Book Of Ra
What Is Book of Ra
Book of Ra drops you right into an Egyptian treasure hunt. Developed by Novomatic, this classic 5-reel, 9-payline slot follows an explorer as he journeys through tombs and pyramids. You’ll spot scarabs, pharaohs, and the Book of Ra symbol that’s central to the action. The setup is straightforward, the stakes can climb quickly, and that combination is why the game still attracts players all over Australia.
| Book of Ra Classic Game Details | |
|---|---|
| Game Provider | Novomatic (Greentube) |
| Reels | 5 |
| Paylines | 9 (Adjustable) |
| RTP | 92.13% |
| Volatility | High |
| Maximum Win | 5,000x your bet |
| Key Features | Free Spins with Expanding Symbol, Wild/Scatter Symbol, Gamble Feature |
Core gameplay
You decide how many of the 9 paylines to play, from just 1 up to all 9. Wins hit when matching symbols line up on your chosen lines. Most symbols pay from three of a kind, but the Explorer pays from just two. After any win, you can try the Gamble feature, picking red or black for the chance to double your payout. The Book of Ra symbol works as both Wild and Scatter, helping you score wins and unlocking the bonus feature.
Why it stands out
The Free Spins round is the main draw. Land three or more Books to trigger 10 free spins. Before these start, one regular symbol is randomly selected to act as a special expanding symbol. When it forms a win, it expands to fill its reels and pays on all active lines, no matter where it lands. With high volatility and a top potential of 5,000x your bet, Book of Ra brings classic slot action with serious impact. It’s remained a favourite at Aussie online casinos for well over a decade, appealing to both new and experienced players.
How to Play Book of Ra
You’ll play Book of Ra across 5 reels and up to 9 paylines. Setting up is quick, and the gameplay is straightforward once you get the hang of it.
Set your bet
Use the Lines button to pick how many paylines you want active, from 1 to 9. Then set your bet per line with the + and − controls, usually from $0.01 to $5.00. Your total bet per spin is your stake per line multiplied by the number of active lines.
Spin the reels
Press Start or Spin for a single go. If you’d rather sit back, turn on Autoplay — it’ll keep the reels spinning for a set number of rounds or until a feature kicks in.
Form wins and read the paytable
Wins pay out on active paylines from the leftmost reel. You’ll need at least two matching high-value symbols or three matching low-value symbols for a win. Check the Paytable to see every symbol’s value and all line patterns before you spin.
Know your symbols
The golden Book of Ra is the key symbol. It works as a Wild, substituting for any other symbol to help make a win, and it’s also the Scatter.
- High-value: Explorer pays the most, followed by Pharaoh, Statue of Nut, and Scarab Beetle
- Low-value: A, K, Q, J, 10
Trigger free spins
Land three or more Book of Ra Scatters anywhere on the reels in a single spin to score 10 free spins. Before they begin, one symbol is randomly selected to become a special expanding symbol for the whole round. When it expands, it can fill entire reels and boost your wins.
Use the Gamble feature
After any win, you can choose to gamble your prize. Guess whether the next card will be red or black — get it right and your winnings double, but get it wrong and you’ll lose them. You can usually gamble up to five times in a row.
Book of Ra Deluxe
Book of Ra Deluxe by Novomatic gives you a polished spin on the classic. The game sticks with the same Egyptian tomb adventure theme, but everything looks and feels sharper. Graphics are crisper, animations flow more smoothly, and the sound has more punch. You get the same familiar gameplay, just with a fresher presentation and better flow.
What’s new in Deluxe
The upgrades lift the visuals and payouts, while keeping the game’s classic appeal intact.
- Paylines: You now get 10 adjustable paylines instead of 9, giving you an extra shot at lining up wins.
- Graphics and audio: Higher resolution images with richer colours and more detailed symbols, plus enhanced sound for a more immersive Egyptian vibe.
- RTP: Return to Player gets a bump, moving up from around 92.13% to 95.10% in the Deluxe version.
- Betting range: Limits depend on the Aussie casino, but you’ll usually be able to bet from $0.10 ($0.01 per line on all 10 lines) up to $50 or more per spin.
Gameplay feel
The symbols are sharper but keep their original payout values. The explorer still leads the paytable, with wins up to 5,000x your line bet. The Book of Ra symbol continues its double duty as both Wild and Scatter—substituting for other symbols and triggering 10 free spins (with a special expanding symbol) if three or more hit the reels.
You’ll see the interface is more responsive. Autoplay is smoother, and the paytable’s clearer on both desktop and mobile. With the improved 95.10% RTP and the extra payline, your theoretical returns are better than the classic, but the game’s feel stays the same. It’s still a high volatility slot, so you can expect some big swings. If you’re a fan of taking risks, the Gamble feature is still on board—let you put your win on the line with a 50/50 colour card guess to double up.
Special Features and Bonus Rounds
Book of Ra centres its bonus action around the Book symbol, which acts as both the Wild and Scatter. As a Wild, it substitutes for any other icon to help create a win. As a Scatter, it’s your pathway to the most rewarding part of the game.
Free spins and expanding symbol
You’ll trigger the Free Spins feature when three or more Book scatters appear anywhere on the reels. You’ll score 10 free spins, plus an instant scatter payout based on your total bet:
- 3 Scatter Symbols: 10 free spins + 2x your total bet
- 4 Scatter Symbols: 10 free spins + 20x your total bet
- 5 Scatter Symbols: 10 free spins + 200x your total bet
Before the round begins, the game randomly selects one paytable symbol to become a special expanding symbol. During the feature, if enough of that symbol lands to trigger a win, it expands vertically to cover its reels. These wins pay like scatters, so the symbols don’t need to be on neighbouring reels to count. Hit another three or more Book symbols during the feature and you’ll retrigger 10 extra free spins, keeping the excitement going.
Gamble feature
After any main game win, you can try the Gamble feature for a chance at a bigger payout. It’s a classic double or nothing. Just guess the colour of a face-down card, red or black. Pick correctly and your win from that spin is doubled. You can usually repeat this up to five times in a row, building your payout each step. If you pick the wrong colour at any stage, you’ll lose the amount you risked in that gamble round.
Novomatic: The Game Provider Behind Book of Ra
Company background
You’re looking at an Austrian gaming powerhouse. Novomatic was founded in 1980 by billionaire industrialist Professor Johann Graf and has grown into a global group with locations in over 50 countries and more than 21,000 employees worldwide. The company operates across every segment of the industry. Novomatic designs and builds high-tech gaming equipment for land-based casinos and also runs both electronic and traditional casino venues. You’ll spot its cabinets and games on casino floors right across Europe and North America, including plenty of venues Australians visit overseas.
Reputation and innovation
When you load up a Novomatic slot, you’re playing a brand known for reliability and innovation. Many of its classics favour high volatility and simple mechanics, but the studio’s biggest breakthrough was the “Book of” system first unveiled in Book of Ra. Here, a single symbol acts as both Wild and Scatter, triggering free spins with a special expanding symbol during the bonus. That idea has been picked up by countless developers since. Online, Novomatic’s presence is handled by its subsidiary Greentube, which adapts land-based hits for fair, regulated digital play so you get the same tested maths models online. The focus remains on quality and proven, player-tested mechanics.
Slots Australians know
- Sizzling Hot Deluxe: A modern take on a fruit machine with fast action and straightforward play, minus the complicated bonus rounds.
- Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe: A luck-themed slot featuring a free spins round where all wins are multiplied by 3x.
- Dolphin’s Pearl Deluxe: An underwater treasure hunt with free spins and a 3x win multiplier.
- Lord of the Ocean: A high volatility Greek mythology slot, whose bonus mirrors Book of Ra with 10 free spins and a special expanding symbol.
RTP and Winning Potential
Return to Player
If you play the original Book of Ra Classic, you’re looking at a Return to Player (RTP) of 92.13%. That sits below the current online slot average of about 96%. RTP is a long-term, theoretical model based on millions of spins, so a single session in Australia or anywhere else can swing high or low. Your results will vary from session to session. If you prefer a closer match to the market average, Book of Ra Deluxe offers a more competitive 95.10% RTP.
Volatility and Hit Frequency
Book of Ra is a high volatility slot. Wins can be less frequent, but when they come along, they can be sizeable, especially in the bonus round. Expect dry spells and then bursts of action. The hit frequency is approximately 27.8%, which means a win lands on average once every 3.6 spins. Treat that as a guide, not a guarantee of steady payouts.
Maximum Win Potential
The top potential win is 5,000x your total bet. You can hit this during the Free Spins feature when the Explorer becomes the special expanding symbol and fills all 15 positions on the reels. That setup can turn a single spin into a major payout. In the base game, the Explorer is also the highest-paying symbol, awarding 5,000x your line bet for five on a payline. The Pharaoh is next, paying 2,000x your line bet for five of a kind. The Statue and the Scarab Beetle each pay up to 750x your line bet for five on a payline. These values set clear targets as you chase the feature and manage your expectations session by session.
Play Book of Ra for Free
Find a demo in Australia
You can play Book of Ra free at many online casinos in Australia, often without opening an account. Look for a Play for Fun or Demo button on the game tile for instant access. You’ll also find free versions on reputable game review sites and on the official Novomatic (Greentube) website, where the studio showcases its portfolio.
What free play includes
The demo mirrors the real money version in mechanics and features. You start with a large stack of virtual credits, typically 5,000 or more, so you can spin without risk. If you run out, refresh the game to reset your balance. Every feature works the same, including the free spins bonus round and the special expanding symbol. The Return to Player, volatility, and paytable match the cash game, giving you an authentic experience without financial risk.
Why try the demo first
Free play helps you get ready for real money while keeping your bankroll safe. Use it to learn how the slot behaves and what affects your results over time.
- Understand the gameplay: Study the paytable, symbol values, and how wins form across the paylines.
- Feel the volatility: Get a real sense of the game’s high volatility, how often wins land, and how bonus rounds trigger.
- Test betting ideas: Try different bet sizes to see how they move your virtual balance and build a staking plan that works for you.
- Master the bonus: Learn how the free spins round and the expanding symbol work, since that’s where much of the potential lies.
When you’re comfortable with the flow and features, you’ll be better placed to decide if Book of Ra suits your playing style.
Where to Play Book of Ra in Australia
Find Licensed Australian Casinos
You can play Book of Ra at online casinos that accept Australian players, but regulations differ by state and territory. If you’re in New South Wales, Queensland, or Victoria, make sure the site is licensed by a reputable international regulator like the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or the UK Gambling Commission. These approvals indicate strict oversight, fair gaming, and strong player protections. To confirm the game is available, browse the casino’s library and look for titles from Novomatic or its interactive branch, Greentube.
Banking for Australian Players
Choose casinos that allow you to deposit and withdraw in Australian Dollars (AUD) to avoid conversion fees. Most trusted sites support major credit cards, POLi, bank transfers, and popular e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller. Some also accept cryptocurrency deposits if you prefer. Before you sign up, check the withdrawal processing times and any fees so you know what to expect.
Welcome Bonuses and Promotions
Many Australian casinos offer welcome packages you can use on Book of Ra, often as deposit match bonuses or free spins. Read the terms carefully. Bonuses usually have wagering requirements or game restrictions. For example, a 35x wagering requirement on a $100 bonus means you’ll need to wager $3,500 before you can withdraw. Look for reasonable playthrough terms and make sure Book of Ra is eligible for bonus play.
Quick Checklist
- Licensing: Reputable international regulators such as the MGA or UKGC.
- Game access: Library includes Novomatic or Greentube titles.
- Payments: AUD support with convenient options like POLi or Skrill.
- Bonus rules: Fair wagering, typically 30–40x, and Book of Ra included.
- Mobile: Smooth play in a browser or a dedicated app.
Book of Ra Versions and Sequels
The Book of Ra franchise goes well beyond the original. You’ll find several spins on the same Egyptian adventure, each bringing its own twist while sticking to that familiar feel.
Book of Ra Magic
Book of Ra Magic features a 5 reel, 10 payline setup with crisper graphics and a darker soundtrack. The basic gameplay is familiar, but the Free Games round is where things get interesting. Every time you retrigger free spins, you unlock an extra special expanding symbol. You can hold up to nine expanding symbols at once, giving the bonus round some serious win potential.
Book of Ra 6
Book of Ra 6 ramps up the excitement with an optional sixth reel through the Extra Bet. Paylines stay at 10. Turning on that reel doubles your bet but also boosts your chances for bigger combos and a higher max win. You’ll really notice the difference in free spins when the expanding symbol covers more spots.
Other notable variants
You’ll also find a few sequels that mix up the formula in different ways.
- Book of Ra: Temple of Gold: Features a female explorer and gives you the chance to play with up to three special expanding symbols during free spins.
- Book of Ra: Mystic Fortunes: Adds a four-level progressive jackpot, which you can win in a bonus game triggered by collecting coin symbols.
- Cash Connection: Book of Ra: Combines the classic theme with a Lock & Spin feature. Collect coin symbols to score cash prizes or one of two major jackpots.
- Book of Ra Deluxe 10: Uses two reel sets — a 5x4 and a mega 5x12 — for 100 paylines. Wilds can transfer from the main set over to the colossal reels.
Each version sticks to the book and explorer theme, but lets you chase wins in a fresh way.