Book Of Ra
What is Book of Ra?
Book of Ra is an Egyptian-themed video slot released by Novomatic in 2005. The online version is developed and distributed by Greentube, Novomatic's interactive division.
The game holds a distinctive place in the German market. Long before online casinos were regulated, it was a fixture in Spielotheken across the country. That land-based popularity meant a large player base followed the game online when it made the transition.
The premise sends an explorer into ancient Egyptian tombs in search of a mythical artifact. The visuals reflect its early 2000s origins, but the game established the "book slot" genre that still shapes European casino lobbies today.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic / Greentube |
| Release Year | 2005 |
| Theme | Ancient Egypt |
| Grid Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | 9 (Classic) / 10 (Deluxe) |
| Volatility | High |
| Official Website | https://booksof-ra.de/ |
Who Makes Book of Ra?
Book of Ra was created by Novomatic, the Austrian developer behind countless slot cabinets in land-based venues across Germany and Europe. Its interactive division, Greentube, handles the online version — porting the original game logic to digital platforms and supplying the software directly to licensed casino sites.
When you play Book of Ra online, the software loads from Greentube's servers. That means the random number generator, symbol weightings, and core mechanics match the original cabinet version.
How the Game Works
Book of Ra uses a five-reel, three-row grid. You choose how many paylines to activate before each spin — up to nine in the Classic version, ten in Deluxe. Wins pay left to right, starting from the first reel.
The Book symbol is the key to the game. It works as both a wild (substituting for any other symbol) and a scatter (triggering the bonus round when three or more land anywhere on screen).
The Free Spins Feature
Three or more Book symbols award ten free spins. Before the round starts, one regular symbol is randomly chosen as the special expanding symbol.
When that symbol appears during free spins, it expands to fill its entire reel. Expanded symbols pay across active paylines even if they don't appear on adjacent reels — so landing them on reels one, three, and five can still produce a full payout.
Symbols and Paytable
The explorer is the highest-paying regular symbol. The remaining picture symbols—pharaoh sarcophagus, Horus statue, and scarab beetle—round out the high-value tier. You only need two of these premium symbols on a line to trigger a win.
Lower-value symbols are the standard playing cards: 10, J, Q, K, and A. They appear often but pay less, and you'll need at least three matching from left to right.
The Book Symbol
The Book of Ra serves as both wild and scatter. As a wild, it substitutes for all regular symbols to complete winning combinations. As a scatter, three or more Books anywhere on the reels award a payout based on your total bet.
| Symbol Category | Symbols | Minimum to Win |
|---|---|---|
| Top Tier | Explorer | 2 |
| High Value | Pharaoh Sarcophagus, Horus Statue, Scarab | 2 |
| Low Value | A, K, Q, J, 10 | 3 |
| Special | Book of Ra (Wild/Scatter) | 3 (scatter payout) |
RTP and Volatility
Book of Ra combines high volatility with an RTP that varies by version and casino.
Return to Player (RTP)
RTP is the theoretical percentage of wagered money a game pays back over time. The exact figure depends on which edition you play. International online versions generally offer better returns than German arcade cabinets, but the regulated German online market applies a 5.3% tax on stakes, which directly lowers the effective RTP.
| Game Version | International RTP | German RTP (after tax) |
|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 92.13% | ~88–90% |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 95.10% | ~88–90% |
Casinos can adjust these figures within certified limits, so it's worth checking the payout table in your specific casino before playing.
High Volatility Gameplay
Book of Ra is a high-volatility slot. You'll often go through long stretches with no meaningful returns. When wins do land, they tend to be larger — but the dry spells in between mean your balance can drop quickly. Stake sizing matters if you want your session to last.
The Gamble Feature
After any winning spin, you can choose to gamble your payout. A face-down card appears, and you guess whether it's red or black. Get it right and your win doubles. Get it wrong and you lose the entire payout from that round.
Book of Ra Versions Compared
The Book of Ra series includes several variants, but the core gameplay stays the same. The Deluxe version is the standard for most players — updated graphics and ten paylines instead of the Classic's nine.
Deluxe 6 adds an optional sixth reel for higher volatility. Activating it costs an extra bet but allows six-of-a-kind combinations. Book of Ra Magic changes the free spins round: each retrigger selects an additional expanding symbol, so you can eventually have up to nine active at once.
| Version | Reels | Paylines | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 5 | 9 | Original graphics and mechanics. |
| Deluxe | 5 | 10 | Modern visuals, standard ten-line setup. |
| Magic | 5 | 10 | Retriggers unlock multiple expanding symbols. |
| Deluxe 6 | 6 | 10 | Optional sixth reel for larger combinations. |
| Jackpot Edition | 5 | 10 | Multi-tier jackpot (restricted under German regulations). |
RTP varies by operator and version. Check the game info panel at your chosen casino for the exact payout percentage.
Pros and Cons
Book of Ra is built on solid maths rather than flashy visuals. The mechanics are simple and proven, though the game clearly shows its age next to newer releases.
Strengths
- The free spins round can pay well thanks to the expanding symbol mechanic.
- Easy to understand — no layered bonus systems or complex rules.
- A long-established name with decades of history in both land-based and online casinos.
- Runs smoothly on mobile browsers across screen sizes.
Weaknesses
- Graphics and sound feel dated.
- The Classic version has a lower RTP than the Deluxe update.
- No secondary bonus features beyond the free spins round.
- No autoplay — though that's a German licensing requirement, not a Book of Ra limitation.
Other Novomatic Slots Worth Knowing
If you enjoy Novomatic's style, several other titles are available at German-licensed casinos with a similar feel:
- Lucky Lady's Charm: High-volatility slot with a fortune-telling theme.
- Sizzling Hot: A simple fruit machine with no bonus rounds — base-game payouts only.
- Dolphin's Pearl: Underwater theme with wild multipliers on a standard five-reel layout.
- Pharaoh's Tomb: Another Egyptian-themed slot, featuring expanding wilds in the base game.
Is Book of Ra Legal in Germany?
Yes. Book of Ra is legal to play online in Germany when you use a casino licensed under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). The regulatory authority, the GGL, maintains a public whitelist of approved operators — if a casino is on that list, it's legally allowed to offer real-money slots.
That said, German-licensed casinos come with a few restrictions that apply to all slots, not just Book of Ra:
- Monthly deposit cap: €1,000 across all licensed operators, enforced centrally through the LUGAS system.
- Spin intervals: A mandatory five-second pause between spins.
- No autoplay: You must trigger each spin manually.
- No progressive jackpots: Only fixed-payout versions of the game are available.
Where to Play Book of Ra in Germany
Book of Ra is only available at online casinos licensed by the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL). Here are some regulated German casinos currently offering the game with authentic Greentube software:
| Casino | Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|
| Novoline | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins |
| StarGames | 100 Free Spins + up to €100 Cashback |
| JackpotPiraten | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins |
| BingBong | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins |
Before you register, it's worth checking a few things:
- GGL license: Look for the GGL logo and license number in the casino's footer, and cross-check the operator on the official GGL whitelist.
- Authentic software: Open the slot's info panel and confirm it's made by Greentube or Novomatic.
If you want to try the game in demo mode first, you'll still need to create an account. Licensed German platforms require full age verification before granting access, even for play money.
Playing Book of Ra on Mobile
Book of Ra runs directly in your mobile browser via HTML5 — no download needed. Just open the game at any GGL-licensed casino using Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. Some operators also offer dedicated iOS and Android apps.
Mobile Interface and Controls
The screen layout adapts automatically to portrait or landscape mode. Touch controls replace desktop menus, with spin and bet buttons positioned at the screen edges for easy thumb access.
The RTP is the same on mobile as on desktop. That said, the exact percentage still depends on the casino operator, so it's worth checking the in-game rules before you start.