Book of Ra Slot Review
Pros
Cons
At the time of its launch, Book of Ra was a cutting-edge video slot that created a new genre for slots fans in Canada and around the globe. Today, it’s still an entertaining play, but compared with its more modern counterparts, is lacking in many departments.
Theme, Storyline & Design
The story goes that Ra the Sun God, who had already created the universe took a nap. He dreamt of the fertility Goddess, Taurt. Feeling inspired on waking, he created the Book of Ra, which contains all the universe’s secrets. As for the white dude who’s cos-playing Indiana Jones, we know nothing about him, though he appears to have been the inspiration behind Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead slot machine.
When the Book of Ra slot first appeared in 2014, it was a huge sensation, with players from around the world knocked out by its design, animation, and gameplay. Today the Ancient Egyptian theme seems formulaic beside more modern versions, with clunky animation, outdated graphics, and arcade-style sounds straight from a 90’s Gameboy.
How the Book of Ra Slot Works?
To play Book of Ra is as straightforward as playing bingo, making it the ideal game for a beginner. The idea is the same for all slots; land the same symbol next to each other on the reels for a payout.
Core Gameplay
Here are the simple steps for playing Book of Ra slot at online casinos:
- Decide on the number of paylines and your bet amounts, which range from 0.09 – 45.00 credits. Use the controls to adjust these.
- Hit the Book of Ra “Start” button to get the reels spinning. Depending on the symbols on the reels when they stop, you’ll get a prize. This will be instantly credited to your online casino account.
It’s a good idea to check the game’s paytable to see the payouts attached to your choice of bet amounts and paylines. Here are the Book of Ra payouts for each symbol based on a C$5.00 bet per line. The biggest win is 50,000x your bet.
| Symbol | 2 on Payline | 3 on Payline | 4 on Payline | 5 on Payline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer | 50 | 500 | 5,000 | 25,000 |
| Sarcophagus | 25 | 200 | 2,000 | 10,000 |
| Statue | 25 | 150 | 500 | 3,750 |
| Scarab Beetle | 26 | 150 | 500 | 3,750 |
| Book (Scatter) | — | 90 | 900 | 9,000 |
| K, A | — | 25 | 200 | 750 |
| K, Q, 10 | — | 25 | 125 | 500 |
Special Symbols
The Book of Ra has the same symbol for both its Wilds and Scatters: namely, the Book of Ra itself. This can land at random on any reel where it replaces the symbol that’s most beneficial to you. The Scatter is created when three or more Wilds land on the reels.
How to Trigger the Bonus Round?
You’ll need to have three Book of Ra scatter symbols land anywhere across the reels in order to unlock the 10 Free Spins bonus round. As the round is being played a special symbol is chosen. This becomes the expanding symbol that might expand to cover one or all three reels to help create the possibility of more wins.
Bonus Rounds and Free Spins
Technically, there are only a couple of bonus features on the Book of Ra slot: the Free Spins round and the “Gamble Round.” As mentioned above, you’ll need three scatters to unlock the Free Spins. It’s also possible to re-trigger the bonus round if you’re lucky enough to land another three or more scatters. By clicking the Gamble button after any winning spin, you’ll activate the Gamble Round. Essentially you have a 50/50 chance of guessing the colour of a card, red or black. Win, and you double your winnings. Lose, and wave goodbye to the original payout.
Book of Ra Demo: Try Before You Spin
The Book of Ra slot game’s Demo mode will give you the chance to explore the game cash-free. It’s a bit like a free spins no deposit bonus, except with unlimited spins. Because the Demo or free-play mode is exactly the same as the real money version, it’s a great way to get a better understanding of the different symbols or any slot strategies you might have up your sleeve.
Play Book of Ra for Real Money
Once you’ve taken the Book of Ra slot for a spin in Demo mode, it’s time to play Book of Ra with real money. Before you begin, we suggest setting a prefixed budget at a casino that accepts low minimum deposits. This will stop you from wagering more than you can afford. Always collect any bonuses before starting to play with small stakes. Once things get going, it’s possible to up the ante.
Though it’s true that higher stakes can lead to higher rewards, we think it’s better to stretch out your bankroll by utilising smaller bets like CA$0.5 or 1 CAD. Though you can’t win as much, you’ll have a better time, and by placing more wagers, you’re actually increasing your Book of Ra winning chances.
Where to Play Book of Ra Online?
Due to its popularity, you’ll have no trouble finding online casinos that feature the Book of Ra slot. However, there are a few things to check out before diving in. For starters, read the website’s terms and conditions. This is the small print that spells out your obligation. As such, look for reasonable wagering requirements, RTPs, and time limits on payouts. Likewise, check if the Book of Ra casino has a proper gaming licence as it’s a guarantee of a safe and secure platform.
Mobile and App Experience
All casinos offering the Book of Ra slots game will allow you to play using their fully optimised mobile website. The game will stream in HTML-5 which offers the best overall gaming experience. If you prefer to have a Book of Ra icon on your phone, the Book of Ra is only available as an APK download for Android devices.
Alternatives to Book of Ra
Back in its day, the Book of Ra was a pioneer in that it was the first Egyption-themed online slot ever produced. Since then, a multitude of similar games have appeared, with even the original seeing five new versions of the Book of Ra created over the years. In the table below, we’ve picked out some of the top Egyptian-themed real money slots at Canadian online casinos.
| Slot Game | Provider | RTP | Paylines | Volatility |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | Novomatic | 95.10% | 10 | Medium-High |
| Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.29% | 10 | High |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.21% | 10 | High |
| Legacy of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.58% | 10 | High |
| Book of Gods | Big Time Gaming | 96.12% | 10 | Medium |
| Cleopatra | IGT | 95.02% | 20 | Medium |
Is Book of Ra Still Worth Playing?
Considering the Book of Ra was launched way back in 2004, this review thinks it’s still holding up very well. In fact, it remains a popular choice, especially for Canadian players who enjoy Ancient Egyptian-themed games. However, if the whole Book of Ra gameplay seems a bit on the basic side, then Novomatic have upgraded and developed five newer versions of the Book of Ra online game.
Nevertheless, once you’ve mastered its features by playing the demo version, why not dive in and try your luck with some real money bets.