Book Of Ra Slot
What Makes Book of Ra So Special?
| Main Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic / Greentube |
| First Release (land-based) | 2004 |
| Online Launch | 2005 (Classic version) |
| Reels / Paylines | 5 reels, up to 9 adjustable paylines |
| RTP | ≈ 92.13 % (Classic online) |
| Volatility | High |
| Top Jackpot | 5,000× stake for 5 Explorer symbols on a payline |
| Bonus Feature | 10 Free Spins with random expanding symbol |
| Special Symbol | Book (acts as Wild + Scatter) |
Book of Ra isn’t just another Egypt slot. When Novomatic brought it to German Spielhallen and then online, you got a straight shot of adventure. The explorer, golden scarabs, and that mysterious Book pull you into a world of hieroglyphs, a tense soundtrack, and fast spins that feel like a chase scene. It’s lean, clear, and built around one idea that keeps paying off.
The Book symbol
You only need the Book to feel the difference. It’s wild and scatter in one, so it can complete wins and kick off the bonus. Hit 3, 4, or 5 Books anywhere and you pocket 2×, 20×, or 200× your total bet. At the same time you unlock 10 free spins, which is where the slot really opens up.
Expanding Free Spins
Before free spins start, a random symbol from the paytable is picked to expand, except the Book. Whenever that symbol lands in the bonus, it grows to fill its reel. It then pays on any line, even when symbols don’t sit next to each other. That’s the route to the headline hit of up to 5,000× per spin with the Explorer.
Why it clicked in Germany
You get high volatility, nine adjustable lines, and clear rules you grasp in seconds. One hot stretch of free spins can turn into a four or five figure payout, yet the game stays classic arcade at heart. Simple setup, sharp theme, real swings. That’s why Book of Ra became a cult favorite across Germany.
How to Play Book of Ra
Getting started
You step into ancient Egypt on a classic 5 × 3 grid. In the original Book of Ra you can activate 1–9 paylines, while Book of Ra Deluxe gives you up to 10. Wins land when three to five matching symbols hit on an active line, or just two for premium icons, counting from the leftmost reel.
Set up your bet
- Set your stake: Adjust the coin value from €0.01 to €5.00.
- Choose lines: Pick how many paylines to enable. Each line multiplies your total bet.
- Spin: Hit Start or Autoplay* and watch the reels go.
- Optional Gamble: After any win you can try the card-guess gamble for a 50/50 shot to double or lose your payout, up to €140,000.
*Autoplay is disabled for players located in Germany under GlüStV 2021 regulations.
The Book symbol
The golden Book of Ra does double duty as wild and scatter. As a wild it substitutes for any symbol to complete winning lines. As a scatter, three, four, or five books anywhere pay 10 free spins plus an instant 2×, 20×, or 200× your total bet.
Free spins and expanding symbols
Triggering the feature gives you 10 free spins. Before they start, one regular symbol is randomly chosen as a special expanding symbol.
- When it lands, it expands to cover the entire reel after line wins are paid.
- Expanded wins pay on all lines even when symbols are not adjacent.
- Hit three or more Books during free spins to retrigger 10 extra spins with the same expanding symbol. There is no stated limit to retriggers.
A five-of-a-kind Explorer during free spins can deliver up to 5,000× the line bet.
Book of Ra Versions You Can Play
| Version | Reels / Paylines | Main Twist | Max Win (x stake) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 5 / 9 | Original graphics and sound; simple free-games feature with 1 expanding symbol | 5,000x |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 5 / 10 | Sharper HD visuals, larger symbols, +1 additional payline | 5,000x |
| Book of Ra Deluxe 6 | 6 / 10 | Optional 6th reel doubles total bet; bigger line wins possible | 7,500x |
| Book of Ra Magic | 5 / 10 | Up to 9 expanding symbols during free spins | 5,000x |
| Temple of Gold, Jackpot etc. | 5 / 10-30 | Fixed or progressive jackpots, extra pick-and-win bonus rounds | Varies |
Book of Ra Classic
You want the original feel The Classic runs on 5 reels and 9 fixed paylines and keeps the pure Egyptian vibe. It is simple to grasp and gets you straight into free games with one expanding symbol. Perfect when you crave stripped back retro play.
Book of Ra Deluxe
You get 10 paylines here plus crisper HD visuals and smoother animations. The audio pulls you deeper into the tomb without losing that old school charm. Many players in Germany like this version because it balances modern polish with familiar gameplay and payouts.
Book of Ra Deluxe 6
Chasing bigger hits Turn on the sixth reel and your total bet doubles. That extra space unlocks stronger line wins and six of a kind combos. Land the Explorer across all six reels and you can hit up to 7,500x your stake. High risk high reward vibes.
Book of Ra Magic and Spin offs
You keep the 10 line setup but the bonus can upgrade fast. During free spins up to nine symbols can become expanding symbols for screen filling wins. Titles like Temple of Gold or Jackpot add fixed or progressive jackpots and pick and win side games for new goals.
Pick your mood retro roots crisp upgrades sixth reel power or jackpot hunts
RTP and Volatility Breakdown
Understanding RTP in Book of Ra
Return to Player, or RTP, is the long term share of stakes a slot is expected to pay back. Novomatic provides several RTP profiles for every Book of Ra release, and the casino decides which one you get. In Germany, most online sites use mid range settings like the ones below. Treat these as the common setups you will see, not a promise for a short session, because real results swing around that theory.
| Book of Ra Title | Typical Online RTP | Land-Based RTP* |
|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 94.26 % | 92.13 % |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 95.06 % | 94.26 % |
| Book of Ra Deluxe 6 | 95.03 % | 94.26 % |
| Book of Ra Magic | 95.03 % | 94.26 % |
| Book of Ra Jackpot | 95.18 % | 94.26 % |
*RTPs in German arcades and casinos are often lower because of legal payout limits.
Volatility in Book of Ra Slots
Every Book of Ra version is high volatility, so the game likes to save value for streaky bonus bursts rather than steady small pays.
- Long dry spells are common, especially at minimum stakes (e.g., €0.10–€0.20 per spin)
- Payouts can spike in the 10 free games when one random symbol expands to cover reels and pays on any line
- Hit frequency sits around 28–30 %, yet most RTP is packed into the bonus, so results can swing hard
What to Expect When You Play
If you want adrenaline and the chance at a 5,000× stake full screen explorer, Book of Ra delivers. You should also be ready for stretches of 50–150 spins with little back. A sensible plan is a bankroll that covers at least 200 spins, giving you time to reach free games more than once. To nudge your long term expectation, pick a version with the higher RTP when you can, such as Deluxe instead of Classic. The ride stays just as volatile, but the maths tilts a touch in your favor.
Where to Play Book of Ra in Germany
Play Only on GGL-Licensed Sites
If you want to spin Book of Ra legally in Germany, choose a casino on the official Whitelist from the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL). The GGL issues nationwide virtual-slot licences under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüNeuRStV 2021). As of 2024, these brands are authorised to offer Book of Ra and other Novomatic titles to players in Germany:
- DrückGlück.de – SkillOnNet Ltd.
- JackpotPiraten.de – Sächsische Spielbanken GmbH
- MerkurSlots.de – edict Malta Ltd.
- Tipico Games (tipico.de/casino) – Tipico Casino Ltd.
- bwin.de – Entain plc
What Rules Apply
Licensed platforms follow strict player-protection rules: a €1,000 monthly deposit cap, a mandatory 5-second spin interval, and a €1 maximum stake per spin. Deposits and withdrawals use TÜV-certified payment methods and 256-bit SSL encryption for security.
Demo Mode and Mobile
German law allows free-to-play versions only after age verification, but most licensed sites still show a demo button once you log in. The HTML5 edition of Book of Ra Deluxe runs smoothly on iOS, Android, and Windows with no extra software. Prefer apps You’ll find native casino apps from Tipico and DrückGlück in the German App Store and on Google Play.
How to Pick Your Casino
Beyond licensing, compare extras that matter to you. MerkurSlots, for example, offers 100% up to €100 plus 50 free spins. If fast payouts are a priority, Tipico processes PayPal withdrawals within 24 hours. Also look for:
- Transparent bonus wagering requirements, usually 30–35×
- 24/7 German-language live chat and phone support
- Self-exclusion tools like the instant “Panikknopf” 24-hour lockout
Stick to the GGL Whitelist and these checks to play Book of Ra safely for real money or to try the demo.
Winning Strategies and Tips
Manage your bankroll
Set a session budget before you spin and split it into roughly 100–150 bets. Book of Ra hits around 30% in most editions, so cold runs happen. Start small at the minimum bet, usually €0.10 or €0.20, to ride out variance. Only raise stakes after a sizeable win that more than doubles your starting balance. Never chase losses.
Know the bonus round
Land three, four, or five Book symbols to trigger 10 free spins plus a randomly chosen expanding symbol. The Books also pay scatter wins of 2x, 20x, or 200x your total bet. During the feature, the special symbol expands to fill its reel and pays on any position, so paylines don’t matter. Picture symbols—Explorer, Pharaoh, Scarab, Statue—need only 2+ to pay. Card values need 3+ but show up more often, which steadies results.
Make free spins count
- Retriggers: Hit 3+ Books again for another 10 spins, up to a theoretical max of 90 in one bonus.
- Top symbol: Explorer pays 500x for five and can reach roughly 5,000x your stake when expanded across all reels.
- Fast-stop: Stopping the reels yourself won’t change RNG outcomes. Use it only to control pace.
Stay realistic
Volatility is 5/5. You can go a long stretch without a feature, then land a big hit. Every spin is independent. Nothing is “due.”
Gamble option
After any win, you can use the Gamble feature and pick red or black for 2x. Keep it tight—no more than two consecutive gambles—so you don’t bleed back solid wins.
Quick reference
- Budget for 100+ spins.
- Raise stakes only after doubling your balance.
- Stop-loss at 50% of your original bankroll.
- Cash out at 200%–300% of bankroll or after a 500x hit.
Similar Slots Worth Trying
Love the dusty tomb vibe in Book of Ra? You’ve got plenty of close cousins to explore. The picks below keep the familiar book-style thrills, so you can switch games without relearning everything, yet each one adds a twist that feels fresh.
Egyptian Picks
Legacy of Dead by Play’n GO keeps the pharaoh energy high with golden chambers and a special expanding symbol in the bonus. You get 10 free spins and a default RTP of 96.58%, with retriggers that can unlock up to nine expanding symbols for real burst potential. Eye of Horus from Merkur/Blueprint takes a different angle. During the free spins, an expanding wild upgrades the lower symbols step by step, steadily lifting your win potential. Both lean on moody audio and bold visuals to keep that ancient atmosphere alive.
More Fan Favorites
Book of Dead, also by Play’n GO, puts you alongside Rich Wilde and runs a high volatility model similar to Book of Ra Deluxe, paired with a 96.21% RTP. Ramses Book from Gamomat adds extra risk control thanks to a gamble ladder and card gamble after every win, and its 10 free spins can land a random expanding symbol. Prefer a different setting but the same core mechanic? Rise of Merlin swaps pyramids for a wizard’s lair, gives you 10 free spins, and lets you retrigger without a hard cap while stacking multiple expanding symbols.
| Slot Title | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Key Bonus Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.58% | High | 10 FS + expanding symbol, retriggers up to 9 symbols |
| Eye of Horus | Merkur / Blueprint | 96.31% | Med-High | 12 FS with symbol upgrade via expanding wild |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.21% | High | 10 FS + expanding symbol, gamble feature |
| Ramses Book | Gamomat | 96.18% | High | 10 FS + expanding symbol, ladder/card gamble |
| Rise of Merlin | Play’n GO | 96.58% | High | 10 FS, retriggers add extra expanding symbols |
Why These Work
You keep the core book mechanic you know, with extras like symbol upgrades, deep retriggers, or gamble ladders. Easy to learn, different enough to stay interesting