John Hunter and the Book of Tut vs Book of Ra Deluxe
Both slots share the same core mechanic — a symbol that is both wild and scatter, 10 free spins with one randomly selected expanding symbol, and wins on non-adjacent reels during the bonus. The mathematical differences between them are meaningful for players choosing where to direct their session budget.
At a Glance: Key Numbers
Book of Tut (Pragmatic Play, 2020) carries a 96.5% RTP in its default configuration, with a lower 94.5% variant available to operators. Book of Ra Deluxe (Novomatic, 2009) runs at a fixed 95.1% RTP with no operator-adjustable version. At a $1 stake across 500 spins, the expected loss difference between the default versions is $7 — $17.50 on Book of Tut at 96.5% versus $24.50 on Book of Ra Deluxe at 95.1%. If a casino uses the 94.5% Book of Tut variant, the expected loss rises to $27.50, making Book of Ra the better mathematical option at that casino. Volatility differs slightly: Book of Tut is rated 5/5 on Pragmatic Play's internal scale; Book of Ra Deluxe is considered marginally lower at 4/5 by most analysis sources, meaning Book of Ra produces somewhat more frequent, somewhat smaller wins relative to Book of Tut. Book of Tut's hit rate of 33.33% — one winning spin in every three — is typical for high-volatility 'Book of' style slots. Book of Ra Deluxe's hit rate is not publicly disclosed by Novomatic but is estimated in the 35% to 38% range based on extended play data from independent testers, suggesting slightly more frequent base game returns. Both slots concentrate the majority of significant payouts in the free spins bonus rather than the base game.
Is Book of Tut a copy of Book of Ra?
Book of Tut uses the same mechanic framework — a dual wild/scatter book symbol, 10 free spins, one expanding symbol — but is a separate game with different math, different symbols, a higher default RTP, and an additional Bonus Buy feature. It is an acknowledged descendant of the 'Book of' genre that Novomatic established, not a direct copy.
Feature and Mechanic Comparison
The two slots share the expanding symbol free spins structure but differ in several specific mechanics. Book of Tut offers a Bonus Buy option at 100× stake; Book of Ra Deluxe has no equivalent feature purchase. Both use 10 fixed paylines on a 5×3 grid. Book of Tut's maximum win is 5,500× the stake; Book of Ra Deluxe reaches 5,000× with the Book symbol as the scatter/wild and expanding choice. Book of Tut was released 11 years after Book of Ra and reflects updated visual quality — higher resolution graphics, smoother animations, and a modernized paytable structure. The audio design in both retains an Egyptian adventure theme, though Book of Tut's production is noticeably more polished. Both slots pay 2×, 20×, and 200× the bet for three, four, and five scatter symbols respectively at the time of triggering, before free spins begin. The non-adjacent pays rule during the expanding symbol bonus applies identically in both games. | Feature | Book of Tut | Book of Ra Deluxe | |---|---|---| | Provider | Pragmatic Play | Novomatic | | Year | 2020 | 2009 | | RTP | 96.5% (94.5% low) | 95.1% | | Volatility | 5/5 | 4/5 | | Max Win | 5,500× | 5,000× | | Bonus Buy | Yes (100×) | No | | Grid | 5×3 | 5×3 | | Paylines | 10 | 10 |
Which has better RTP, Book of Tut or Book of Ra?
Book of Tut at 96.5% default RTP has a higher return than Book of Ra Deluxe at 95.1%. However, if the casino operates the 94.5% variant of Book of Tut, the positions reverse. Always check the in-game paytable to confirm the active RTP version.
Which Slot to Choose
For players prioritizing RTP, Book of Tut at 96.5% outperforms Book of Ra Deluxe at 95.1% — provided the casino uses the default configuration. Verifying the active RTP in the casino's paytable before depositing is the only way to confirm which version is in use. For players who prefer the immediacy of the bonus round without the base game wait, Book of Tut's Bonus Buy is a clear differentiator — Book of Ra Deluxe has no equivalent option. For players who want the classic experience and are comfortable with a fixed 95.1% return, Book of Ra Deluxe remains the original and most recognized slot in the genre. The decision ultimately rests on three factors: the RTP version active at the player's chosen casino, whether the Bonus Buy feature matters for the intended session format, and personal preference for modern versus classic production quality. Players who cannot verify the active RTP at their casino face a meaningful risk of unknowingly playing the 94.5% Book of Tut variant — in that scenario, Book of Ra Deluxe at a fixed 95.1% represents a more predictable mathematical proposition. For players at casinos that can confirm the 96.5% configuration, Book of Tut offers superior RTP, Bonus Buy access, and a higher theoretical maximum win.
FAQ
Beyond Book of Ra Deluxe, several other slots compete directly with Book of Tut in the 'Book of' category. Book of Dead by Play'n GO (2016) runs at 96.21% RTP with high volatility, a 5,000× maximum win, and an identical expanding symbol mechanic — no Bonus Buy. Its cultural footprint rivals Book of Ra as a genre benchmark. Book of the Fallen by Pragmatic Play (2021) adds a player-selectable expanding symbol at 96.5% RTP and 5,000× maximum, providing the same RTP as Book of Tut with an added choice element in the bonus. Book of Tut Megaways (Pragmatic Play, 2023) extends the mechanic to a 6-reel Megaways format with up to 117,649 ways and 10,000× maximum win at 96% RTP. Among these, Book of Tut occupies a specific position: default 96.5% RTP (equal to Book of the Fallen), higher than Book of Dead (96.21%) and Book of Ra Deluxe (95.1%), with Bonus Buy access. Players moving from Book of Ra to Book of Tut gain 1.4% in expected return and Bonus Buy access. Players comparing Book of Tut to Book of Dead gain 0.29% in RTP and Bonus Buy access at the cost of switching from a well-established title to a somewhat less prominent one in certain casino markets.