Book of Ra Slot Review
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Book of Ra Screenshots
Should You Play Book of Ra?
Yes, absolutely! This game has become quite the symbol of vintage slots in the gambling industry. One of the first to incorporate the Egyptian theme, it’s a fantastic way to travel back to the early days of video slot gaming online. Without a doubt, it has inspired various other developers to create games with this base theme, and some to create almost carbon copies of it. Greentube really highlights its own capabilities in the Book of Ra slot.
You’ll have plenty of entertainment on hand when playing this game. With a scattered wild symbol, a free spins round, expanding symbols and a gamble round, you can’t go far wrong. We’ll provide our in-depth review of Book of Ra in due course!
Things We Like
Featured in a mass of casino lobbies
Includes entertaining special features
Ideal betting range to make use of
Big wins possible in free spins
Things to Consider
Dated graphics and animations
High volatility level
Limited in features compared to other slots
Gameplay
This online slot game takes place across five reels and three rows, including nine paylines to win on. It’s also the case that Book of Ra is a high volatility slot, so there could be plenty of fluctuation between the different spins in terms of payouts. As a result, you need to manage your wagers to endure the variance.
This is a simple task to undertake. You only need to use a maximum of two buttons to place a bet. First, choose how many of the nine paylines you want to be active per spin. Between 1 and 9 are available, and you determine the active number with the relevant + and – buttons. When you’re happy with this, it’s time to turn your attention to your wager.
The next box along asks you to pick a bet per active line. Book of Ra’s betting range starts at £/$/€ 0.05 and can then increase up through 0.10, 0.20, and so on until it reaches the highest wager amount of 10.00 per line. With all paylines active, you can wager the maximum of £/$/€90 per spin.
At the point you are satisfied with the bet amount, you can set the reels off spinning. This is done by using the ‘Start’ button. Alternatively, you can use the button on the screen's bottom-left, offering ‘Autoplay’. Through this, you can set the spinning reels up to 100 consecutive times.
Wins are acquired when three or more matching symbols appear on an active payline, starting with the leftmost reel. The combination value is multiplied by your bet per line to provide your payout.
Storyline
The title of this game suggests its Egyptian theme, and Greentube has put effort into making this theme come to life. Of course, this slot came out in 2005, so the visual side of it is very much a product of its time. It runs similarly to the Book of Dead slot that Play’n God created. Yet the latter game seemed to take its inspiration from the Book of Ra release, considering its earlier launch.
The story goes that an explorer has travelled across the globe to Egypt. There, he is seeking out the titular Book of Ra. He wants to take it back to his homeland and sell it to a museum. Who knows, perhaps if you help him with excavation, he’ll let you in on the money side!
Despite the simple nature of the game’s setup, this explorer could assist you in reaching a massive payout. Book of Ra can provide a win of up to 5,000x for your wager. That would please you as an assistant explorer, wouldn’t it?
The five reels of this Greentube slot are the primary view when you play it. The only real telltale sign that this is Egypt from the outside of the reels is the set of pyramids running along the top of them next to the slot logo.
When considering the graphics, you must remember how things were in 2005. The internet for homeowners was still in its early days. Many people still had dial-up connections and low bandwidth, and developers had to create games with graphics suitable for this time. So, if you keep that in mind, the graphics in Book of Ra are pretty good.
All the symbols appearing on the reels help the theme to come to life in an ideal way, too. While the lower-paying symbols exist in the shape of playing card additions, the others are very much in keeping with the Egyptian theme of the slot. The symbols you will experience in Book of Ra include:
Explorer: 5 symbols pay out up to 5,000x in your line bet
Pharaoh’s Sarcophagus: 5 symbols pay out up to 2,000x your line bet
Egyptian Statue: 5 symbols pay out up to 750x your line bet
Scarab Beetle: 5 symbols pay out up to 750x your line bet
Card Symbols (10 to Ace): Pay between 100x and 150x your line bet
Of course, each of these symbols brings its appeal to the Book of Ra release. You can find the game in our collection of free online slots if you want to play it in demo mode.
Yet of all the symbols in the game, the Book of Ra deserves a lot of attention. It is the all-powerful book, operating as both a scatter and a wild. The book will substitute for any of the previously mentioned standard symbols in its wild format. This means it can be a big help when forming winning combinations. Forming wins consisting solely of the wild provides a potential payout of up to 1,800x your line bet.
As a scatter symbol, it can appear anywhere on the reels. Bringing three or more scattered books into view will activate the slot’s free spins round. That’s alongside providing a payout to you, too.
Design and User Experience
Greentube has long been operating as an online software developer. At the time of Book of Ra’s release, it was a pioneering game in the industry. Thus, it had a strong visual appeal for casino players. Yet it’s not all about the inbuilt graphics and animations. Slot games also do well when they utilise high-quality soundtracks.
The sounds within help to provide an intriguing and entertaining atmosphere. Where the Book of Ra is concerned, though, there are very few of these. The reels spin with a clicking noise, and the sounds built into the slot are arcade-like. This is, of course, a sign of the times when it was made and released. Playing it today does feel like being transported back into the earlier days of online slot machines.
When you form a win, you’ll hear the jingle of victory, which adds a nice touch to Book of Ra.
Book of Ra Free Spins and Bonuses
It’s not uncommon for today’s online slot releases to feature a variety of special rounds in them. When Book of Ra was launched, it was a cutting-edge game. While we have spoken of the wild/scatter symbols and will get to the free spins momentarily, the slot also includes a gamble round to experience.
Gamble Feature
Every time you form a win in the Book of Ra online slot, you can enter a gambling round. In the bottom-right corner, there will be a Gamble and Collect button. If you choose to gamble, you enter this round. This sees you guess the colour of the next playing card to be turned over – black or red. Get this right, and your winnings from the base game are doubled.
Book of Ra Free Spins
It’s not uncommon for online slot players to want to play free spins in a game. That’s why so many developers incorporate free spin features into their releases. The Book of Ra online slot also includes a free spins bonus round.
Within this Greentube release, you must spin at least three scattered wild symbols into view anywhere. You receive ten free spins; the round includes a special expanding symbol. When that one shows up, it expands to cover the whole reel it is on.
How to Play Book of Ra
Playing this game is a simple process to go through. It is available at so many online casinos that you won’t have difficulty finding it. Here is how to play Book of Ra by Greentube online.
Sign up for an online casino incorporating Green Tube software into its lobby. Have a look at the CasinoTopsOnline recommendations for this.
Login to your account and deposit the cashier page. A variety of online payment methods is offered at the best online casino sites for you to complete this process.
Once the funds appear in your account, you can visit the game lobby and navigate through Greentube’s games. Otherwise, you can search for the game using the search box.
What Is Book of Ra’s RTP?
The return to player (RTP) rate attached to Book of Ra stands at 92.13%, which is quite low compared to the average of 96% attributed to video slots today. Once again, you’ll need to remember when this game was created, which explains this RTP rate.
It is also a high variance slot, so you will need to consider that frequent wins won’t be something occurring in it. Combining that with the lower RTP rate means you will need to alter your wagering level to accommodate this.
How Can I Win at Book of Ra?
Because of the high volatility rate of Book of Ra and its additional low RTP rate, you may want to consider a few pointers on being successful with it. While it is valid to remember that nothing is guaranteed with gambling thanks to the RNG mechanics, here are some tips to use.
Our Top Tips and Tricks to Winning
Start with a small wager. Even the minimum bet will give you an idea of how to proceed. You can always increase this slightly at a later stage.
Always ensure you have all nine paylines active, providing the best chances of receiving a payout. If you want to decrease something at any time, reduce the value of your line bet rather than the number of active lines.
Don’t immediately opt for the maximum bet amount of £/$/€90 on a spin. You might as well throw your money away at this level. Even professional gamblers don’t place such reckless wagers.
Don’t set about chasing your losses in Book of Ra. If you’re experiencing a losing streak, reduce your bet, continue, or walk away and return another day.
Our Personal Experience Playing Book of Ra
If you want to experience a retro video slot, then Book of Ra is something to investigate. I can’t say that it has anything exceptional built into it that will stun you like the more modern slots often do. Yet I am a fan of the wild symbol also being the scatter and adding a random expanding symbol for the free spins round. Success on a single payline can see your balance bolstered by up to 5,000x your bet. Some further highlights of Book of Ra include:
It is suitable for high rollers due to its high volatility level.
Features appealing free spins round with a randomly chosen expanding symbol.
Chance to boost your wins with the game’s Gamble Feature.
Excellent customisable wagering facilities allow line adjustment and bet per line.
Book of Ra VS Similar Games
The Egyptian theme is something that has been incorporated into many online slots. These come from various developers. Compare the Book of Ra slot with these in the table below.
Slot | Developer | RTP | Max Win | Theme | Bonus Features |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book of Ra | Greentube | 92.13% | 5,000x | Egyptian-Themed | Wilds, Free Spins, Expanding Symbols, Gamble Feature |
Book of Dead | Play’n Go | 96.25% | 5,000x | Egyptian-Themed | Wilds, Free Spins, Expanding Symbols, Gamble Feature |
Eye of Horus | Reel Time Gaming | 96.31% | 50,000x | Egyptian-Themed | Wilds, Free Spins, Scatters, Gamble Feature |
Legacy of Dead | Play’n Go | 94.51% | 5,000x | Egyptian-Themed | Wilds, Free Spins, Expanding Symbols, Gamble Feature |
Scroll of Seth | Play’n Go | 96.31% | 5,000x | Egyptian-Themed | Wilds, Free Spins, Multipliers, Scatter Symbols, Symbol Swap |
Other Slot Games
If you don’t want to play slots focusing on the Egyptian theme, you can enjoy some alternatives. We recommend playing the slots noted below.
Fishin’ Frenzy: The Big Catch
How about diving underwater and trying to catch your share of fish? You can in the 2021 slot game from Blueprint Gaming entitled Fishin’ Frenzy: The Big Catch. This slot has a 96.12% RTP rate and is a medium-variance game. It offers a maximum payout possibility of 50,000x your bet across ten paylines. You may also experience its free spins, wilds, symbol swap, scatters, and symbol collection features.
Rainbow Riches
A game released by Barcrest back in 2009, this is one of the most popular online games ever. It incorporates the theme of Irish folklore, with a leprechaun playing a central role. Rainbow Riches has a 95% RTP rate and offers a maximum reward of 500x your bet. A total of 20 paylines run across its five reels, and you can wager up to £/$/€400 per spin. Bonus game rounds exist within the slot, while multipliers, wilds, and scatters are also present.
Fluffy Favourites
Another top-quality, popular video slot release is the Fluffy Favourites game by Eyecon. This one is a high-volatility release, launching in 2016. It features a maximum payout possibility of 5,000x your stake and offers many inbuilt specialities. This includes bonus symbols, games, wild symbols, a gamble round, scatters, and more. Toys make up the basis of its theme, and you can benefit from its almost 96% RTP rate.
Our Final Thoughts
We will always love returning to vintage online video slot games like Book of Ra. Compared to today’s slots, they are very basic, but playing them has a fantastic amount of appeal. Book of Ra contains a wonderful free spin round with expanding symbol, adding to its general inviting nature.
Greentube has executed the Egyptian theme well with decent graphics and animations, and when spinning the reels, you could end up walking away with 5,000x your bet. That’s something to get excited about, so we recommend checking this one out.
FAQs
The game was designed, created, and launched by the Greentube brand, which is an arm of Novomatic.
You need to spin the reels and align at least three matching symbols on an active payline.
The slot has a gamble round and a free spins feature with an expanding symbol for you to trigger.
The game has an RTP rate of 92.13%, which is quite low in comparison to other more recent online slots.
Many casino sites do include Book of Ra in their lobbies, as it is a popular slot from Greentube.
Visit the casino you are a member of via your smartphone’s web browser and login. Then, load the game up as you normally would. Alternatively, if your chosen casino has a mobile app, you can download this for speedier access.
Fact-checked by Julia Attard
Senior Author & Online Casino Expert