Last updated: 11-07-2026
Search for Book of Ra's RTP and you'll find two conflicting numbers: 92.13% on some sites, 96% on others. Both are correct, depending on which version you're actually playing — the land-based Novomatic cabinets run the lower figure, while the online version most Australian players encounter through Richard Casino sits closer to 96%. That discrepancy alone causes more confusion than anything else about this title, so it's the first thing worth clearing up before you spin the reels.
What is Book of Ra and how does it work at Richard Casino?
Book of Ra is a Novomatic pokie built on a classic 9-payline, 5-reel format — no Megaways, no cluster pays, none of the mechanics that have become standard in newer titles. It's an Egyptian-themed game, and its main draw is a genuinely old-school free spins feature: land 3 or more Book scatter symbols and you trigger free spins, during which one symbol is randomly selected to expand and fill entire reels for the duration of the round. That random symbol changes with every fresh free spins trigger, which is part of what keeps the feature interesting despite the otherwise dated presentation.
Graphics here are noticeably older than most titles in a modern lobby — this is a game built on a well-worn formula rather than current visual standards, and newer players sometimes find that jarring next to titles like Gates of Olympus or Sweet Bonanza sitting in the same category list. The trade-off is a proven mechanic with a long track record, rather than an unfamiliar modern feature set.
Volatility runs high, and the free spins bonus triggers infrequently — roughly once every 150 spins by most estimates. Combined with the lower land-based RTP figure some players may unknowingly be comparing against, that makes bankroll management genuinely important here, more so than in many modern equivalents that pay out more evenly across a session. A rough guide worth applying: a bankroll of at least 100x your standard bet size gives you a realistic shot at reaching a free spins trigger without running dry first, given how infrequently the feature lands.
There's no bonus buy option on Book of Ra, which sets it apart from most newer titles in the lobby. You're relying entirely on the natural trigger rate — no shortcut, no way to pay to skip the wait. That's either a drawback or a point of appeal depending on what you're looking for: some players prefer knowing every spin carries equal weight toward the feature, rather than having a purchase option sitting alongside the base game as a constant temptation.
| Parameter | Book of Ra | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Novomatic | Also known from land-based cabinets |
| RTP (online) | ~96% | Land-based cabinets cite 92.13% — different builds |
| Volatility | High | Infrequent but larger free spins wins |
| Paylines | 9 | Book of Ra Deluxe runs 10 |
| Max win | 5,000x per spin (25,000 coin jackpot) | [fallback data] |
| Free spins trigger | ~1 in 150 spins | 3+ Book scatter symbols |
| Bonus Buy | Not available | Unlike many modern equivalents |
| Bet range | A$0.02–A$5 per line | [fallback data] |
| Demo mode | Available | Test the expanding symbol mechanic first |
Author's tip from Ethan Wallace, Online Casino Analyst & Compliance Researcher: "If a review quotes 92.13% RTP for Book of Ra, check whether they're describing the land-based Novomatic cabinet or the online build — the two numbers get mixed up constantly, and only one of them applies to what you're actually playing at Richard Casino."
The gamble feature and the random expanding symbol — what to know before you spin
Book of Ra includes a classic gamble feature after any win: double or lose the payout on a simple card-colour guess. It's pure 50/50 risk with no house edge advantage baked in beyond the base game's own margin, but it can also erase a win in seconds if you're not deliberate about when to stop using it. Treat it as optional risk-taking, not a reliable way to extend a session.
The random expanding symbol during free spins is the game's real signature feature, and it's worth understanding properly. At the start of each free spins round, one regular symbol is selected at random — it could be a high-value symbol or a lower-paying one — and for the duration of that round, it expands to cover entire reels whenever it lands. Because the selection is random and resets with each new trigger, some free spins rounds land on a high-paying symbol and produce a large return, while others land on a lower-value symbol and pay out more modestly. There's no way to influence which symbol gets picked; it's part of what makes the feature genuinely variable rather than a guaranteed jackpot round every time it triggers.
It's worth putting this game's legacy status in context. Book of Ra predates the current wave of Megaways and cluster-pays titles by well over a decade, and its continued presence in modern lobbies — Richard Casino included — says something about how durable a well-designed classic format can be. That said, durability isn't the same as being the strongest option available today. Players drawn here by nostalgia or by the title's reputation should weigh that against titles built on more modern, statistically transparent mechanics before assuming familiarity translates to better value.
Author's tip from Ethan Wallace, Online Casino Analyst & Compliance Researcher: "If the roughly 1-in-150 free spins trigger rate feels too infrequent for your bankroll, Book of Dead runs a near-identical format with a marginally higher RTP — worth trying in demo mode as a direct comparison before you settle on one or the other."
Book of Ra vs Book of Ra Deluxe vs Book of Dead — which one to play
Book of Ra Deluxe updates the original with 10 paylines instead of 9 and noticeably improved graphics, running at a slightly lower RTP of around 95.10% with the same expanding symbol mechanic carried over unchanged. It's a reasonable middle ground if the original's dated visuals put you off but you still want the classic format rather than a modern alternative. Book of Dead, from Play'n GO, sits apart from the Novomatic family entirely — same broad Egyptian theme and expanding symbol concept, but a distinct build with a higher RTP at 96.21%, making it the strongest RTP pick of the three if that's your main priority.
None of the three offer a bonus buy option, which is unusual next to modern equivalents like Gates of Olympus or Sweet Bonanza — you're relying entirely on the natural trigger rate here, which is part of what defines this as an older-generation title rather than a criticism of it specifically. If bonus buy access matters to you, that's a real point in favour of newer titles in the lobby over any of the Book of Ra family.
Author's tip from Ethan Wallace, Online Casino Analyst & Compliance Researcher: "Set a session length by time rather than by spin count on this title — with no bonus buy and a roughly 1-in-150 trigger rate, it's easy to lose track of how long you've been grinding the base game waiting for a feature that hasn't landed yet."
All three run in demo mode, so comparing them directly before committing real funds costs nothing. Richard Casino operates under a Curaçao licence rather than an Australian one, sitting outside ACMA and BetStop oversight — play on offshore terms, within a budget set in advance, and remember you must be 18+ to register.
Prefer a modern high-volatility format with bonus buy included? The homepage covers the wider pokies library, and the glossary explains terms like RTP and expanding symbol in plain language. Already registered? Log in and run the demo before your first real spin.
