Book Of Ra
Book of Ra: The Original Slot Game
| Main Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic (Greentube) |
| Release Year | 2005 (land-based), 2008 (online) |
| Reels / Paylines | 5 Reels / 9 Fixed Paylines |
| RTP | 92.13 % (land-based) – 95.03 % (online) |
| Volatility | Medium–High |
| Max Win | 5,000× stake per spin |
| Bonus Feature | 10 Free Spins with Expanding Symbol |
| Min/Max Bet | €0.45 – €90 (varies by casino) |
| Platforms | Desktop, Mobile, Tablet |
Egyptian Adventure on Your Screen
Book of Ra takes you straight into ancient Egypt where you follow a daring explorer searching for forgotten treasures. It started as a massive success in European arcades and land-based casinos before making the jump online in 2008. The game kept everything players loved—sand-toned reels, hieroglyphic fonts, and that tense soundtrack that pulls you into a world of pharaohs and buried secrets.
You'll find five reels and nine fixed paylines. Your bet gets placed per line, and any wins pay left to right. The explorer himself is your highest-paying regular symbol, delivering 5,000× your line bet when you land five across a payline. Scarabs, pharaoh masks, and card symbols from A down to 10 fill out the rest of the paytable.
The Book Symbol
The Book of Ra does double duty as both wild and scatter. It steps in for other symbols to help you form winning lines. When three, four, or five books land anywhere on the reels, you receive 2×, 20×, or 200× your total bet plus 10 free spins. A random symbol gets selected before the feature starts and expands to cover entire reels, paying on any position rather than just paylines.
Why It Became Legendary
The gameplay is straightforward but volatile enough to produce huge wins from a single expanding symbol. Those classic sound effects and retro visuals remind you of traditional slot cabinets. There aren't any cascading reels or complicated side games—just pure slot action. The gamble feature lets you double each win up to five times by predicting card colours, which adds replay value.
This mix of simple mechanics, consistent theming, and real payout potential is exactly why Book of Ra still stands as a benchmark for adventure-themed slots.
Book of Ra Deluxe and Game Variations
When the original Book of Ra became a massive hit, Novomatic's Greentube studio developed multiple sequels. Each version keeps the signature expanding book mechanic but introduces different features, reel configurations, or visual upgrades. Here's what you need to know about the variants you can play in Germany.
Book of Ra Deluxe
Released in 2008, this version brought noticeable improvements to the original formula. You'll see enhanced 3D artwork and smoother animations on the same 5×3 reel grid. The payline count increased from 9 to 10, and the online RTP sits at 95.03%. The free-games feature works exactly like the classic version, but the symbols are sharper and the interface is optimized for widescreen displays.
Book of Ra Classic
This 2005 original still attracts players who appreciate straightforward high-volatility gameplay. You get 5 reels with 9 lines and retro graphics that haven't changed. The RTP is 92.13% in land-based casinos and roughly 94.26% online. Five Explorer symbols on a line can pay 5,000× your line bet. The gamble feature lets you double wins by guessing red or black.
Book of Ra Magic
Magic launched in 2018 using the 10-line Deluxe framework. What sets it apart is the expanding-symbol mechanic during free spins—you can unlock up to 9 different expanding symbols. Every retrigger adds another one, which creates opportunities for full-screen wins worth 5,000× your stake. Volatility stays high, and RTP matches Deluxe at 95.03%.
Book of Ra 6 Deluxe
This 2015 release adds an optional sixth reel. Activating it costs 50% more per spin but raises the maximum payout to 7,500× your stake. The 10 paylines now stretch across six columns instead of five, and that extra reel stays active during free games.
Book of Ra Deluxe 10
Deluxe 10 arrived in 2019 with a dual-reel setup. You'll see a 5×4 grid next to a giant 5×12 grid. Wild stacks that fill the smaller set transfer to the larger one and upgrade symbols there. Each grid runs 10 fixed lines, and the RTP is 95.02%.
Book of Ra Jackpot Edition
This variant keeps the 10-line Deluxe math but adds four progressive jackpots—Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand. Jackpots trigger randomly and you win them through a pick-and-win bonus game.
Despite rumours, no official Megaways version exists. Every variant uses the expanding-symbol free-spin system and high volatility. Your choice depends on whether you want extra reels, progressive pots, or the original retro feel.
How to Play Book of Ra for Real Money
Getting Started at an Online Casino
You'll need to find a licensed casino that offers Novomatic titles before you can play Book of Ra with real money. Registration requires your full name, email address, date of birth, and a password. If you're in an EU-licensed site, you can typically play at 18. Some jurisdictions set the minimum age at 21.
Account Verification
Casinos must follow Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer regulations, so you'll need to submit a few documents:
- Government-issued photo ID like a passport, national ID card, or driver's licence
- Proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement from the last three months
- Payment ownership proof when using a credit card
Most casinos complete verification within 24 hours. EU-regulated operators might need up to 72 hours when they're busy. You can deposit and play while your documents are being reviewed, but withdrawals won't be available until your account is approved.
Making Your First Deposit
Go to the cashier section and pick a payment method. German players often use Sofort, PayPal, Trustly, VISA, Mastercard, Skrill, or Paysafecard. You'll need to enter an amount—usually at least €10, though some platforms aimed at high rollers start at €20. E-wallets and instant banking methods credit your account right away. SEPA bank transfers can take one to three business days.
Claiming a Welcome Bonus
Most German-facing casinos offer welcome packages, often a 100% match up to €200 with 50 to 100 free spins. Make sure Book of Ra isn't excluded from bonus wagering terms before you opt in.
Setting Your Bet and Spinning
Find Book of Ra in the game lobby and launch it. You'll see coin value and line selectors at the bottom of the screen:
- Select between 1 and 9 paylines in the original version. Each line you activate increases your total stake.
- Adjust your bet per line, which typically ranges from €0.01 to €5.00. This creates a total bet range of €0.09 to €45 per spin.
- Press the green Spin button or activate Autoplay for 10 to 1,000 automatic spins, depending on your jurisdiction.
- You can use the Gamble feature after any win to potentially double your payout by guessing red or black.
Withdrawing Your Winnings
Head to the cashier, choose the same payment method you used for your deposit if possible, enter the withdrawal amount, and confirm. Minimum withdrawals are usually €20. E-wallet payouts are processed within 24 hours once approved. Cards and bank wires may take two to five business days.
Game Features and Bonus Rounds
Free Spins Bonus Round
When three or more Book of Ra scatter symbols land anywhere on your reels, you'll trigger the free spins feature. The game always awards you 10 free spins, whether you land 3, 4, or 5 scatters. The difference shows up in your instant scatter payout, which gets added to your balance immediately:
- 3 scatters – 2× your total bet
- 4 scatters – 20× your total bet
- 5 scatters – 200× your total bet
You don't need scatters on the same payline, which makes this feature more accessible than standard line wins. If you land another three or more scatters during your free spins, the feature re-triggers and adds another 10 spins to your total. There's no cap on how many times you can retrigger.
Expanding Symbol Mechanic
Right before your free spins start, the game randomly picks one regular symbol to act as your special expanding symbol. When enough of that chosen symbol appear to form a winning combination, they'll expand across their entire reels. These expanded symbols pay on every active line, even when they're not sitting next to each other.
If the explorer becomes your expanding symbol, you're looking at serious win potential. Since the explorer pays 5000× your line bet for five of a kind, you could walk away with up to 5,000× your stake when it expands across multiple reels.
Gamble Feature
After any win in the base game or during free spins, you can press the Gamble button. This launches a straightforward card color guessing game where you predict whether the next card will be red or black. Guess correctly and you'll double your win. Guess wrong and you lose everything from that round.
You're allowed to gamble up to five times in a row, though most casinos cap the feature at €25,000 per round. Experienced players tend to use the gamble feature selectively, risking smaller wins while banking the larger ones.
Payment Methods for German Players
You'll find multiple banking options when you play Book of Ra, whether at a Schleswig-Holstein licensed casino, a site operating under the 2021 Glücksspielstaatsvertrag, or an offshore platform. Each method comes with its own speed and fee structure.
| Method | Deposit Speed | Withdrawal Speed | Typical Casino Fee | Special Notes for Germany |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEPA Bank Transfer | 1–3 business days | 3–5 business days | None, but bank may charge €1–€3 | Widely accepted; high limits (up to €100,000) |
| Visa / Mastercard (Debit) | Instant | 2–4 business days | Rare | Some German banks block credit cards for gambling; debit works more consistently |
| PayPal | Instant | Within 24 h | None | Available only at casinos holding a German licence; daily cap usually €5,000 |
| Skrill / Neteller | Instant | 12–48 h | 0–2% deposit fee | Often excluded from welcome bonuses |
| Paysafecard | Instant | N/A (withdrawals possible only to myPaysafecard account at a few sites) | None | Max single voucher €100; stackable up to €1,000 |
| Trustly / Giropay / Sofort (Klarna) | Under 1 min | Instant–24 h | None | Uses online banking credentials—no registration |
| Bitcoin & other crypto | <1 h | 1–24 h | Network fee only | Prohibited at German-licensed casinos; available offshore |
Bank Transfers and Cards
SEPA transfers work well if you're planning to deposit larger amounts. The limits go high and the security is solid. Your withdrawals will go back to the same IBAN you deposited from—that's a German anti-money laundering requirement you can't get around.
Debit cards post your deposits right away. Visa Debit, Maestro, and Girocard with Mastercard branding all work. Getting your winnings back takes about three days. Credit cards can be tricky since some German banks won't process gambling transactions.
E-Wallets
PayPal is your fastest option where it's available, but you'll only find it at casinos with a German license. The daily limit usually sits at €5,000.
Skrill and Neteller work at more casinos and handle bigger transactions—often up to €20,000. The catch is that casinos sometimes slap a 30x wagering requirement on deposits made through these wallets before you can withdraw.
Prepaid and Alternative Options
Paysafecard lets you deposit without sharing bank details. Buy a 16-digit code at any kiosk or post office. Cashing out requires upgrading to a myPaysafecard account and verifying your identity. Single vouchers max out at €100 but you can stack them up to €1,000.
Trustly, Giropay, and Sofort (now called Klarna Instant Bank Transfer) connect directly to your German bank. No apps to download, no accounts to create. Just log in with your banking credentials and the payment goes through in under a minute.
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin show up mainly at Malta or Curaçao casinos offering Book of Ra. Transactions clear in as little as ten minutes when the blockchain isn't busy, though you won't find crypto at any German-licensed site.
RTP, Volatility, and Winning Potential
| Version | RTP | Volatility | Max Win (total stake) | Approx. Hit Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic (land-based) | ≈ 92.13 % | High | 5,000× | ≈ 26 % |
| Book of Ra Classic (online) | 94.26 % | High | 5,000× | ≈ 26 % |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 95.03 % | Medium-High | 5,000× | ≈ 28 % |
| Book of Ra Magic | 95.03 % | High | 5,000× (+extra expanding symbols) | ≈ 27 % |
Return to Player Percentage
The RTP shows how much money the game returns to you over extended play. Online versions of Book of Ra offer between 94.26 % and 95.03 %, but the land-based cabinet stays at 92.13 %.
Book of Ra Deluxe gives you roughly 1.8 percentage points more value than the physical machine. That difference adds up when you're spinning regularly, though short sessions won't necessarily reflect these figures.
Volatility Level
You're looking at medium-high to high volatility across all Book of Ra variants. Expect quiet periods with few wins, then sudden sequences that deliver larger payouts. This pattern suits players who enjoy the risk-reward dynamic Novomatic built into the game.
Managing your budget becomes essential. Don't stake too much early because dry spells happen.
Maximum Win Potential
The Explorer symbol delivers 5,000× your total bet when it fills the screen. This can happen during base play or within the 10 free spins feature.
The bonus round creates the best conditions for this payout because your chosen expanding symbol covers all positions and pays across every line at once. The original maths model caps wins at 5,000×, so you won't see anything higher.
Hit Frequency
Novomatic's RNG audits show hit frequency between 26 % and 29 %, meaning you'll land a win roughly every three to four spins. Most of these are small line wins. Free spins trigger once every 180 to 210 spins on average.
Plan your session around 120 to 150 spins minimum to handle the variance. Keep your stake at 1 % or less of your total bankroll per spin. If a bonus round pays more than 100×, consider walking away because volatility increases after big hits.
Where to Play Book of Ra Online
You need to play at operators licensed by the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder if you're in Germany. The Fourth Interstate Treaty on Gambling came into force on 1 July 2021, and since 1 January 2023 the GGL has been the only national regulator issuing permits for virtual slot games like Book of Ra. When you choose a GGL-licensed site, you get certified RNG software, segregated account protection for your deposits, and full compliance with German player-protection rules.
What Makes a Casino Trustworthy
Look for a visible licence seal in the footer showing the GGL licence number—something like LZ918-SN2023-001—with a direct link to the Whitelist-GlüStV. Your casino should enforce player limits automatically: a cross-operator monthly deposit cap of €1,000 that can go up to €10,000 after you complete KYC and affordability checks.
Technical safeguards matter too. You want 256-bit SSL encryption, ISO 27001 hosting, OASIS self-exclusion integration, and a panic button that lets you trigger a 24-hour timeout instantly. Payment transparency means SEPA withdrawals processed within three working days without hidden FX fees. Check whether the casino belongs to the Verband für Telekommunikation und Medien or the European ADR network for independent dispute resolution.
German Slot Rules in Book of Ra
You'll notice several restrictions when you play. Your maximum stake is €1 per spin. Each spin must last at least five seconds, so turbo mode is disabled. After 60 minutes of continuous play, you'll face an automatic five-minute compulsory break. You can't open multiple slot sessions in different tabs under the same account either.
Licence Comparison
| Feature | GGL (Germany) | MGA (Malta) | Curacao |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Bet | €1 | Set by casino (often €100+) | Set by casino |
| Deposit Limit | €1,000 / month (default) | No mandatory cap | No mandatory cap |
| Spin Speed | ≥5 s | No restriction | No restriction |
| Panic Button / OASIS | Yes | No | No |
| Tax on Winnings | None for players | None for players | Depends on jurisdiction |
Choosing Your Platform
Check which Book of Ra version the casino offers. Many GGL sites now list Book of Ra Deluxe 10 instead of the original. Welcome bonuses in Germany are capped at €100, and most exclude Novomatic titles from wagering requirements—free spin offers work better for you. Giropay, SOFORT and PayPal are your preferred payment methods; PayPal returned in 2022 under the new regulation. Make sure the mobile lobby uses Greentube's latest HTML5 version so expanding-symbol animations run smoothly on your Android or iOS device.
Demo Mode vs Real Money Play
Understanding Demo Play
You can try Book of Ra using demo mode, which gives you virtual credits instead of risking your own money. The game works exactly the same way—all symbols land identically, payline patterns match, and the Free Games round with its randomly selected expanding symbol operates just as it would with real stakes. Novomatic applies the same game math model across both versions, maintaining the 96.00% RTP you'll find in most online releases. Germany's Glücksspielstaatsvertrag regulations now require you to create an account and verify your age before accessing any demo, even though you're playing with fictitious funds.
Why Start with Demo Mode
Demo play removes financial pressure while you learn the game. You'll see how often three Book scatters actually appear and get a feel for win frequency. Most demo versions load your account with somewhere between €1,000 and €2,000 in virtual credits, letting you experiment with bet sizes from €0.10 up to the €100 maximum many casinos offer.
You can compare different variants side by side—Classic, Deluxe, Magic, and Deluxe 10—to understand how reel layouts and feature triggers differ. It's also useful for testing the gamble feature, where you decide whether to collect a win or risk it on Red/Black for a potential double-up.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Demo Mode | Real Money Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Stake Source | Virtual credits only | Your deposited funds |
| Cash-out Option | Not available | Withdrawable winnings |
| Casino Bonuses | Unavailable | Welcome offers, loyalty points |
| Age Verification (DE) | Mandatory | Mandatory |
| Psychological Pressure | Low | High—real bankroll at risk |
| RTP & Volatility | Identical to real game | Identical to demo |
What Changes with Real Money
Real money mode means every spin carries the chance of a genuine cash payout, potentially up to 5,000× your stake if you land five explorer symbols. Licensed operators serving the German market enforce a €1 maximum bet per spin, add a mandatory 5-second pause between spins, and disable autoplay—restrictions you won't encounter in demo mode. Real stakes also unlock casino welcome packages, such as a 100% match up to €200 plus 100 free spins, and you'll earn VIP points that convert to cashback.
When to Switch
Make the move to real money only after you understand the paytable, recognize the volatility, and know what kind of bankroll swings to expect. Book of Ra is high variance, so dry spells happen. Set a strict budget, enable any loss limits your casino offers, and switch when the prospect of real wins feels worth the risk and fits your finances.