things go right.
The game has 5 reels, 3 rows, and 9 paylines. That Indiana Jones-looking explorer hunts for treasure while you hunt for 3 Book symbols to trigger free spins. The bonus picks a random expanding symbol before it starts. Land the explorer as your expander and you're golden. Get stuck with a 10 or Jack? Pain.
This isn't for casual players who want chill gameplay. It's for bonus hunters and high-rollers who can stomach long dead streaks chasing that one massive hit.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic/Greentube |
| Release Date | March 3, 2005 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines | 9 (adjustable) |
| RTP | 92.13% |
| Volatility | High |
| Min Bet | £0.10 |
| Max Bet | £45 |
| Max Win | 5,000x bet |
| Hit Frequency | ~30% |
| Bonus Features | Free Spins, Expanding Symbols, Gamble |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes |
Symbols & Payouts
10 symbols total. Top tier is the explorer, sarcophagus, statue, scarab beetle, and the Book of Ra. Bottom tier is standard playing cards - 10, J, Q, K, A.
🎰 Explorer - High Value
The top dog. Indiana Jones ripoff with the brown hat and adventurer gear. Five explorers pay 5,000x your line bet, four pay 1,000x, three pay 100x, two pay 10x. This is what you're hunting during free spins. The explorer shows up less than other symbols, so filling the screen is rare but huge. When this gets picked as your expanding symbol you're laughing.
🏺 Sarcophagus - High Value
Golden coffin with detailed engravings. Second-best payer. Five pay 2,000x, four pay 400x, three pay 40x, two pay 5x. Shows up more often than the explorer, so you'll see decent wins from it. Not as exciting but still solid when it lands.
🗿 Statue of Ra - Medium Value
Golden statue of the sun god. Five pay 750x, four pay 100x, three pay 30x, two pay 3x. Mid-tier symbol. Decent during the bonus if it gets selected as the expander. Won't blow your mind but won't disappoint either.
Scarab Beetle - Medium Value
Sacred beetle in blue and gold. Pays same as the statue - 750x for five, 100x for four, 30x for three, 3x for two. These medium symbols appear fairly often. They keep your balance alive between dead spins. As an expanding symbol during free spins they'll hit frequently.
📖 Book of Ra - Special
Wild and scatter combined. Subs for everything to complete wins. Land 3 books and you get 10 free spins. Before the spins start, the book randomly picks a symbol to become the expander. This is the entire game right here. The book itself doesn't pay much but it's everything for triggering the bonus.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Playing card with hieroglyphics. Five aces pay 150x, three pay 5x. Shows up constantly. Delivers tiny wins that barely matter. Better than nothing I guess.
👑 King (K) - Low Value
Another card symbol with Egyptian styling. Five kings pay 150x, three pay 5x. High-frequency symbol. Tiny payouts that pad out losing streaks. Won't get rich here.
👸 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Queen card with hieroglyphic details. Five queens pay 100x, three pay 5x. Shows up all the time with jacks and tens. These low symbols keep you afloat while you wait.
🎭 Jack (J) - Low Value
Jack card matching the Egyptian look. Five jacks pay 100x, three pay 5x. Expect tons of these. Micro-wins that slow down your balance bleed. That's it.
🔟 Ten (10) - Low Value
Lowest-paying symbol. Five tens pay 100x, three pay 5x. Most common symbol on the reels. When this gets picked as your expanding symbol during free spins you'll want to cry. Even a full screen only pays 100x your line bet.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | 2 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Explorer
|
1,000x | 100x | 10x | Top payer, expands in bonus | |
|
Sarcophagus
|
400x | 40x | 5x | High value, expands | |
|
Statue of Ra
|
100x | 30x | 3x | Medium value, expands | |
|
Scarab Beetle
|
100x | 30x | 3x | Medium value, expands | |
|
Ace (A)
|
30x | 5x | - | Low value card | |
|
King (K)
|
30x | 5x | - | Low value card | |
|
Queen (Q)
|
20x | 5x | - | Low value card | |
|
Jack (J)
|
20x | 5x | - | Low value card | |
|
Ten (10)
|
20x | 5x | - | Lowest value | |
|
Book of Ra
|
20x | 2x | - | Wild + Scatter, triggers bonus |
Bonus Features
One main feature - free spins with expanding symbols. That's all you get. No cascades, no multipliers, no buy bonus option.
| Feature Name | Trigger Method | Description | Max Potential Win | Frequency | Re-trigger Possible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Spins
|
10 free spins with random expander | 5,000x bet | Rare | Yes | |
|
Expanding Symbol
|
Auto- selected | Chosen symbol expands to fill reel | Varies | Every feature | N/A |
|
Gamble Feature
|
After any win | Guess card color to double or lose | Unlimited | After every win | Yes until you lose |
RTP & Volatility
92.13% RTP is brutal. High volatility makes it worse.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
£0.10 |
|
Max Bet
|
£45 |
|
Max Win
|
|
|
RTP
|
|
|
Volatility
|
High |
|
Hit Frequency
|
~30% |
Mobile
Works fine on mobile and tablet. iOS and Android both supported. No issues with controls or loading.
The basic graphics actually help here since there's nothing complex to render. Plays smooth on any device.
Tips:
Pray for high-value expanders - If you trigger free spins and get a low card as your expanding symbol, the wins will suck. Explorer is the jackpot pick.
Play all 9 paylines
Running fewer lines saves money short-term but you'll miss wins. Not worth it on high volatility.
Bankroll management is life or death
SlotsGamblers tested this and burned £100 in 80 spins without hitting bonus. You need 150x your bet size minimum.
Skip the gamble
50/50 guess to double or lose everything. Just collect your wins and keep playing.
Play Deluxe instead
Book of Ra Deluxe has better RTP at 95.1% with improved graphics. Unless you're nostalgic, skip the original.
Similar Games
If you like Book of Ra, check out these alternatives:
Book of Ra Deluxe
Same developer, released 2008. Upgraded graphics and 95.1% RTP instead of 92.13%. Just play this version instead.
Book of Dead (Play'n GO)
Basically a copy of Book of Ra Deluxe. 96.21% RTP, same expanding symbol mechanic, better graphics.
Book of Ra Magic
Another Novomatic sequel from 2018. 95.03% RTP, high volatility. Nine potential expanding symbols instead of one.
Legacy of Dead (Play'n GO)
More Egyptian book slot action with similar mechanics but modern visuals.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Book of Ra still popular despite the 92.13% RTP?
Nostalgia mostly. It was revolutionary in 2005 and built a huge fanbase. Players stick with what they know, and the expanding symbol feature still delivers excitement.
What's the best symbol to get as your expanding symbol?
Explorer by far. Five explorers pay 5,000x and when it expands you can fill the screen. Landing a low card as your expander is depressing.
Can you retrigger free spins during the bonus?
Yeah, land 3 more book scatters during free spins and you get another 10 spins. Your expanding symbol stays the same though.
How does Book of Ra compare to Book of Dead?
Book of Dead is basically a Book of Ra Deluxe copy. Better RTP at 96.21%, modern graphics, same expanding symbol mechanic. We'd pick Book of Dead every time.
Is the gamble feature worth using?
Nah, it's 50/50 guessing a card color. You can double your win or lose it all. Fun for small wins maybe, but on big free spins payouts just collect.
Why are base game payouts so small?
High volatility design. The game saves payout potential for free spins with expanding symbols. Base game is meant to be slow and painful.
Can you play with fewer paylines to save money?
You can adjust down from 9 lines to 1, 3, 5, or 7. But you'll miss wins that fall on deactivated lines. Not smart on high volatility.
Does Book of Ra have a progressive jackpot?
No progressive jackpot. Max payout stays fixed at 5,000x your bet no matter what.