# How do Book of Ra Deluxe expanding symbols work?

Canonical HTML: [How do Book of Ra Deluxe expanding symbols work?](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/book-of-ra-deluxe/)

Published: 2026-11-05
Updated: 2026-11-05
Publisher: HowToCasino
Language: en-GB
Topic: Slots & mechanics

## The short answer

In Book of Ra Deluxe free spins, one randomly chosen symbol becomes the special expanding symbol. When enough of it appears to form a win, it fills its reels and can pay on non-adjacent positions across the active paylines. Book wilds cannot replace that special symbol; a single selected symbol does not automatically qualify.

## Find your answer

- [Check the qualifying count](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/book-of-ra-deluxe/#qualifying-count)

- [See the ten-line calculation](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/book-of-ra-deluxe/#line-example)

- [Understand the Book wild exception](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/book-of-ra-deluxe/#wild-exclusion)

![Three qualifying non-adjacent reels can contribute to the special award across ten active paylines.](https://howtocasino.uk/illustrations/book-of-ra-deluxe-active-lines.png)

Illustrative special-symbol component only: assume the condition qualifies and the award is already 5p per active line. Ten active lines give 50p, not a 27-ways calculation.

## Which Book of Ra game and line setting does this explain?

This is the five-reel, three-row Book of Ra Deluxe title described by 21.co.uk and Virgin Games. It has ten paylines, with a chosen expanding symbol during free spins. Book of Ra Deluxe 6, Deluxe 10 and the Win Ways versions have different layouts or features; their reel sets and bonus rules should not be imported into this game.

The two GB public descriptions differ on the line control: 21.co.uk describes ten adjustable paylines, while Virgin Games describes betting fixed at ten. Use the active-line count and stake displayed in your own game. The calculation below assumes all ten lines are active; it does not claim that every account offers the same line-selection control.

The [Book of Dead free-spins guide](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/book-of-dead/index.md) concerns a separate Play’n GO game. The name, artwork and selected-symbol rule in the game you actually open matter more than a similar Egyptian theme.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

## The Book and the chosen special symbol have different jobs

| Symbol or event | What it does | What it does not establish |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Book in an ordinary combination | Acts as a wild substitute under the ordinary game rules. | It does not replace the chosen special expanding symbol for that feature’s special award. |
| Three or more scattered Books | Trigger an initial ten free spins in the published standard description. | They do not mean three different special symbols will be selected. |
| The symbol selected before the feature | Can expand across its reels when its winning requirement is met. | Selection does not guarantee that enough of the symbol will land or that the feature will pay. |

21.co.uk describes the Book selecting one symbol at random before the free spins begin. The selected symbol is a regular pay symbol given a special feature rule; it is not simply another name for the Book wild. That distinction explains why an ordinary combination completed by a Book can coexist with an unmet special-symbol requirement.

A [casino promotion crediting free spins](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/how-do-casino-free-spins-work/index.md) to an account is another separate matter. Its spin count, expiry and balance conditions do not replace the ten-spin in-game trigger described here.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

## Why a selected symbol may not expand

The 21.co.uk rules say the selected symbol expands only when enough symbols are present to form a winning combination. They also distinguish ordinary symbols needing at least three matches from higher-paying symbols that can win with two. Check the chosen symbol’s actual paytable row rather than treating three as a universal minimum for every icon.

Reel coverage matters. A payline uses one position from each reel. Several copies stacked in one column do not supply the same number of different reels; filling that column still covers only that one reel.

| Illustrative screen | Question to ask | Consequence for the special award |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A chosen ordinary symbol appears on reels 1 and 3 only. | Does its paytable require at least three matching reels? | If it does, two qualifying reels are insufficient. |
| A chosen higher-paying symbol appears on two different reels. | Does that symbol have a two-of-a-kind award? | It can meet that row’s count; use its actual rule and value. |
| Three copies of the chosen symbol sit on the same reel. | How many different reels contain it? | One reel is not a three-reel combination. |
| Two chosen symbols and a Book would complete an ordinary line. | Is the Book being counted towards the special expanding-symbol award? | The Book cannot substitute for that special symbol. Assess any ordinary line award separately. |

An unmet special condition does not by itself prove the entire spin paid zero. Conversely, a visible Book or a normal line win does not prove that the special expansion should have happened. Compare the settled award with the rule for that particular symbol.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

## How can non-adjacent reels pay?

Ordinary line wins in the 21.co.uk rules run left to right from the leftmost reel. The selected expanding symbol has a stated exception: it can pay on non-adjacent positions and on all lines played. A gap between its qualifying reels is therefore different from a gap in an ordinary left-to-right combination.

For example, suppose the selected symbol’s rule confirms that three matching reels qualify, and it appears on reels 1, 3 and 5. The special award can use those separated reels. Once each of those columns is filled, every active payline passes through the chosen symbol in the corresponding positions.

The game still has its configured paylines. Three filled reels with three positions each do not turn this into a 27-ways game, and nine visible expanded cells are not nine separately staked awards. Count the paid lines and their applicable value, rather than multiplying every symbol cell together.

Our [payline explanation](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-is-a-payline-in-slots/index.md) shows how predefined lines differ from ways-to-win layouts. The same full-height reel graphic can be used in games with different payment systems.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.

## An example with ten active lines

Assume the special-symbol condition has been met on three non-adjacent reels, all ten lines are active, and the applicable special award is already converted to £0.05 per active line at the triggering bet. These are invented inputs, not a quoted Book of Ra paytable or a played round. Assume no cap, rounding adjustment or separate award changes this calculation.

| Step | Calculation | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Keep the per-line amount | £0.05 for one active line | This assumed money amount already includes the relevant stake conversion. |
| Apply the active-line count | £0.05 × 10 = £0.50 | The illustrated special-symbol award across ten active lines. |
| Do not substitute a ways count | £0.05 × 27 would be £1.35 | That arithmetic uses a payment model this ten-line example does not have. |
| Do not multiply by the stake again | The £0.50 is already a cash result | Applying another stake factor would count the stake conversion twice. |

The £0.50 is only the assumed special-symbol return in this one result. It excludes any separate ordinary or scatter award, other free-spin results and the cost of the paid round that triggered the feature. It does not establish a complete feature total or session profit.

Actual paytables may present a number as a per-line multiple, credits or a cash amount. The identified ten-line rules hosted by Loto-Québec distinguish line prizes using credits bet per line from scatter prizes using the total bet. That is a Canadian rule document, used here to illustrate why units must be read; its RTP, controls and operator limits are not claimed for a British account.

Before calculating your own result, identify whether the displayed award is per line or already totals every paid line. An amount labelled as the settled total should not be multiplied by ten again.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe ten-line rules: Canadian configuration; line and scatter units](https://assets.lotoquebec.com/ressources/assets/v3/assets/blt8296e79a7001648c/blt354b4b2d077b6df1/651441171adda2f6cae259df/book-of-ra-deluxe_rules_en.pdf) — Loto-Québec / Greentube game rules. Checked 2026-11-05.

## Why a Book can complete a line but not the special count

The public GB rules explicitly exclude wild substitution for the special expanding symbol during free spins. A Book can therefore help an ordinary combination under its normal rule without becoming an extra copy of the selected special symbol.

Suppose the chosen ordinary symbol needs three reels to qualify. Two real copies on different reels plus a Book are not three copies for the special expansion. If the same positions also make a valid ordinary line, use that line’s paytable rule to assess its payment. Do not infer the special award from the ordinary line overlay.

This is also why selecting a symbol before the round does not make that symbol wild. It retains its own feature identity and count requirement. The rules describe where it can expand and how it pays; they do not say it substitutes for every other regular symbol.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

## What do extra free spins change?

The published descriptions award ten initial free spins when the Book trigger lands, and allow the feature to be retriggered. 21.co.uk says the free games use the triggering bet and the same number of lines. An extension supplies more results at that feature’s settings; it is not a separate stake on every expanded symbol.

Neither a larger free-spin count nor a choice of special symbol should be treated as a prediction of the return. More awarded spins do not tell you which reel combinations will occur. For a retrigger question, check the exact game’s help for its extension and symbol-selection rule rather than borrowing a rule from Deluxe 6, a Win Ways title or Book of Dead.

[Legacy of Dead](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/legacy-of-dead/index.md) has its own expanding-symbol and feature-progression explanation. Its later symbol changes do not establish what happens when this Book of Ra title retriggers.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

## What should you keep to check a disputed expansion?

- The complete title, supplier label and game-round reference.
- The selected special symbol and its paytable row.
- The active paylines and bet used to trigger the feature.
- Which distinct reels contained real copies before expansion, and which positions contained Books.
- Whether the amount shown is an ordinary line award, special-symbol award, scatter prize or total.
- The settled cash return and any cap, interruption or rules-version message.

Start with the count and wild exclusion, then examine the applicable lines and payout units. If a difference remains, ask the operator to explain that specific round against its own help panel. A cropped image of a full reel without the chosen symbol, initial layout and settled result may leave the decisive information missing.

This guide compares public descriptions and a clearly identified supporting rule document. It does not test an individual account, installed RTP, payout ceiling or current access. The [game-help guide](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/how-to-read-game-rules/index.md) explains where to find the values needed for your own calculation.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe ten-line rules: Canadian configuration; line and scatter units](https://assets.lotoquebec.com/ressources/assets/v3/assets/blt8296e79a7001648c/blt354b4b2d077b6df1/651441171adda2f6cae259df/book-of-ra-deluxe_rules_en.pdf) — Loto-Québec / Greentube game rules. Checked 2026-11-05.

## Related questions

### Does one special symbol always expand in Book of Ra Deluxe?

No universal one-symbol rule is supported. The GB description requires enough of the selected symbol to form its winning combination. Check its paytable count and the distinct reels containing it; several copies in one column are not several reels.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.

### Can the Book wild replace the selected expanding symbol?

The published GB rules explicitly exclude that substitution for the special expanding-symbol award during free spins. An ordinary line completed by a Book is a separate calculation.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

### Do expanding symbols have to be on neighbouring reels?

The special rule published by 21.co.uk allows non-adjacent positions and payment on all played lines. Ordinary left-to-right line rules remain a different case.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.

### Does filling three reels mean 27 winning ways?

Not in this ten-payline example. You count the active predefined lines and the applicable award on each. The example’s £0.05 per active line across ten lines gives £0.50; it does not use a 27-ways calculation.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.

### Can I change the chosen symbol to one that pays more?

The published descriptions say the special symbol is selected at random before the feature. This guide establishes no player control over that selection or probability for a particular symbol.

Sources:

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.

## Sources and checks

- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB game rules, line settings and special expanding-symbol exception](https://www.21.co.uk/games/book-of-ra-deluxe) — 21.co.uk. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe: GB overview, free-spin trigger and Book substitution exclusion](https://www.virgingames.com/uk/slots/book-of-ra-deluxe) — Virgin Games. Checked 2026-11-05.
- [Book of Ra Deluxe ten-line rules: Canadian configuration; line and scatter units](https://assets.lotoquebec.com/ressources/assets/v3/assets/blt8296e79a7001648c/blt354b4b2d077b6df1/651441171adda2f6cae259df/book-of-ra-deluxe_rules_en.pdf) — Loto-Québec / Greentube game rules. Checked 2026-11-05.

## Keep exploring

- [How do Book of Dead free spins and expanding symbols work?](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/book-of-dead/index.md)

- [How do Legacy of Dead expanding symbols work?](https://howtocasino.uk/best-slot/legacy-of-dead/index.md)

- [What is a payline in slots?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/what-is-a-payline-in-slots/index.md)

- [How do you read slot game rules and paytables?](https://howtocasino.uk/guides/how-to-read-game-rules/index.md)

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