Last updated: 29-06-2026
Book of Ra runs on nine fixed paylines across a 5x3 reel grid — a stripped-back structure compared to modern cluster pay or Megaways pokies. The book symbol functions as both wild and scatter simultaneously, meaning it substitutes for all other symbols and also triggers the free spins bonus when three or more land anywhere on the reels. This dual-function design concentrates the game's mechanics into a single symbol, which simplifies the maths but also means base game wins outside the book symbol are relatively rare.
At 96.00% RTP, Book of Ra costs AU$4.00 per AU$100 wagered — slightly more expensive than the Pragmatic Play cluster pokies in the DeeSpin library. Novomatic built this game for the European land-based market before adapting it for online play, and the design reflects that origin: fewer paylines, higher individual line bet significance, and a gamble feature that lets you risk any win on a card colour prediction for a 50/50 double-or-nothing outcome.
Author’s tip from Ryan Gallagher, Online Casino Reviewer: “The gamble feature after any win is a mathematically neutral proposition — 50% chance to double, 50% chance to lose everything. Over time it contributes zero expected value. What it does is accelerate variance. Australian players who use the gamble feature after every win will experience dramatically wider swings than those who skip it. If you are managing a fixed session budget, skipping the gamble feature reduces the risk of premature bankroll depletion.”| GAME SPECIFICATIONS | |
|---|---|
| Game | Book of Ra |
| Provider | Novomatic |
| Type | Video Pokie — Expanding Symbol Free Spins |
| RTP | 96.00% |
| Volatility | High |
| Max Win | 5,000x |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows, 9 paylines |
| Min Bet | AU$0.20 |
| Features | Wild and scatter combined in one symbol, expanding special symbol during free spins, gamble feature, classic payline structure |
| Mobile | HTML5 — all devices |
How does the expanding symbol mechanic transform the free spins round?
Why do nine paylines change how Australian players should think about bet sizing?
Nine paylines means each payline receives one-ninth of your total bet. On a AU$1.80 total bet, each payline gets AU$0.20. Modern cluster pokies spread bets across 20–40 paylines or use all-ways-pay systems. The practical difference: Book of Ra produces fewer but larger individual payline wins. A five-of-a-kind explorer on a single payline can pay 500x the line bet, which on a AU$0.20 line equals AU$100 from a AU$1.80 total wager.
The concentrated payline structure means base game wins are less frequent than in modern pokies. You will see longer dead spin streaks playing Book of Ra than playing Sweet Bonanza or Gates of Olympus at equivalent total bet levels. This is the high-volatility profile in action: fewer events, larger when they arrive. Australian players accustomed to the frequent small recycling wins of modern cluster pokies may find Book of Ra's rhythm jarring.
Author’s tip from Ryan Gallagher, Online Casino Reviewer: “Book of Ra's nine-payline structure made it famous in European land-based casinos because it suited the coin-per-line betting format of physical machines. Online, the structure is functionally identical to any other payline pokie, but the psychological experience is different. If you want frequent activity on screen, choose a cluster or Megaways pokie instead. If you prefer concentrated outcomes with clear payline reading, Book of Ra delivers that clarity.”How does Book of Ra's cost compare to similar high-volatility pokies?
Should Australian players use the gamble feature after wins?
The gamble feature offers a 50/50 chance to double your win by predicting red or black on a card flip. Mathematically, it is neutral — expected value of using it equals expected value of skipping it. Practically, it accelerates variance. Australian players using the gamble feature will experience bigger highs and bigger lows within the same session. If your goal is maximum entertainment time per dollar, skip the gamble. If your goal is to chase larger individual wins from a fixed budget, the gamble feature serves that purpose while maintaining the same long-term cost.
Author’s tip from Ryan Gallagher, Online Casino Reviewer: “Book of Ra was originally designed for Novomatic's land-based terminals in Austria and Germany. The nine-payline structure, the gamble feature, and the single bonus mechanic all reflect an era before modern pokies added layers of complexity. For Australian players used to Pragmatic Play's feature-rich designs, Book of Ra can feel stripped down. That simplicity is either its appeal or its limitation, depending on what you value in a pokie session.”What does Book of Ra actually cost per session?
At 96.00% RTP, every AU$100 wagered costs AU$4.00. A 200-spin session at AU$0.20 per spin (minimum, covering all nine paylines) totals AU$40.00 wagered and AU$1.60 expected cost. High volatility means your actual session result will vary substantially from this average. The expanding symbol free spins can return hundreds of times your bet in a single round, or the entire free spins round can return less than your trigger spin cost.
Alternative games to consider at DeeSpin
- Gates of Olympus — Similar high volatility, lower cost (AU$3.50), modern scatter pay with multiplier drops.
- Sweet Bonanza — Same price tier, medium-high volatility with tumble cascades and bomb multipliers.
- Starburst — Lower volatility, lower cost. For players who want shorter dead spin streaks.
