Book of Ra Slot Review 2026 — Novomatic, Expanding Symbol & Why It Still Matters

By Kamila Stock — Casino analyst & content lead at SportBar.Casino. Last updated: June 2026.

What Is Book of Ra?

Book of Ra is a 5-reel, 3-row, 10-payline slot from Novomatic. The visual design reflects its land-based origins: the graphics are simpler than contemporary online slots, the symbol set is classic Egypt (pharaohs, scarabs, the Book itself), and the interface is functional without visual flourish. Players accustomed to the high-production slots of the 2020s may find it sparse. This hasn't slowed the search volume or the play count.

The Book symbol functions as both wild and scatter. As a wild it substitutes on paylines. As a scatter, three or more landing anywhere on the reels — regardless of payline — triggers 10 free spins. Before the free spins begin, one symbol is randomly selected to be the special expanding symbol for the entire round. When that symbol appears anywhere on a reel during free spins, it expands to cover all three rows of that reel.

RTP and What ~95.10% Means in Context

Book of Ra's RTP of approximately 95.10% is lower than most modern high-volatility slots — Book of Dead runs 96.21%, Legacy of Dead runs 96.58%, Dead or Alive 2 runs 96.82%. This matters over the long run: at €1 per spin, the theoretical loss rate at 95.10% is roughly €4.90 per €100 wagered versus €3.79 at 96.21%. Over hundreds of spins, that gap is real.

Why do players still choose it? A few reasons. The original Book of Ra experience — the aesthetic, the pace, the particular rhythm of its expanding symbol mechanic — has accumulated decades of familiarity. Players who learned slots on Book of Ra, or who play it at land-based venues, return to the online version for consistency rather than optimisation. For those players, the RTP differential is less important than the familiar experience.

For players optimising for value, Book of Dead is the straightforward recommendation: same mechanic structure, better RTP, broader availability. But for players who specifically want Book of Ra rather than a better-value alternative, there's a genuine reason to play the original.

The Expanding Symbol Mechanic

The expanding symbol is the game's defining feature and the template for dozens of games that followed. Before the 10 free spins begin, one symbol is selected at random. That symbol, whenever it appears anywhere on a reel during the free spins, expands to fill all three rows of that reel. A spin where the expanding symbol appears on three or four reels pays across all 10 paylines for those covered positions.

The symbol selection is the session's most consequential random event. The payout differential between high-value symbols (the Pharaoh, the Explorer, the Scarab) and low-value ones (card royals) is significant. A royal selected as the expanding symbol limits the round's ceiling severely. The Pharaoh or Explorer selected means every multi-reel coverage spin pays well. This has been the mechanic since the original: same structure, same variance, same emotional response when the wrong symbol gets picked.

Re-triggers during free spins add 10 more spins. The expanding symbol carries forward from the original selection — there is no re-roll. Re-triggers on top of a favourable symbol are where the game's highest payouts occur.

Book of Ra vs Book of Dead — What Actually Differs

This is the most common comparison and worth addressing directly. Both are 5-reel, 3-row, 10-payline Egypt slots with a Book wild/scatter, expanding symbol free spins, and high volatility. The structural similarity is intentional — Book of Dead was explicitly designed in the expanding symbol mould that Book of Ra established.

The differences that matter: Book of Dead (Play'n GO) has a higher RTP (96.21% vs ~95.10%), a slightly different symbol paytable with Rich Wilde as the protagonist rather than a generic explorer, and broader availability at modern licensed casinos. Book of Ra (Novomatic) has the original status, the land-based recognition, and a specific pacing that long-term players have learned to read.

In practical terms: if you've never played either and you're choosing between them, Book of Dead is the better-value choice. If you have a history with Book of Ra from land-based play or if you simply prefer the original, the RTP difference doesn't make Book of Ra a bad game — just a slightly less optimal one.

The Experience of Playing Book of Ra

The sessions feel familiar after a handful of plays. The base game is a steady grind: the Book wild appearing on a payline gives occasional multi-payline wins, but the core loop is spinning while watching for three Books. When the scatter trigger lands, there's an anticipation beat while the expanding symbol is selected — that moment of reveal is the game's emotional core, and it's been the same since the original cabinet.

The free spins themselves play out fast. Ten spins at the standard reel speed are over in under two minutes. Some rounds produce nothing meaningful; others, where the expanding symbol appears on three reels in the same spin, pay across multiple paylines simultaneously. The variance within the free spins is high: the gap between an average round and a good one is wide, which is part of why players re-trigger-hunt when they have a favourable symbol.

Mobile Experience

The Novomatic mobile build is functional. Book of Ra on mobile is clean — the simpler visual design from its land-based origins actually renders well at small sizes without the clutter that more graphically complex slots can have on phones. The expanding symbol animation during free spins is clear on mobile. Loading is fast. No feature differences from desktop. It's not visually impressive but it's not broken, and the gameplay is identical to the desktop experience.

Pros and Cons

Where to Play Book of Ra

Book of Ra is a Novomatic title available at casinos carrying the Novomatic or Greentube library. The five below have been tested for withdrawal reliability and confirmed to offer the game.