On this page
- What changed versus Book of Ra
- How a spin works, step by step
- Why the sixth reel matters for the expanding symbol
- Paytable and a worked example
- What Extra Bet really costs
- High volatility and bankroll sizing
- Testing Book of Ra 6 in the free demo
- Book of Ra 6 free demo
- Book of Ra: all editions compared
- Frequently asked questions
What changed versus Book of Ra
The original Book of Ra is a five-reel, nine-line game. Book of Ra 6 keeps the same idea, a book that works as wild and scatter plus free games with an expanding symbol, but builds it on a grid of six reels and three rows with ten paylines. The RTP is 95.03%, far above the 92.13% of the original and close to the 95.1% of Book of Ra Deluxe. Novomatic rates it as high volatility.
The important detail is how the sixth reel is switched on. In the online build we embed, the game starts on five reels. The sixth reel only joins the grid when you press the EXTRA BET button, and that doubles the stake per spin: from 10 credits to 20 credits. So Book of Ra 6 is really two games in one box, a five-reel mode and a six-reel mode, and you choose which one you pay for.
How a spin works, step by step
- Choose the stake. The base spin uses ten lines, 10 credits in the default setting.
- Decide on Extra Bet. Leave it off for the five-reel mode. Turn it on and the sixth reel activates, and the spin costs 20 credits instead of 10.
- Spin. The reels stop and each of the ten lines is checked left to right from reel 1.
- Books substitute. A book on a line stands in for the symbol that gives the best win.
- Scatter check. Three or more books anywhere award ten free games.
- Gamble or collect. After a win you can take it or guess a card colour to double it.
Why the sixth reel matters for the expanding symbol
In free games, one symbol is drawn at random before the round and becomes the special expanding symbol. When it lands on at least three reels, it grows to fill those reels and pays in any position on every line. On five reels, it needs three of five reels. With the sixth reel active, it needs three of six, and it can also reach four, five or six reels on a single spin. Each extra reel it covers moves the win one step up the paytable.
A sixth reel also means one more place for a book to land, which helps with the three-book trigger. We do not quote a trigger rate here, because no verified figure exists for it; the demo is the place to see how often it happens in practice.
Paytable and a worked example
The symbol set is the familiar one: explorer, pharaoh, scarab, bird statue and the card ranks A, K, Q, J and 10. Novomatic lists the six-reel values, including six of a kind, in the in-game paytable of Book of Ra 6. As a reference, the Deluxe values for three, four and five of a kind are below; all are multiples of the line bet.
| Symbol | 3 of a kind | 4 of a kind | 5 of a kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer | 100x | 1,000x | 5,000x |
| Pharaoh | 40x | 400x | 2,000x |
| Scarab, bird statue | 30x | 100x | 750x |
| A, K | 5x | 40x | 150x |
| Q, J, 10 | 5x | 25x | 100x |
Here is how an expanded win adds up with those reference values. Say the special symbol is the pharaoh and it lands on three reels. It fills them, and all ten lines now cross three pharaohs. At 40x the line bet per line, the spin pays 400 line bets. If the same pharaoh reaches four reels instead, each line pays 400x and the spin returns 4,000 line bets. That tenfold step from three to four reels is exactly what the sixth reel makes easier to reach, and it is why the extra reel is worth considering. Check the game's own paytable for the exact six-reel figures before you count on any of them.
What Extra Bet really costs
Extra Bet is not a bonus buy; it does not take you to the free games. It is closer to an ante bet: you pay more on every spin to change what the reels can do. Concretely, it doubles your spend. A 20,000-credit balance lasts 2,000 spins at 10 credits, but only 1,000 spins at 20.
That makes the choice simple to frame. With Extra Bet on, you get the sixth reel and more room for the expanding symbol, at twice the price per spin. With it off, you play a five-reel game at half the cost. Neither mode is a way to beat the slot; the RTP for each mode, if the game lists them separately, is shown in the rules.
High volatility and bankroll sizing
With a 95.03% RTP, the expected cost over 1,000 spins of 10 credits is about 497 credits. The volatility is high, though, which means the actual result of those 1,000 spins can land far from that average in either direction. Our volatility guide explains why. In practice, plan for at least 250 to 300 spins per session, and if you use Extra Bet, halve the stake you would otherwise pick so the session length stays the same.
Testing Book of Ra 6 in the free demo
Novomatic runs no public free demo, so on most sites the game says it is not available in your country. The demo here is the real game loaded through our own page and starts you with 20,000 virtual credits. The first load can take up to a minute. Try a split test: 300 spins with Extra Bet off, then 300 spins with it on, and compare how many free games rounds you hit and how far the balance fell between them. Afterwards, open the rules screen and note the RTP build and the bet limits the operator has set.
Book of Ra: all editions compared
| Edition | Release | Max win | RTP | Pays | Bonus buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra | 2005 | 5,000x line bet | 92.13% | 9 paylines | — |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 2008 | 5,000x line bet | 95.1% | 10 paylines | — |
| Book of Ra 6 (you are here) | — | 5,000x line bet | 95.03% | 10 paylines | — |
| Book of Ra Magic | 2018 | 5,000x line bet | about 92% | 10 paylines | — |
Where to play Book of Ra 6 for real money
Frequently asked questions
How many reels does Book of Ra 6 have?
The grid has six reels and three rows. In the online build we embed, the game starts on five reels, and the sixth reel is switched on with the Extra Bet button.
What does the Extra Bet button do in Book of Ra 6?
It activates the sixth reel and doubles the stake per spin, from 10 credits to 20 credits. It does not buy the free games; it gives the expanding symbol and the books one more reel to land on.
What is the RTP of Book of Ra 6?
Book of Ra 6 has an RTP of 95.03% and high volatility. Check the rules screen of the version you open, because the operator controls the build and the bet limits.
How do free games work in Book of Ra 6?
Three or more books award ten free games. One symbol is drawn as the special expanding symbol. When it lands on at least three reels, it fills them and pays in any position on all ten lines.
How many paylines does Book of Ra 6 have?
It has ten paylines, the same number as Book of Ra Deluxe. Wins pay left to right starting from reel 1, while the expanding symbol in free games pays in any position.
Can I play Book of Ra 6 for free?
Yes. The demo on this page is the real game loaded through our own page with 20,000 virtual credits and no registration. The first load can take up to a minute.
