Book of Ra Deluxe Demo & Slot Review

If there’s one slot that every player in South Africa has heard of, it’s the legendary Book of Ra by Novomatic. This slot game is a proper icon, so popular that over the years, Novomatic has released over 17 different versions, including modern takes like Book of Ra Win Ways 10 and Cash Connection Golden Book of Ra. I’ve spun these classic reels many times, and the simple, high-stakes gameplay never gets old. It’s all about triggering those famous free spins with the special expanding symbol, a feature that has been copied by hundreds of other games but rarely matched in excitement.

Book of Ra Slot Summary

Book of Ra Demo

Before you start exploring the pyramids with real money, I highly recommend you play the Book of Ra demo version. It's the perfect way to understand its high volatility and see the famous bonus feature in action without any risk.

Game Overview

Novomatic launched the original Book of Ra way back in 2005, and it became an instant classic in casinos worldwide. You might also see the name Greentube mentioned, which is simply the online division of Novomatic responsible for adapting their legendary land-based games for internet casinos. This iconic game is played on 5 reels and features 9 adjustable paylines in the classic version (the popular Deluxe version has 10). The RTP is a solid 96%. For South African players, the bet range is flexible, allowing for small bets but also catering to high rollers, with a massive max win of 5,000x your stake!

Theme and Storyline

The theme is a thrilling expedition into Ancient Egypt. You join an Indiana Jones-style archaeologist on his quest to find the hidden treasures of the Pharaohs. The storyline is all about uncovering the mysterious Book of Ra, which holds the key to unlocking the tomb's greatest riches. It’s a timeless adventure theme that has captivated players for years.

Graphics, Sounds and Animations

Let’s be honest, the graphics on the classic version feel a bit dated by today’s standards, but they have a certain retro charm that I love. The symbols are iconic, the Archaeologist, the Pharaoh, and the Scarab beetle. The sounds are just as classic, with the simple electronic jingles and the satisfying clicks of the reels that will be instantly familiar to anyone who has played in a real casino.

Gameplay

The gameplay is what has made Book of Ra a legend. It’s straightforward and incredibly exciting. The base game is all about lining up symbols from left to right on your active paylines. The real magic, however, lies in the dual power of the Book of Ra symbol, which acts as both your key to completing wins and your trigger for the game-changing bonus round.

How to play

Getting started on your Egyptian adventure is simple. After loading the game, the first step is to set up your bet for the expedition ahead. At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find controls to select the number of paylines you want to play (from 1 to 9) and the bet per line. Your total bet is these two values multiplied together. Wins are awarded for landing two to five matching symbols on an active payline, starting from the leftmost reel.

The Golden Book of Ra is the most important symbol in the game. It’s a Wild, meaning it can substitute for any other symbol to help you form a winning line. It’s also the Scatter. Landing 3 or more Book of Ra symbols anywhere on the reels at the same time will trigger the main Free Spins feature.

Book of Ra Bonus Features

The bonus features in Book of Ra are simple but incredibly powerful.

Free Spins with Special Expanding Symbol

This is the feature that made the game famous. When you land 3 or more Book of Ra symbols, you are awarded 10 free spins. Before the spins start, the book will open, and one of the game's regular symbols is randomly chosen to be your Special Expanding Symbol.

During the free spins, after any regular wins are paid, your special symbol will expand to cover the entire reel it’s on, but only if it can form a win. The best part is that these expanded symbols don’t need to be on adjacent reels to pay out. For example, if your special symbol is the Archaeologist and it lands on reels 1, 3, and 5, all three reels will fill with the symbol, and you’ll get paid as if you had a five-of-a-kind win on all active paylines!

Gamble Feature

After any win, you have the option to risk your payout in a simple double-or-nothing game. You just need to guess the colour (red or black) of the next card to be drawn. If you guess correctly, you double your win, but if you guess wrong, you lose it all.

Payouts & Volatility

The game has an RTP of 96% and is known for its high volatility. This means you might be waiting a while for a win, but when it hits, it can be massive. The symbols are all icons of Ancient Egypt. The highest paying symbol by far is the Archaeologist, which, when landing five on a payline, awards the game’s top prize. He’s followed by the Pharaoh, the Goddess, and the Scarab beetle. The lower-paying symbols are the standard card values from 10 to Ace. The maximum win you can hit is a massive 5,000 times your bet, which is achieved by filling the screen with the Archaeologist symbol during the free spins feature.

Tips for playing Book of Ra

Here are my top five tips for your Egyptian quest.

1. Play Smart with Your Rands: High-volatility games can be tough on your balance. Before you start, decide on a spending limit and adjust your bet so you can get plenty of spins in for your money.

2. Play All Paylines: To maximize your chances, it’s usually best to play with all 9 paylines active, even if it means lowering your bet per line.

3. Understand the Bonus: The free spins feature is where the real treasure is. Know that you’re playing for that one big feature trigger.

4. Be Cautious with the Gamble Feature: It can be tempting to gamble every small win, but it’s a 50/50 shot. It’s often better to collect your wins and add them to your bankroll.

5. Recognize Dry Spells: This is a very streaky game. If you find yourself on a long losing run, don't be afraid to take a break or lower your stake significantly. Chasing losses on a high-volatility slot is a quick way to end your session.

What is the RTP for Book of Ra?

The theoretical RTP (Return to Player) for the classic Book of Ra slot is 96%.