Book of Ra

by Novomatic

Book of Ra Slot Screenshot
92-96%
RTP
High
Volatility
5,000x
Max. Win
Play for Real Money

The Book of Ra demo runs completely without real money. No card details, no registration — just start and play.

You get the identical version as in real money mode. Same certified random number generator, same mathematics, same bonus round with the expanding symbol. Novomatic provides the same build for demo and real money — no polished test version.

There is no spin limit and no timer. You can trigger the bonus as many times as you like, test different bet sizes, or simply see how often the Book of Ra appears as Wild/Scatter on the reels. All 9 paylines function exactly as they would later with real money.

If you want to try the Gamble feature (guess the card color) — it is possible in the demo without risk, provided the operator has enabled the feature.

Casinos Without OASIS

Novomatic has released multiple variants of Book of Ra since this original — Deluxe, Magic, Mystic Fortunes and more. This kind of franchise expansion signals that the base game did something right, and for players familiar with the studio's land-based roots, it is clear what: clean execution rather than feature overload. The Book of Ra itself functions as both Wild and Scatter simultaneously, triggering ten Free Games with a randomly chosen Expanding Symbol — the familiar mechanic wrapped in an Ancient Egypt setting (explorers, pharaohs, scarabs, winged statues) instead of fantasy. It is high volatility chasing 5,000x, and while newer variants add jackpots and additional mechanics, the simplicity of the original remains its greatest strength in 2026.

How to Play Book of Ra

The controls of Book of Ra follow the classic Novomatic principle — clear and without complicated menus. Before you start the first round, you should set your bet and familiarise yourself with the available settings.

Setting Your Bet

Use the Lines selector to choose between 1 and 9 active paylines, then adjust your Bet per Line using the minus and plus buttons in the lower control panel. The total bet is calculated automatically as lines multiplied by bet per line — for example, 9 lines at 20 credits equals a total bet of 180 credits. Important for real money players: the minimum bet per line starts at 1 credit, while the maximum bet per line is 100 credits, giving a maximum total bet of 900 credits per spin.

The number of active paylines directly affects how often winning combinations form, since all lines except the Scatter must run left to right on selected lines only.

Spin Sequence

The large green Start button launches the reels. Once the reels stop, any winning combinations are highlighted and your credit balance is updated automatically. The information bar at the bottom of the control panel displays messages such as "Please place your bet" or "Good luck!" to guide you through each stage of the game.

Autoplay is available via the green Autoplay button in the top right corner of the control panel. This allows you to set a number of automatic spins. Note that during autoplay, the Gamble feature is not available — gambling is only possible on manually triggered spins.

Gamble Feature (optional)

After any win, the Gamble button becomes active (glowing orange) if the operator has enabled it. You have the following option:

The Gamble is completely optional. If you do not press the Gamble button after a win, the win is automatically credited to your balance. Note: for higher wins or during autoplay, gambling is not possible as per the game rules.

Settings and Information

Use the blue Paytable button (which changes to "More info" on subsequent presses) to access:

Important rule: All prizes are for combinations from left to right, except Scatters. Scatter symbols pay at any position on the screen. The highest win only is paid on each selected line, and scatter wins and line wins are added together.

The game runs on a certified random number generator. In the event of a malfunction, all pays and plays are voided — this rule is stated explicitly in the game's rules screen.

Symbols and Payouts

Book of Ra plays on a 5×3 grid with up to 9 selectable paylines. Wins occur when three or more matching symbols land from left to right on an active line. The Explorer symbol can pay from just 2 symbols on a line, making it especially valuable even in short combinations.

Book of Ra Wild and Scatter Symbol

The Book of Ra Symbol

The title-giving Book of Ra — a golden ancient book with a red ruby on its cover — is the central symbol of the game. It fulfils two functions simultaneously: as a Wild it substitutes for all other symbols, helping you complete winning combinations. As a Scatter it triggers the bonus round when three or more appear anywhere on the reels. The Scatter also pays independently of paylines, multiplying the total bet by 2x for three books, 20x for four, and 200x for five.

Regular Symbols

The game uses classic Ancient Egypt motifs: the Explorer (resembling Indiana Jones, paying up to 5,000x for five on a line), the Pharaoh golden burial mask (up to 2,000x), the golden Winged Statue and the purple Scarab beetle (both up to 750x), and card symbols A, K, Q, J, and 10 filling the lower end of the paytable. The exact payout values are always shown for the currently selected bet and number of lines in the in-game paytable.

Book of Ra Paytable with All Symbols

Bonus Rounds and Features

Free Games with Expanding Symbol

Three or more Book of Ra symbols anywhere on the screen trigger 10 Free Games. At the start of the bonus round, the game randomly selects one regular symbol as a special Expanding Symbol for the entire free spins session.

Free Games with Expanding Symbol

During the Free Games the following happens: after the payout of regular symbols, if enough instances of the chosen special symbol are present on the reels, it expands to cover all 3 positions on its reel. These expanded symbols then pay like the regular symbol but even on non-adjacent positions and on all lines played — you do not need strict left-to-right combinations for the expanded symbol to count.

The Free Games can be retriggered: if three or more Scatter symbols land during the bonus round, you receive another 10 Free Games on top, with the same expanding symbol continuing.

Gamble Feature (optional)

After any win you can optionally enter the risk game — provided your operator has activated the feature. The following variant is available:

Card Color Gamble Feature

Card Color Guess:

A classic 50/50 bet — guess correctly and your win doubles, guess wrong and you lose the entire win amount.

Gamble Feature Limit

Gamble Limit:

With your current stake, a maximum of 500 credits can be bet while gambling. For higher wins or during autoplay, gambling is not possible.

The Gamble feature has clearly defined limits as stated in the game rules. In some jurisdictions or on certain platforms, the Gamble feature may be restricted or unavailable.

Maximum Win: Book of Ra can pay up to 5,000x your line bet — achieved by landing five Explorer symbols on an active payline. With a bet per line of 1 credit and 9 lines active, five Explorers on a single line would award 5,000 credits — a solid top prize for a classic slot of this category.

Pros and Cons of Book of Ra

Advantages Disadvantages
  • Iconic classic — one of the most recognised slots worldwide
  • Simple mechanics without complicated bonus features
  • High volatility for large win potential
  • Proven Expanding Symbol feature in the Free Games
  • Book of Ra as Wild and Scatter — dual function in one symbol
  • Up to 5,000x line bet as the maximum win possible
  • Gamble feature for additional excitement (where available)
  • Reliable Novomatic quality with a long track record
  • High volatility means longer losing streaks between big wins
  • Only 10 Free Games — some modern slots offer far more
  • No progressive jackpot or link feature
  • Gamble feature often restricted or unavailable on some platforms
  • Dated graphics — less visually spectacular than modern slots
  • Only one bonus feature — limited variety in gameplay
  • No multipliers during the Free Games rounds
  • RTP range 92–96% — lower end is below the industry average

Novomatic is one of the world's largest gaming technology companies, founded in 1980 in Austria. The company has deep roots in land-based gaming and brought its expertise into the online world with titles like Book of Ra, which became one of the most played slots globally. Book of Ra was originally a land-based cabinet hit before its online version cemented Novomatic's reputation for delivering high-volatility, straightforward gameplay with enduring appeal.

Founded: 1980
Headquarters: Gumpoldskirchen, Austria
Licences: MGA, UKGC, multiple jurisdictions
Portfolio: 300+ slot games
Speciality: Classic land-based heritage brought online
Mobile Gaming Icon

Mobile Compatibility

Book of Ra runs on all modern smartphones and tablets via the browser — no app required. The game is fully programmed in HTML5 and adapts automatically to different screen sizes. Whether iPhone, Android, iPad or Windows tablet: touch controls work flawlessly, and all features (including the Gamble feature, where available) are usable on mobile.

Author Profile Picture
Maximilian Becker About Us

Maximilian has been testing slot machines for over 8 years and writes detailed reviews for players worldwide. His focus is on RTP analysis, volatility assessment, and practical playing tips. Before specialising in online slots, he worked for 5 years in traditional land-based gaming venues and knows the industry from both sides. For Book of Ra he has documented over 2,000 spins across various casinos in 2026.