Book of Cats
Book of Cats is a BGaming “book” slot themed on Bastet, the Egyptian cat goddess. It follows the familiar pattern of a Golden Book that acts as both wild and scatter and free spins with one expanding symbol, but adds a sixth reel. In the base game that reel is locked except for its middle cell, which can expand to extend a winning line; in free spins it opens fully, so expanded symbols can pay across six reels instead of five.
The rules list a 96.99% RTP (96.83% for the Buy Bonus), BGaming rates the volatility as very high, and the maximum win is 8,202x the bet. This review covers the 10-line paytable, how the sixth reel works in each mode, how the expanding symbol is selected and what the Book of Cats demo shows.
Where to Play Book of Cats
Book of Cats is part of the BGaming catalogue. The casinos below are reviewed on BetsAuthority and accept Australian players. Before playing, open the game rules at the casino and confirm the RTP line; the Buy Bonus button may be removed in some jurisdictions.
Quick Facts About Book of Cats
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Slot | Book of Cats |
| Provider | BGaming |
| Release | July 2020 |
| Layout | 6 reels / 3 rows (reel 6 partly locked in base game) |
| Paylines | 10 fixed lines |
| RTP | 96.99%; Buy Bonus 96.83% |
| Volatility | Very high (BGaming rating) |
| Maximum win | 8,202x the bet |
| Wild / scatter | Golden Book (one symbol does both) |
| Free spins | 10 spins for 3+ books, unlimited retriggers |
| Special features | Winline Expanding (base game), expanding symbol (free spins) |
| Bonus buy | 97x the bet |
| Demo bet range | 0.10 to 10 per spin |
How Book of Cats Works
Ten paylines are always active. Wins pay left to right on consecutive reels, the line bet is one tenth of the stake, and only the highest win per line counts. Because there are six reels, every symbol has a six-of-a-kind payout, which is unusual for a book slot and is the source of the higher maximum win.
The Golden Book substitutes for every symbol and doubles as the scatter. As a scatter it pays 2x, 20x, 200x and 400x the total bet for three, four, five and six anywhere on screen, and three or more trigger free spins.
Paytable
Bastet in her headdress is the top symbol, paying 5x, 50x, 500x, 2,500x and 7,500x the line bet for two to six of a kind. The cat with the sceptre pays 2x, 20x, 200x, 1,000x and 2,500x. The pharaoh cat mask and the blue ankh each pay 2x, 15x, 50x, 375x and 1,000x. All four premiums pay from two of a kind.
The royals pay from three of a kind: A and K pay 3x, 20x, 75x and 375x the line bet for three to six; Q, J and 10 pay 3x, 12x, 50x and 250x. BGaming’s data puts the hit rate at roughly one win every 2.8 spins.
Winline Expanding Feature on Reel 6
In the base game, reel 6 is covered by two scrolls and only its middle cell is visible. When a winning line forms on reels 1 to 5 and the open cell shows the same symbol as that line, the symbol expands to cover all three positions on reel 6 and extends the win by one reel. A five-of-a-kind can therefore become six-of-a-kind, which for Bastet means moving from 2,500x to 7,500x the line bet.
The open cell has a second job: the symbol showing there when free spins trigger becomes the round’s expanding symbol.
Free Spins with Expanding Symbol
Three or more Golden Books award 10 free spins. The symbol in the open cell of reel 6 at that moment becomes the expanding symbol; the Golden Book itself cannot be chosen. Reel 6 then unlocks completely for the round.
After regular wins are paid on each free spin, the expanding symbol fills its reels if enough copies are present for a win, and then pays on all 10 lines in any position, even on non-adjacent reels. The book cannot substitute for the expanding symbol during this step. More free spins can be won during the round, with no limit on retriggers.
In our demo round K was the expanding symbol. One spin expanded K over five reels, paying five of a kind on all 10 lines: 75x the line bet per line, or 75x the total bet. The round finished at 105x the bet. Had K landed on all six reels, the payout would have been 375x the total bet from that symbol alone.
Buy Bonus
The Buy Bonus button starts free spins on the next spin for 97x the bet (9.70 at a 0.10 stake, 970 at the 10 maximum). The expanding symbol is still chosen by the reel 6 cell. The stated RTP for bought rounds is 96.83%, slightly below the 96.99% for normal play.
RTP and Volatility
The rules screen states an overall theoretical RTP of 96.99% and 96.83% in the Buy Bonus feature. Both figures are above the 96% many players use as a reference. If your casino’s version lists a different number, that is the one that applies.
Volatility is rated very high, and BGaming’s data shows free spins roughly once every 140 spins. The value of each round depends heavily on the expanding symbol: Bastet or the sceptre cat can produce large results from two copies, while a royal needs three and pays far less.
Worked Example: Winline Expanding
At a A$1 stake the line bet is A$0.10. A line of four masks on reels 1 to 4 pays 50x the line bet, A$5. If the open cell on reel 6 shows a mask but reel 5 does not continue the line, nothing changes, because wins must be on consecutive reels. If reel 5 also shows a mask, the line is five of a kind at 375x (A$37.50), and the matching mask on reel 6 then expands to make it six of a kind at 1,000x the line bet, A$100.
Gamble Round
After a base game win you can enter the risk game and guess the colour (x2) or suit (x4) of a face-down card. A wrong guess forfeits the amount at stake, and the gamble is capped at a quarter of the maximum win. It does not change the long-run RTP.
Bankroll Tips for Book of Cats
- Plan for at least 300 spins; free spins average about 1 in 140 spins with long gaps possible.
- A Buy Bonus costs 97x; at A$1 that is A$97 per round of 10 spins.
- The expanding symbol is random, so equal-priced rounds can return very different amounts.
- Use the card gamble sparingly; it adds risk without improving the RTP.
- Set deposit, loss and time limits before you start.
Pros and Cons of Book of Cats
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 96.99% RTP | Very high volatility |
| Sixth reel adds six-of-a-kind payouts | Reel 6 mostly locked in the base game |
| Winline Expanding can extend base game wins | Royal expanding symbols pay little |
| 8,202x maximum win | Only one expanding symbol per round |
| Bonus buy at 97x | Buy Bonus RTP slightly lower (96.83%) |
Demo Play vs Real Money
BGaming’s official demo is a fun-money version, with bets from 0.10 to 10 and the Buy Bonus enabled. It is the quickest way to see how often the reel 6 cell matches a winning line and how different expanding symbols change the size of a free spins round. Real-money limits and buy availability depend on the casino.
For real-money play, pick a casino that shows the RTP in the game info, processes verified withdrawals promptly and offers deposit limits and time-outs. Our casino reviews compare these points.
Frequently Asked Questions
The game rules state 96.99% for regular play and 96.83% for the Buy Bonus.
In the base game reel 6 is locked except for its middle cell. If that cell shows the same symbol as a winning line, it expands to fill reel 6 and extends the win. In free spins the whole reel is unlocked.
The symbol showing in the open cell on reel 6 when free spins trigger becomes the expanding symbol for the round. The Golden Book cannot be chosen.
Three or more Golden Books award 10 free spins. More can be won during the round, with no limit on retriggers.
BGaming lists the maximum win as 8,202x the bet.
The Buy Bonus costs 97x the bet in the demo (9.70 at a 0.10 stake).
Responsible Gaming Note
Book of Cats is a very high volatility game of chance and every result comes from a certified random number generator. Only play if you are 18 or older, set a budget and a time limit before starting, and stop when you reach either. If gambling is causing harm, contact Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 for free, confidential support 24/7.
Final Verdict
Book of Cats keeps the standard book formula but adds a sixth reel that works in both modes: a single open cell that can extend base game wins and a fully unlocked reel in free spins. With a 96.99% RTP, an 8,202x cap and a 97x bonus buy, it is a high-variance option where the choice of expanding symbol decides most rounds. Test it in the official demo, confirm the RTP at your casino and size stakes for long gaps between bonuses.
