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Book of Ra

Novomatic

Game Experience

5

Graphics

5

Theme & Symbols

5

Bonus Features

5

Overall rating

5

Provider

Novomatic

Founded

2004-03-07

RTP

96

Volatility

High

Number of Reels

5

Jackpot

0

Winning Lines

9

Book of Ra Slot Review

First launched in land-based casino cabinets in 2005 by Novomatic’s interactive division, Greentube, Book of Ra is arguably one of the most influential video slots ever created.

It single-handedly birthed the legendary “Book of” genre, spawning hundreds of modern clones and sequels across the iGaming industry.

Demo Version – Can You Play for Free?

Yes, there’s a full demo available to try right here on this Book of Ra review page. All you need to do is load it up to start playing with virtual credits. It allows you to explore the game’s high-volatility win cycles and test out how frequently the free spins land without risking any real crypto capital.

Book of Ra Slot Machine Overview

Book of Ra is one of the most well-known Egyptian-themed slots on the market. It’s slightly dated at this point, but upon release it blew many other games out of the water.

You take a journey into the catacombs of a pyramid to try and walk away with the hidden treasures of Ra. We’ve visited the catacombs ourselves in our Book of Ra review to give you a breakdown of what to expect.

Pros

  • Thumbs-Up Expanding symbols in the Free Spins
  • Thumbs-Up Up to 5,000x the stake as a max win
  • Thumbs-Up Free Spins can be retriggered
  • Thumbs-Up Classic Gamble feature to double payouts

Cons

  • Thumbs-Down Only 9 paylines
  • Thumbs-Down Low RTP compared to modern slots
  • Thumbs-Down Retro graphics may feel too dated

Game Mechanics

Book of Ra has a 5×3 reel set, so it doesn’t subvert expectations too much. As is the case with most slots, you need to land at least 3 matching symbols on a payline to create a win for low-value icons and 2 for higher-paying ones.

There isn’t a large range of modern features available, so you won’t see cascading reels or Megaways. However, there is a Free Spins feature, which can be retriggered.

How to Play Book of Ra with Crypto

Book of Ra Graphics and Playing Experience

The visuals in Book of Ra are relatively simple. They look very dated now, especially the character symbols, which look almost like caricatures. It’s not a bad style, but other games have surpassed it. It has some nice sounds while you’re spinning the reels, but it can be a bit generic at times, relying heavily on vintage land-based arcade sound effects.

Book of Ra works seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices. The mobile version is almost identical to the desktop game, adapting nicely to touch controls, and I didn’t notice any issues with control response or performance lag while spinning the reels.

Reels and Paylines

Book of Ra is a 5-reel game that has 3 rows and 9 paylines. You can change how many paylines are active on each spin, which impacts how often wins land and the stake limits.

RTP & Volatility

Book of Ra has an RTP of 92.13%, which is well below the market average. When it was released, it wasn’t an issue, but compared to modern releases, it’s not on the same level. The volatility is high, so there can be waits for wins to come along.

  • RTP: 92.13%
  • Volatility: High

Gallery

Symbols & Payouts

SymbolPayout
103, 4, or 5 pays 5, 25, or 100 x the line bet
J3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 25, or 100 x the line bet
Q3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 25, or 100 x the line bet
K3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 40, or 150 x the line bet
A3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 40, or 150 x the line bet
Scarab2, 3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 30, 100, or 750 x the line bet
Statue2, 3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 30, 100, or 750 x the line bet
Pharaoh2, 3, 4, or 5 pays 5, 40, 400, or 2,000 x the line bet
Explorer2, 3, 4, or 5 pays 10, 100, 1,000, or 5,000 x the line bet
Scatter/WildSubstitutes for standard symbols,
3+ awards Free Spins,
and 3, 4, or 5 = 2, 20, or 200 x the total stake

Betting Options

The controls are at the bottom of the screen when you play Book of Ra online. It’s a split control panel, and it’s very simple to use. The stake controls are on the left-hand side, and the spin button is on the right of the screen.

The minimum stake is $0.02 per spin, which is available when you set the number of lines to 1. You can wager up to $18 per spin, but this is only available with all paylines active. Depending on the crypto casinos you choose to play at, you may be able to go above or below these limits as token values change dynamically.

Bonus Features

There are two main bonus elements available in Book of Ra. It is primarily built around the dual-use scatter/wild mechanic, alongside a risk-based side game.

Wild & Scatter Symbol

The book symbol acts as both a scatter symbol and a wild symbol. It gives it a double use, meaning there are more chances to substitute for missing regular symbols to create wins, while also acting as the trigger mechanism for the bonus round.

Free Spins

Landing 3 or more scatter symbols awards an instant payout and 10 Free Spins. Before the spins begin, a standard symbol is chosen at random to become the special expanding symbol. Whenever this symbol lands during the bonus round, it expands vertically to fill all 3 positions on the reel.

The symbols expand and pay across all active lines, even if they aren’t on adjacent reels, provided you have enough of them to qualify for a win.

If you land 3 or more scatters during the feature, it completely retriggers the round, giving you an additional 10 free spins with the same selected expanding symbol.

The Gamble Feature

Book of Ra includes a classic Novomatic Gamble feature that triggers after any winning spin in the base game. Players can opt to gamble their current winnings on a 50/50 card game.

You must predict whether a face-down card will turn up Red or Black. A correct guess doubles your current payout, while an incorrect guess forfeits the entire win.

Book Of Ra Compared to Similar Slot Machines

Cleopatra (IGT): There’s a lot in common between these two games. They’re both land-based casino legends that successfully migrated online. Both use an Egyptian theme, though Cleopatra centers its bonus potential around a 3x multiplier during free spins rather than expanding symbols.

Divine Fortune (NetEnt): While Divine Fortune focuses on Greek mythology, it utilizes a Free Spins feature alongside falling wild respins and a local progressive jackpot. It offers a much higher modern RTP (96.59%) compared to Book of Ra’s retro math profile.

Zeus (WMS): This is another iconic legacy slot that provides a solid nostalgic experience. It uses classic physical-cabinet visuals and a straightforward gameplay loop, focusing on stacked wild symbols rather than expanding scatter mechanics.

Book of Dead (Play’n GO): No comparison is complete without mentioning its most famous successor. Book of Dead cloned the exact 5,000x max win and expanding symbol mechanics of Book of Ra, but updated the engine to feature 10 paylines and a significantly higher 96.21% default RTP.

    Start Playing Bitcoin Book of Ra

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    Top 3 Tips for Playing Book of Ra

    Final Verdict

    Book of Ra is one of the oldest online slots around and has built up a massive legacy with players. Part of this enduring charm is due to its hyper-focused gameplay loop, making it exceptionally easy to pick up and play.

    While it doesn’t boast cascading reels or flashy modern animations, it remains a pillar of slot design. If you want to experience the origin of the “Book of” genre, Book of Ra is the definitive history lesson with huge payout potential.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How do you play Book of Ra?

    You can play the free demo version directly in our review. To play for real money, simply register an account at one of our recommended crypto casinos, make a deposit, and configure your payline bets.

    What is the RTP and volatility of Book of Ra?

    The RTP for Book of Ra is 92.13% and it has a high volatility.

    Does Book of Ra have bonus features, free spins, or special rounds?

    Yes, landing 3 or more Book symbols awards 10 Free Spins with a randomly designated expanding symbol. It also features a card-based Gamble mini-game.

    What is the maximum win and bet range in Book of Ra?

    The maximum bet is $18 per spin, and players can win a grand jackpot prize of up to 5,000x the stake.

    Is Book of Ra available on mobile?

    Yes, the classic game has received regular software updates throughout its lifespan to ensure full HTML5 mobile compatibility.

    Can I try a free demo version?

    The demo version is fully responsive across both Android and iOS devices, and you can find it on our page.

    Operator Reviews Expert
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    A pro writer since 2015, immersed in the world of crypto since 2016, Will built up a wealth of knowledge and experience in both crypto gambling and crypto betting, making him one of the most prominent voices in the industry. His high-quality reviews have been featured on prominent gaming platforms, making him a trusted authority in the field.

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