Book Of Ra
The legacy of Book of Ra in Germany
Book of Ra started in physical German Spielhallen before moving online under the Greentube brand. When Greentube, Novomatic's digital division, released the online version in 2005, it kept the same symbols, sounds and core mechanics that arcade players already knew.
That direct carry-over made the transition seamless. Many German players still recognise the Egyptian theme and the distinctive "book flip" sound from their local arcade days. Older players who spent evenings in Spielhallen see the online version as the same machine they once fed coins into. Younger players discover it through friends or family who treat it as a classic.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Greentube (Novomatic) |
| Release Year | 2005 |
| Grid Layout | 5 reels × 3 rows |
| Paylines | 9 (adjustable) |
| RTP | 92.13% |
| Volatility | High |
| Maximum Win | 5,000× stake |
| Free Spins | 10 with expanding symbol |
| Wild & Scatter | Book of Ra (both) |
| Gamble Feature | Yes (red/black card guess) |
| Official Website | booksof-ra.de |
Understanding the symbols and paylines
Book of Ra uses a 5×3 grid with up to 9 adjustable paylines. You choose how many lines to activate before each spin, which affects both cost and winning chances.
Symbol values
Card symbols (10 through Ace) make up the lower end of the paytable and pay from three of a kind on a line. The premium symbols — the adventurer, pharaoh, scarab and Statue of Isis — pay from just two of a kind. The adventurer is the highest-paying symbol, worth up to 5,000× the line bet for five on a payline.
The Book of Ra itself acts as both wild and scatter. Three or more Books anywhere on the reels trigger the free spins feature. All wins pay left to right on active paylines.
The Gamble feature
After any win, you can gamble by guessing the colour of a face-down card. A correct guess doubles your win, and you can repeat up to five times. Guess wrong and the entire win is lost.
How the free spins bonus works
The free spins bonus triggers when three or more Book of Ra scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels. Three Books also pay 2× the total bet as a scatter payout, four pay 20×, and five pay 200×.
The expanding symbol
At the start of the feature, the game randomly selects one regular symbol to become the expanding symbol for all ten free spins. This can be any icon — from low-value playing cards to the high-value explorer or pharaoh.
Whenever the chosen symbol appears during free spins, it expands to fill its entire reel. These expanded symbols pay across all active paylines, even if they're not on adjacent reels. The symbol effectively acts like a scatter for the duration of the feature.
What to expect
This feature is highly volatile. Most free spin rounds return modest or even zero payouts, because everything depends on which symbol is selected and how often it lands. When things line up, though, a single round can pay several hundred times the stake.
If three or more Books appear again during the feature, ten additional free spins are awarded. The same expanding symbol stays in place for any retriggered spins.
Pros and cons of the game
Book of Ra holds iconic status among German players. Many remember it from the arcades and appreciate its simple, no-nonsense approach. Its high volatility cuts both ways — long dry spells followed by big hits during free spins. That suits players who accept risk, but it's not for everyone.
The visuals look dated compared to modern slots, and the RTP sits noticeably below today's average.
Pros
- Maximum win of 5,000× stake from expanding symbols during free spins
- Strong brand recognition in Germany, rooted in Spielhalle history
- Straightforward gameplay — the Book symbol acts as both wild and scatter
Cons
- RTP of 92.13% — well below the modern average of around 96%
- High volatility means long stretches without payouts
- Dated graphics and sound compared to current slots
Which version of Book of Ra should you play?
The original Book of Ra and its successors differ in ways that affect how the game feels and pays. Book of Ra Deluxe keeps the same 5×3 grid but raises the paylines from 9 to 10, improves the graphics, and offers a noticeably higher RTP. Book of Ra Deluxe 6 adds a sixth reel with an optional Extra Bet feature, increasing win potential further. Book of Ra Magic adds stacking expanding symbols on retrigger — each retrigger selects a new expanding symbol, making its free spins considerably more powerful.
| Version | Reels | Paylines | RTP | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 5 | 9 | 92.13% | Original expanding symbol mechanic |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 5 | 10 | 95.10% | Improved graphics, higher RTP |
| Book of Ra Deluxe 6 | 6 | 10 | 96.06% | Optional sixth reel via Extra Bet |
| Book of Ra Magic | 5 | 10 | ~96% | Retrigger adds new expanding symbols (up to 9) |
RTP values can vary slightly depending on the operator, so check the exact figure in the game info before you play.
Most German players go with Book of Ra Deluxe for its balance of familiarity and better RTP. The Classic version still appeals to those who want the exact game they remember from the Spielhalle.
Other famous slots by Novomatic
Novomatic has several other slots that share Book of Ra's formula: high volatility, simple rules, and sharp risk-reward cycles.
Lucky Lady's Charm Deluxe
One of the most played Novomatic slots in Germany. It uses a 5×3 grid with 10 paylines. The crystal ball scatter triggers 15 free spins with a 3× multiplier, and the Lucky Lady wild doubles any win she completes. Like Book of Ra, wins are rare but can hit hard.
Sizzling Hot
A pure fruit-machine slot stripped back to basics. Its high variance mirrors the tension players know from Book of Ra, just with retro fruit symbols instead of Egyptian themes.
Other titles worth knowing
Dolphin's Pearl Deluxe, Lord of the Ocean and Just Jewels Deluxe all follow the same Novomatic pattern: few rules, long dry spells, and sudden big wins. Book of Dead by Play'n GO is also a natural alternative — it was directly inspired by Book of Ra and uses identical expanding-symbol free spins, making it the closest non-Novomatic equivalent.
How to play legally at German online casinos
To play Book of Ra online in Germany, you need a casino licensed by the GGL (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder). Only GGL-approved operators are allowed to offer the game. You can check the GGL's public whitelist before signing up or depositing.
All licensed sites are connected to two central systems. OASIS is the national self-exclusion register — if you exclude yourself, every licensed operator must block your access. LUGAS tracks deposits and limits across all licensed platforms in real time, enforcing the mandatory €1,000 monthly deposit cap. Together, these systems stop players from bypassing restrictions by switching casinos.
Bet limit and spin rules
Under the GlüStV 2021, the maximum stake on any online slot is €1 per spin. There's also a mandatory five-second pause between spins, and autoplay is completely disabled. These rules apply to every GGL-licensed casino without exception.
Both limits were introduced to slow down play. They noticeably change how Book of Ra feels compared with the unrestricted versions once found in German arcades.