Book Of Ra
What is Book of Ra?
Book of Ra is one of the most recognisable slot machines in Germany. It was a fixture in arcades and land-based casinos long before online gambling went mainstream. Novomatic released the original in 2005, and it quickly became a staple of German gaming floors.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Novomatic / Greentube |
| Release Year | 2005 |
| Reels / Paylines | 5 Reels / 9 Paylines (Classic) |
| Volatility | High |
| Bonus Feature | 10 Free Spins with Expanding Symbol |
| Official Website | https://booksof-ra.de/ |
Book of Ra effectively created an entire genre. The "Book" slot format — where a single symbol acts as both Wild and Scatter and drives the bonus round — has since been copied by dozens of developers, but Novomatic's original remains the reference point. When players talk about Book-style games, they're describing mechanics that trace directly back to this one.
The move to online casinos, handled by Novomatic's digital division Greentube, brought the game to a wider audience without changing what it is. It's the same game, now accessible from a browser.
Symbols and Payouts
Book of Ra uses Egyptian-themed symbols split into two tiers: high-value icons and low-value card symbols.
High-Value Symbols
The Explorer is the most valuable symbol on the reels — five on an active payline pays the highest multiplier in the base game. Below him sit the Pharaoh, the Statue, and the Scarab, which pay well in combinations of two or more from left to right.
The card ranks (10, J, Q, K, A) appear frequently but return smaller amounts. They're filler symbols rather than anything worth chasing.
The Book Symbol
The Book of Ra icon does two jobs. It acts as a Wild, substituting for any other symbol to complete winning combinations. It's also a Scatter — three or more anywhere on the reels trigger the bonus round, regardless of payline position.
That dual role makes the Book the most important symbol in the game. A single Book can complete a line that wouldn't otherwise pay, while three Books open the path to free spins entirely independent of payline logic.
The Free Spins Bonus Feature
The free spins round triggers when three or more Book symbols land anywhere on the reels. You get ten free spins, and before they start, the game randomly picks one symbol to act as a special expanding symbol for the entire round.
That expanding symbol is what makes the bonus worth playing for. If it appears anywhere on a reel during free spins, it stretches to fill the whole reel top to bottom. It also pays regardless of position — you don't need it on adjacent reels from left to right like normal wins. If it covers enough reels (two or more for high-value symbols, three or more for card ranks), you get paid.
This breaks the standard adjacency rule that governs every other win in the game. A single spin where the expanding symbol hits four or five reels can return large multiples of your stake, which is why many players see the bonus as the only moment in Book of Ra that really matters.
Which symbol gets selected is random. The Explorer produces the biggest potential payouts since he's at the top of the paytable. Lower-value symbols like card ranks can also be chosen — when they are, the bonus tends to deliver smaller but more frequent wins rather than one big hit.
Free spins can retrigger if three or more Books land during the round, adding another ten spins with the same expanding symbol.
Comparing the Different Versions
There are three main versions of Book of Ra. Each builds on the last without changing the core mechanics.
Book of Ra Classic
The original runs on 5 reels with 9 paylines. The graphics look dated now, but it's still available at many online casinos and remains the version most German players first encountered in arcades and gaming halls.
Book of Ra Deluxe
Deluxe added a 10th payline and a visual overhaul — sharper symbols, smoother animations, and a presentation closer to what players expect from modern online slots. This is the version you'll find most often at licensed German operators today.
Book of Ra Deluxe 6
Deluxe 6 extends the grid to 6 reels, giving the expanding symbol more positions to cover during free spins. That's the only structural change that meaningfully affects how the bonus plays out.
Across all three, the volatility and the expanding symbol mechanic stay the same. The choice between versions comes down to visual preference, reel count, and RTP — which ranges from around 92% in land-based cabinets up to roughly 95–95.5% for online Deluxe versions.
Where to Play and How to Open a Casino Account
Under German gambling law (Glücksspielstaatsvertrag), you should only play at casinos licensed by the GGL (Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder). Here are some GGL-licensed operators that offer Book of Ra:
| Casino | Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|
| Novoline | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins |
| StarGames | 100% up to €100 + 100 Free Spins |
| BingBong | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins |
| JackpotPiraten | 100% up to €100 + 50 Free Spins |
All German-licensed casinos require identity verification before you can withdraw, so use your real details from the start.
Registration Steps
- Enter your name, date of birth, address, and email exactly as they appear on your official ID.
- Create a username and password, then confirm your email via the verification link.
- Upload a valid photo ID (passport or national ID card) and proof of address (e.g. a utility bill or bank statement from the last three months).
- Wait for the operator to approve your documents — this usually takes a few hours to two business days.
KYC and German Regulations
German-licensed operators must run Know Your Customer checks on every account. They also enforce a €1,000 monthly deposit limit across all platforms, a €1 maximum stake per spin, and a mandatory 5-second pause between spins. If your registration details don't match your ID documents, withdrawals can be blocked until the issue is resolved.
Some casinos also ask for proof of your payment method. Providing this early speeds things up. Make sure everything — name, address, spelling — matches your ID exactly.
Playing on Mobile Devices
Book of Ra runs directly in your mobile browser — no app needed. It uses HTML5, so just open your casino site in Safari or Chrome and play from there.
The interface adjusts to smaller screens automatically. Controls are touch-friendly, and the layout keeps the playing area clear. Bet settings and the paytable are still easy to reach. Both portrait and landscape work, though landscape gives you a better view of all five reels.
Performance is stable on most modern devices. Older phones may stutter slightly during free spins animations, but it doesn't affect gameplay.
Book of Ra vs. Popular Crash Games
Crash games like Aviator and Big Bass Crash work very differently to traditional slots. Instead of spinning reels, you watch a multiplier rise in real time and must cash out before the round crashes. If you don't, you lose your stake. Rounds last seconds, and every one involves an active decision.
Book of Ra is high-volatility — long dry stretches followed by concentrated payouts in the bonus round. Crash games spread the tension more evenly: every round carries the same risk, and the timing of your cash-out is entirely up to you.
Neither format is objectively better. Crash games suit players who want short, interactive sessions. Book of Ra suits players willing to wait for a big free spins run.
Understanding Volatility and RTP
Book of Ra is a high-variance slot. You can go through long stretches without a meaningful win, but the bonus round — especially with a strong expanding symbol — can pay out significantly when it lands.
That matters for bankroll planning. A small budget can run out quickly on a high-variance game, not because it's unfair, but because that's how the maths works.
RTP and Operator Differences
The Return to Player (RTP) isn't the same everywhere. Operators can configure it within a permitted range, so the figure may differ from one casino to the next. Before you play, check the game info panel or the casino's terms — the RTP should be listed there.
No betting strategy changes the underlying odds. Each spin is determined by a certified random number generator, and past results don't influence future ones.