Book Of Ra
What is Book of Ra?
Book of Ra is an Egyptian-themed video slot developed by Novomatic, one of the most recognised names in European casino gaming. It's built around the mythology of ancient Egypt — pharaohs, scarabs, explorers — and uses that setting as the frame for a straightforward slot that has remained popular since its original land-based release in 2005.
The game isn't complex. It runs on a classic reel structure with adjustable paylines, a single bonus feature, and a paytable that rewards patience over volume. That simplicity is a large part of why it's lasted as long as it has.
| Book of Ra — Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic / Greentube |
| Grid | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | 9 (Classic) / 10 (Deluxe) — adjustable |
| Volatility | High |
| RTP | 92.13%–95.10% (varies by operator) |
| Max Win | Up to 5,000× total stake |
| Official Website | booksof-ra.de |
This guide covers how the game works, which versions exist, and how to access it legally if you're based in Germany.
Who made Book of Ra?
Book of Ra was created by Novomatic, an Austrian gaming company founded in 1980 that made its name supplying physical slot machines to casinos and arcades across Europe. The game launched as a cabinet slot in the early 2000s and became a fixture in German gaming halls before it ever appeared online.
The online version is developed and distributed by Greentube, Novomatic's digital division. When you see Book of Ra at a licensed online casino, Greentube is the software provider behind it — not the casino itself.
That land-based origin matters. The game's mechanics, pacing and visual style were designed for physical machines first, and the online release kept that structure largely intact.
How Book of Ra works
Book of Ra uses a 5-reel, 3-row grid. Unlike many modern slots with fixed ways to win, you can adjust the number of active paylines — up to 9 in the Classic version, up to 10 in Deluxe.
Winning combinations count from left to right, starting from reel 1. Matching symbols must land on consecutive reels along an active payline. Longer runs pay more.
Stake controls
Before each spin you set a coin value and the number of active lines. Your total stake is the line bet multiplied by the number of active lines. On licensed German platforms, the legal maximum is €1.00 per spin.
Gamble feature
After any paid win, you can optionally gamble the result by guessing the colour of a hidden card — red or black. A correct guess doubles the win; a wrong guess loses it.
Symbols and paytable
Book of Ra uses nine symbols: four high-value character symbols and five lower-value card ranks (10, J, Q, K, A). Payouts are based on matching symbols landing left to right on an active payline, starting from the leftmost reel. All values in the paytable are multipliers of the line bet, not the total stake.
High-value symbols
The Explorer is the top-paying symbol at 5,000× your line bet for five of a kind. The Pharaoh pays 2,000×, while the Isis Statue and Scarab Beetle both return 750× for five. The Book of Ra itself acts as both wild and scatter — it substitutes for any other symbol and pays regardless of position when three or more appear.
Low-value symbols
The card ranks pay out more often but at much smaller multiples. Five Aces or Kings, for example, return 150× the line bet — a fraction of what the character symbols offer.
Free spins and the expanding symbol
Land three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels and you trigger 10 free spins. Before the round begins, one symbol is randomly selected from the full paytable — this becomes the special expanding symbol for the entire session.
How the expanding symbol works
When the chosen symbol appears enough times during free spins, it expands to fill the entire reel. Unlike normal wins, expanded symbols don't need to land in consecutive positions from left to right — they pay across all active paylines on every reel they cover. A single spin can produce multiple full-reel stacks paying at once.
Which symbol gets selected matters a lot. If it's a high-value symbol like the Explorer or Pharaoh, individual wins are larger but expansions happen less often. A card symbol expands more frequently but pays less per hit.
Retriggering free spins
Three or more Books during the free spin round add another 10 spins, with no cap on retriggers. The expanding symbol stays the same throughout. Your bet size and active paylines are locked at whatever was set when the bonus triggered.
Which Book of Ra version should you choose?
Several Book of Ra variants are available on licensed German sites, and the differences between them are worth knowing.
Book of Ra Deluxe
The version most players encounter first. Deluxe expanded the original's 9 paylines to 10 and improved the graphics while keeping the core mechanics intact. If you're new to the series, start here.
Book of Ra Classic
The original 9-line version. It looks dated, but the gameplay is structurally identical to Deluxe — same symbols, same free spin mechanic. The choice between them is mostly aesthetic.
Book of Ra Deluxe 6
Adds an optional sixth reel to the standard 5×3 grid, which doubles your stake when activated. The extra reel changes how often the expanding symbol covers a meaningful portion of the screen. It plays differently enough to treat as its own game.
Book of Ra Magic
The key change here is in the free spins round: each retrigger activates an additional expanding symbol, up to a maximum of nine. That makes the bonus round significantly more volatile than standard Deluxe.
Check which versions are available on your chosen platform before playing — not every licensed site carries the full range.
RTP, volatility and max win
Book of Ra is a high-volatility slot. That's the single most important thing to understand before playing — not the RTP or the max win, but the fact that this game is built around infrequent, larger payouts rather than steady returns.
RTP
Book of Ra Deluxe is commonly cited at around 95.10% RTP, but the actual figure depends on the version and how the operator has configured it. In the regulated German market, RTPs are often adjusted to around 90–92% due to local tax structures. If it matters to you, check the game's info panel directly — that's the only reliable source.
Volatility
High volatility means long dry stretches are normal. Base game wins tend to be small, and most of the real payout potential sits in the free spin feature. Expect variance, not steady drip-feed returns.
Max win
In Book of Ra Deluxe, a full screen of Explorer symbols during free spins can pay up to 5,000x your total bet. Any max win figure you see quoted online is version-specific and operator-dependent.
Book of Ra on mobile
Book of Ra runs in the browser on Android and iOS without needing a download. Licensed German casino sites deliver the game through HTML5, so you load it like any other web page — no app, no plugin.
The layout adjusts to portrait and landscape orientation. Controls are large enough to tap without zooming, and the full interface is present on smaller screens.
App availability
There's no standalone real-money Book of Ra app on Google Play or the App Store. Some casinos include the game within their own branded app, but availability depends on the operator.
Performance
The game isn't graphically demanding, so it loads quickly on 4G or 5G and runs smoothly on mid-range devices. The feature set matches the desktop version exactly — free spins, expanding symbols, and stake ranges are all the same.
Is Book of Ra Legal in Germany?
Yes — but only through operators licensed under the German Interstate Treaty on Gambling (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021). The regulator is the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL), which maintains a public whitelist of licensed operators. If a site isn't on that list, it's not legal in Germany.
Licensed slots come with specific restrictions: a €1.00 maximum stake per spin, a five-second minimum between spins, a €1,000 monthly deposit limit across all licensed operators, and no autoplay.
How to choose a legal casino for Book of Ra
The licence is the first thing to check — not the welcome offer. Any operator legally serving German players must hold a valid licence from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). That licence number should be visible on the casino's website, usually in the footer.
Licensed German casinos offering Book of Ra
| Casino | GGL Licensed | Welcome Bonus | Book of Ra Versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| StarGames | Yes | 100 Free Spins + up to €100 Cashback | Classic, Deluxe, Magic, Deluxe 6 |
| Novoline | Yes | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins | Classic, Deluxe, Magic |
| JackpotPiraten | Yes | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins | Classic, Deluxe |
What to verify before you register
- Licence: Confirm the GGL licence is displayed and cross-check it on the regulator's public whitelist.
- Provider name: Book of Ra should be credited to Greentube or Novomatic in the game info panel. If it isn't, treat that as a red flag.
- Stake limits: German regulations cap stakes at €1 per spin. Make sure this is enforced in the actual game, not just mentioned in the terms.
- Terms clarity: Withdrawal conditions, bonus wagering requirements and responsible gambling tools should be easy to find and clearly written.
- Support access: A licensed operator must offer accessible customer support. It's worth testing the chat or contact form before you deposit.
Once inside the casino, check that the Book of Ra version you're playing shows correct RTP information in the game's help section. Set your deposit and session limits before you start playing.
Games like Book of Ra
If you enjoy Book of Ra, these slots share similar themes, structures, or bonus mechanics — making them natural alternatives rather than random picks.
- Book of Dead (Play'n GO) — The closest match. Same expanding symbol mechanic in free spins, similar Egyptian theme, 5×3 layout. The bonus logic is nearly identical. Widely available on German-licensed sites.
- Legacy of Dead (Play'n GO) — Higher volatility than Book of Dead. Retriggering free spins unlocks an additional expanding symbol, similar to Book of Ra Magic.
- Lord of the Ocean (Novomatic) — Same studio, same 10-payline structure and expanding symbol free spins, but with a Greek mythology theme instead of Egypt.
- Faust (Novomatic) — Another Novomatic classic. The math model and expanding symbol bonus mirror Book of Ra Deluxe, wrapped in a German literary theme.
- Eye of Horus (Merkur / Blueprint) — A German-market favourite. Uses a symbol upgrade mechanic in free spins rather than expanding symbols, but the high volatility and Egyptian arcade feel make it a natural competitor.
Each has its own paytable and RTP. Check availability on your chosen licensed operator, as not every title is accessible in Germany.
Book of Ra FAQs
Can I play Book of Ra for free?
Yes, but only after registering and verifying your account with a licensed operator. German law requires age and identity checks before you can access demo modes.
What are the stake limits?
German law caps stakes at €1.00 per spin on all licensed platforms. Minimum bets typically start at €0.01 or €0.10, depending on how many paylines you activate.
Is autoplay available?
No. Autoplay is prohibited under German gambling regulation. Every spin must be triggered manually, with a mandatory five-second pause between spins.
Does the game play the same on mobile?
Yes. The layout adjusts automatically in your browser, and no separate app is needed on most licensed sites.
Which variants are available in Germany?
Book of Ra Classic and Book of Ra Deluxe are the most widely offered. Other variants like Magic or Deluxe 6 appear on some sites but not all.
Does RTP change depending on where I play?
It can. Operators may run different RTP configurations of the same game. The figure shown in the paytable or game info panel on your platform is the one that applies to your session.