Book Of Ra
What is Book of Ra?
Book of Ra is a classic Novomatic slot that became especially well known in Germany through land-based casinos and Spielotheken before moving online. It first appeared in 2005 and is still one of the best-known Egyptian-themed slots on the market.
The game follows an explorer searching for ancient treasures inside a pharaoh’s tomb. The theme is simple and familiar: hieroglyphs, relics, dark chambers, and a retro slot style that many players recognise from the original machines.
Greentube, Novomatic’s online division, later brought the game to desktop and mobile. The digital version keeps the feel of the original slot rather than trying to turn it into a modern, feature-heavy game.
How the Symbols and Payouts Work
The Book symbol is the key to Book of Ra. It works as both a Wild and a Scatter, so it can replace regular symbols on a payline and also trigger a separate payout when three or more appear anywhere on the reels.
Wins are paid from left to right on active paylines. Premium symbols can pay with just two matching symbols, while the card symbols need three or more. In simple terms, the pay order runs like this:
- Explorer: highest-paying symbol, up to 5,000x your total stake for five on a payline
- Pharaoh (Sarcophagus): high-value symbol
- Goddess Statue (Isis): high-value symbol
- Scarab: medium-value symbol
- 10, J, Q, K, A: lower-value symbols, paying from three of a kind
After a regular win, some versions of the game offer a Gamble feature. It’s a red-or-black card guess: if you’re right, your win doubles; if you’re wrong, you lose that win. You can usually repeat it up to five times in a row, but only if the game version and operator allow it.
The Free Spins Bonus and Expanding Symbols
Landing three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels triggers 10 free spins. The Book symbol also acts as the Scatter: three Books pay 2x your total bet, four pay 20x, and five pay 200x. Before the bonus starts, the game randomly picks one regular symbol to become the special expanding symbol.
When that symbol helps form a winning combination, it expands to fill the full reel. The win is then paid across all active paylines, even if the symbols are not on neighbouring reels. If the chosen symbol appears on reels one, three, and five, you get the three-of-a-kind payout on every active line. The free spins round can also be retriggered by landing three or more Book symbols during the bonus.
Comparing the Different Game Versions
The main Book of Ra games all follow the same basic idea, but later releases improve the graphics, tweak the payline setup, and add small bonus changes. Novomatic, through Greentube, has released several versions as the game moved online.
Main Editions Available
| Version | Reels | Paylines | RTP | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic (2005) | 5 | 9 | 92.13% | Original version with the old-style graphics and sound. |
| Deluxe (2008) | 5 | 10 | 95.10% | Updated visuals, one extra payline, and a better RTP than Classic. |
| Deluxe 6 | 5–6 | 10 | 95.03% | Optional Extra Bet adds a sixth reel and doubles the stake. |
| Magic (2018) | 5 | 10 | 95.10% | Free spins can retrigger and add more expanding symbols. |
For most online players, Deluxe is the standard version to look for. Classic is the older cabinet-style release and has the lowest RTP. Deluxe 6 changes the base game more noticeably because the Extra Bet unlocks a sixth reel. Magic keeps the familiar five-reel layout but makes the bonus round more flexible through retriggers.
Legal Online Play for German Players
You can play Book of Ra legally in Germany at online casinos licensed by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). This is the joint gambling authority of the German states, and it regulates the market under the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 (GlüStV 2021).
GGL-licensed casinos must follow strict player-protection rules, so the game is a bit different from versions offered on international sites:
- Spin delay: There’s a mandatory five-second pause between spins.
- Stake limit: Online slots are capped at €1 per spin.
- Deposit limit: Players are subject to a €1,000 monthly deposit cap across all licensed German operators, tracked through the LUGAS system.
- Autoplay and jackpots: Autoplay is not allowed, and progressive jackpots are not offered for online slots.
- Self-exclusion: Players are registered in the OASIS self-exclusion database.
In practice, this means the German-licensed version of Book of Ra plays more slowly and with lower stakes than versions you may see on internationally licensed platforms.
Alternative Slots with Similar Mechanics
If you like Book of Ra, the closest alternative is usually Play'n GO’s Book of Dead. It uses a similar free spins feature with an expanding symbol on a 5-reel, 10-payline layout and has an RTP of 96.21%.
- Book of Dead (Play'n GO): 5 reels, 10 paylines, 96.21% RTP. The best-known modern “Book of” style slot.
- Book of Pyramids (BGaming): 5 reels, 9 paylines, with up to 33 free spins and expanding symbols.
- Book of Ra – Temple of Gold (Novomatic): A newer Novomatic title with a different theme and a maximum win of up to 5,000x.
Volatility and Bankroll Management
Book of Ra is a high-volatility slot, so wins can be less frequent but larger when they do land. RTP also depends on the version: it’s about 92.13% for Classic and around 95.10% for Deluxe and Magic editions. If your casino offers more than one version, it’s worth checking the exact game first.
That volatility means dry spells are normal. Keep your bet size modest so your balance can handle a longer run without wins. For German players, the €1 per spin cap also makes session length and deposit planning especially important.
The game uses a certified random number generator, so each spin is independent. There are no hot or cold streaks you can rely on. A simple limit on time and spending is usually the safest way to approach it.