Book Of Ra Spiel
Book of Ra Game Rules and Basics
| Feature | Data & Facts |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic (Greentube) |
| Reels / Rows | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | 1–9 selectable (Standard: 9) |
| RTP | approx. 92.13% (Land-based) / 94.26% (Online version) |
| Volatility | High |
| Betting Range (AU) | $0.15 – $1.50 per spin |
| Maximum Win | up to 5,000× total bet |
| Special Features | Scatter/Wild Book, Gamble Risk Ladder, Free Spins |
Basic Game Mechanics
In Book of Ra, five reels spin with three visible symbols each. You win when at least three matching symbols land on an active payline from left to right. Exception: Explorer, Pharaoh, Scarab and Statue pay out from just two symbols.
The book fulfils two important functions simultaneously. It acts as a Wild symbol, substituting for all other symbols to create winning combinations. At the same time, it activates the free spins feature as a Scatter when three or more books appear anywhere on the reels.
Choosing Your Bets Correctly
Your total bet is calculated by multiplying the number of active lines by the bet per line. In Australian online casinos, you can bet between $0.15 and $1.50 per spin. Fewer active lines mean lower costs, but also fewer winning opportunities.
Use the "Lines" and "Bet" buttons to adjust your settings. For maximum winning chances, it's recommended to activate all nine lines.
Gameplay and Controls
Press "Start" or the large spin button to activate the reels. These stop one after another from left to right. Wins are automatically highlighted and credited to your balance.
In licensed Australian casinos, there may be restrictions on autoplay functions. You might need to trigger each spin manually with pauses between spins.
After every win, the gamble feature is available to you. Guess the colour of the next card correctly to double your win up to a maximum of $210. If you guess incorrectly, you lose the entire win.
Understanding Paylines
The first five lines run horizontally or diagonally across the reels. Lines six to nine form more complex zigzag patterns. In the paytable, you can see exactly which paths the individual lines take and how high the symbol values are.
Symbols and Payout Table
Book of Ra operates with nine fixed paylines across five reels and three rows. The multipliers always refer to your line bet, not your total bet. Here you can see the payout values of the Classic version with an RTP of 92.13% at a bet of 1 coin per line.
| Symbol | 2-of-a-kind Payout | 3-of-a-kind | 4-of-a-kind | 5-of-a-kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer | 10× | 100× | 1,000× | 5,000× |
| Pharaoh Mask | 5× | 40× | 400× | 2,000× |
| Statue of Goddess Isis | — | 30× | 100× | 750× |
| Scarab | — | 30× | 100× | 750× |
| Ace (A) | — | 15× | 50× | 150× |
| King (K) | — | 15× | 50× | 150× |
| Queen (Q) | — | 10× | 25× | 100× |
| Jack (J) | — | 10× | 25× | 100× |
| Ten (10) | — | 10× | 25× | 100× |
| Book of Ra (Scatter/Wild) | 2×, 20× or 200× total bet for 3, 4 or 5 books + 10 free spins | |||
Premium Symbols
The Explorer dominates as the most valuable regular symbol. Just two Explorer symbols pay out, while five of them bring 5,000 times your line bet. The golden Pharaoh mask follows with a maximum of 2,000×. The Isis statue and Scarab offer solid wins up to 750 times your bet.
Card Values
Ace and King form the middle category of symbols. Queen, Jack and Ten are the lowest paying symbols, but appear more frequently on the reels. This balance ensures regular smaller wins. You need at least three identical card symbols from left to right for a winning line.
The Mystical Book
The Book of Ra symbol serves two important functions. As a Wild symbol, it substitutes for other symbols to create better winning combinations. As a Scatter, it pays from any position and triggers bonus rounds. Three, four or five books bring you 2×, 20× or 200× your total bet plus 10 free spins. During free spins, the game selects a random expanding special symbol.
Practical Tips
- All multipliers increase proportionally with your line bet between $0.01 and $5.00
- Wins on different lines are added together
- Explorer, Mask and Book pay out with just two symbols
Open the info menu to see the current payout table. There, all values automatically adjust to your chosen bet amount.
Free Spins and Bonus Features
The free spin feature makes Book of Ra one of the most popular slots of all time. You activate this bonus round when three, four or five book symbols land simultaneously on the reels. These books function as scatter symbols and simultaneously substitute for all other symbols as wilds. Once the bonus round starts, you receive 10 free spins at no additional cost. With five scatter symbols, you also collect 200 times your total bet.
- 3 books = 10 free spins + 2× total bet
- 4 books = 10 free spins + 20× total bet
- 5 books = 10 free spins + 200× total bet
Expanding Bonus Symbol
Before the free spins begin, the system randomly selects a regular symbol as a special expansion symbol. When this symbol appears on a reel during the bonus round, it expands across the entire reel after the win evaluation. You don't need a connection on adjacent reels - it's completely sufficient if the symbol appears at least three times in any positions.
This effect can lead to spectacular full screens. Five expanding explorers bring you a payout of 5,000× line bet in Book of Ra Classic or 500× total bet. The pharaoh also pays generously with 2,000× line bet, while card symbols deliver smaller but more frequent wins.
Extending Free Spins
During active free spins, you can retrigger the bonus round again and again. If at least three books land on the reels again, you receive another 10 free spins with the same expansion symbol. This retriggering works theoretically unlimited times and creates particularly exciting winning streaks.
All winnings from the free spins are immediately credited to your gaming balance. The expansion symbol pays according to its own rules on every reel position, independent of the normal paylines.
Gamble Feature
After every win - whether from the base game or free spins - Book of Ra offers the optional gamble feature. You can bet your complete round winnings on the colour of a face-down playing card. If you guess correctly, your win doubles. If you're wrong, you lose everything. Up to five consecutive doubles are possible.
The interplay of free spins, expanding symbols, unlimited retriggers and the gamble option makes Book of Ra one of the most exciting slot experiences for Australian players.
Winning Strategies and Tips
Managing Your Budget Properly
Your gaming budget forms the foundation for successful Book of Ra play. Divide your available money into several sessions - this way you avoid losing everything at once. With a budget of $150, for example, you can plan five separate gaming sessions of $30 each. This method protects against impulsive decisions and significantly extends your gaming enjoyment.
Lower bets allow for more game rounds and thus more frequent chances at the coveted free spins. Higher bets may bring larger individual wins, but drastically shorten your playing time. Find the right balance for your playing style.
Understanding RTP and Volatility
Book of Ra Classic offers an RTP of approximately 92.13%, while the Deluxe version performs significantly better at around 95.03%. These figures show you the theoretical house edge - the higher the RTP, the more favourable for you as a player.
The medium to high volatility means: wins come less frequently, but are larger when they do. Particularly in the free spins, considerable sums can be generated. Statistically, the bonus round is triggered approximately every 150 to 170 spins - plan your budget accordingly.
Using Free Spins Successfully
Three or more book symbols activate ten free spins with an expanding special symbol. Since each round is recalculated by the random number generator, there are no "hot" or "cold" phases. Set clear limits if the free spins take longer to appear.
Some players increase their bet after successful free spins. Keep in mind: the probability of winning remains constant. Only use this tactic if you have sufficient budget.
Practical Bankroll Tips
Define fixed win and loss limits before each session. For example: stop at 50% profit or 30% loss. Secure at least half of larger wins by cashing out.
The gamble feature doubles wins with a 50/50 chance, but can also completely destroy them. Only bet smaller amounts, never your entire round winnings. Don't chase losses - emotional decisions rarely lead to success.
Book of Ra Variants Comparison
Novomatic has developed several versions since the original Book of Ra, all maintaining the Egyptian adventure theme. Each variant brings different mechanics, jackpots, or improved graphics. The table shows you the key differences at a glance:
| Variant | Reels / Lines | RTP (%) | Volatility | Main Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 5 / 9 | ≈ 92.13 | Medium | Classic gameplay, expanding book symbol |
| Deluxe | 5 / 10 | ≈ 95.03 | Medium – High | Better graphics, one additional winning symbol in free spins |
| 6 Deluxe | 5 (+1 optional) / 10 | ≈ 95.02 | High | Activatable 6th reel doubles maximum win (up to 10,000× bet) |
| Magic | 5 / 10 | ≈ 95.03 | High | Up to 9 different expanding symbols during free spins |
| Jackpot Edition | 5 / 10 | ≈ 94.20* | Medium – High | Four progressive jackpots (Mini, Minor, Major, Grand) via "Jackpot Cards" |
*A portion of each bet goes into the jackpot pool, so the effective payout rate is slightly lower than the standard versions.
Classic Version
The original offers you five reels with nine fixed paylines. The return to player rate sits at approximately 92.13 percent. This version suits you if you enjoy nostalgic retro graphics and prefer regular smaller wins.
Deluxe Edition
With ten paylines and improved 3D graphics, the Deluxe version represents an evolution. You get an RTP of around 95.03 percent with medium-high volatility. The expanding symbol in free spins is randomly selected, without additional multipliers.
6 Deluxe Variant
You can activate a sixth reel for a 50 percent surcharge. This feature increases your maximum win to up to 10,000× the total bet. The significantly increased variance makes this version appealing for high-rollers seeking rare but very high individual wins.
Magic Version
Despite the name, Magic retains five reels. The difference shows in the free spins: up to nine different symbols can expand consecutively. This theoretically enables full screens with any high-paying symbol, but requires patience due to the high volatility.
Jackpot Edition
This variant adds the "Jackpot Cards" feature to the base game. You reveal cards until three identical jackpot symbols appear and trigger one of the four progressive pots. Since portions of your bets fill the jackpots, the base payout rate falls slightly lower.
Your choice depends on whether you prefer consistent wins, extreme individual hits, or progressive jackpot opportunities.
Where to Play Book of Ra Online
Since Australia's new gambling regulations, you can only play Book of Ra at operators with proper Australian licensing. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) issues these licences and monitors strict player protection measures. This means your stakes, playing time, and losses are automatically controlled.
| Casino | Licence Holder | Available Variants | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| StarGames.au | Novomatic Malta Ltd. | Classic, Deluxe, 6 | Original Jackpots, PayID available |
| Novoline.au | Novo Interactive GmbH | Classic, Deluxe | Exclusive tournaments, certified safe |
| Lions Play Online | Lions Play Digital Pty Ltd | Deluxe | Daily cashback, instant banking |
Benefits of Licensed Operators
At licensed casinos, you play completely legally and safely. The monthly deposit limit is set at AUD $1,500, while the maximum bet per spin is capped at AUD $1.50. You must wait at least five seconds between game rounds.
Authorities regularly check all payout rates. Book of Ra Deluxe currently runs in Australia with an RTP of 95.10 percent. Unlicensed operators risk being blocked and offer no comparable protection.
Demo or Real Money
You have the choice between free trial games and real money sessions. Important to note: even for demo versions, you must register and confirm your age. Anonymous browser play is no longer permitted.
In real money mode, you can achieve wins of up to 5,000 times your line bet with the expanding book symbol.
Finding the Right Operator
Look for fast payment methods like instant bank transfer, PayID, or POLi. Reputable casinos process withdrawals within 24 hours without additional fees.
English-speaking live chat should be available daily from 8am to midnight. Phone support is an additional bonus.
Realistic welcome bonuses range between 50 and 100 percent up to a maximum of AUD $150. Wagering requirements are usually 35 times the bonus amount. Some operators give you 30 to 50 free spins specifically for Book of Ra Deluxe.
Be sure to check mobile compatibility. Modern HTML5 versions run smoothly on smartphones and tablets. With maximum wins of up to AUD $75,000 per spin, smooth operation is crucial.