Book Of Ra
What is Book of Ra?
Book of Ra is an Egyptian-themed slot developed by Novomatic that essentially created the "book" genre of casino games. You play as an explorer searching ancient tombs for a mythological book, surrounded by pharaohs, scarabs, and golden artifacts.
Originally released as a land-based cabinet in 2005, it moved online and became one of the most recognisable slots in Europe — particularly in Italy. Its appeal comes from simplicity: no complex animations or layered minigames, just a clean, high-volatility rhythm. The formula has been copied by dozens of developers since (most notably Play'n GO's Book of Dead), but the original remains widely available on Italian casino sites.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic (online via Greentube) |
| Release Year | 2005 |
| Reels × Rows | 5 × 3 |
| Paylines | 9 (Classic) / 10 (Deluxe) |
| RTP | 92.13% (Classic) / 95.10% (Deluxe) |
| Volatility | High |
| Max Win | 5,000× stake |
| Bonus Feature | 10 Free Spins with Expanding Symbol |
| Gamble Feature | Red/Black card guess (double or nothing) |
How the reels work
Book of Ra uses a standard 5×3 grid — five reels, three rows. Winning combinations are formed by matching symbols across active paylines from left to right. Depending on the version, there are either 9 or 10 selectable paylines.
You choose how many lines to activate before each spin. Fewer lines means a lower cost per round, but also fewer chances to land a win.
Bet controls and spin flow
Your total stake is set by two things: the number of active paylines and your bet per line. The game multiplies these together to calculate your total wager.
Once you've set your bet, hit spin. The reels stop one by one, and any winning combination is highlighted with credits added to your balance automatically. There's also an autoplay option that repeats spins at your current bet level until you stop it or your balance runs out.
Symbols and payouts
The Explorer is the highest-paying symbol, awarding 5,000× your line bet when five land on an active payline. The rest of the paytable splits into high-value picture symbols and low-value playing cards.
The Book acts as both Wild and Scatter. It substitutes for any other symbol to complete a winning line, and landing three or more Books anywhere on the reels pays out based on your total bet rather than the line bet.
Picture symbols pay from just two matching symbols left to right. Playing cards require at least three.
| Symbol | Category | 5-of-a-kind payout |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer | High value | 5,000× line bet |
| Pharaoh | High value | 2,000× line bet |
| Statue & Scarab | High value | 750× line bet |
| A & K | Low value | 150× line bet |
| Q, J & 10 | Low value | 100× line bet |
| Book | Wild / Scatter | 200× total bet |
Free spins and the expanding symbol
Landing three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels triggers 10 free spins. The Book acts as a scatter, so it doesn't need to sit on an active payline to count.
Before the free spins begin, the game randomly picks one regular symbol to become the special expanding symbol for the entire round.
How the expanding symbol works
When the chosen symbol lands during free spins and forms part of a winning combination, it expands to fill all three positions on its reel. Expanded symbols pay like scatters — they don't need to appear on adjacent reels. For example, if your special symbol lands on reels one, three, and five, all three expand and pay as a three-of-a-kind across every active payline.
If three more Book symbols appear during the bonus round, you get an additional 10 free spins. The same expanding symbol carries over.
Gamble feature
After any winning spin, you can choose to risk your payout in a simple card game: guess whether the next card is red or black. Get it right and your win doubles; get it wrong and you lose it all. You can repeat the gamble several times in a row if you keep guessing correctly. The feature works the same way across Classic, Deluxe, and Magic.
RTP, volatility, and max win
Book of Ra is a high-volatility slot with a maximum win of 5,000× your stake — achieved by filling the grid with the top-paying Explorer symbol during free spins. In practice, high volatility means long stretches of dead or low-value spins, with the biggest payouts reserved for rare combinations.
The RTP varies by version and by casino. Licensed Italian operators must display the active RTP in the game's help file, so always check before you play.
| Version | Standard RTP |
|---|---|
| Book of Ra Classic | 92.13% |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 95.10% |
| Book of Ra Magic | 95.03% |
The Classic version's RTP is noticeably lower than most modern slots. The Deluxe and Magic editions offer a better theoretical return, though the high volatility stays consistent across the entire series.
Book of Ra versions
All Book of Ra versions share the same core mechanic — expanding symbols during free spins — but differ in paylines, visuals, and bonus features. Novomatic has released several editions over the years.
Classic vs. Deluxe
The original Book of Ra has 9 paylines and retro graphics that mirror the old land-based cabinets. Book of Ra Deluxe, released in 2008, bumps this to 10 paylines with updated artwork. Deluxe is the version you'll find at most Italian online casinos today.
Extended variants
Italian operators also host several spin-offs that change the maths or add features:
- Book of Ra Deluxe 6: Adds an optional sixth reel, doubling your stake but allowing six-of-a-kind wins up to 15,000× your bet.
- Book of Ra Magic: Plays like Deluxe until the bonus round, where retriggering picks a second expanding symbol. You can unlock up to nine expanding symbols, pushing the max win past 10,000×.
- Book of Ra Temple of Gold: Swaps the Egyptian theme for a South American jungle setting. Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters awards 1, 2, or 3 expanding symbols during free spins.
Playing on mobile
Book of Ra works on iOS and Android without needing a dedicated app. The Deluxe and newer versions use HTML5, so they load directly in your mobile browser.
The interface adjusts to your screen size automatically. Landscape mode fills the display with the reels; portrait mode stacks the controls below. Touch inputs are spaced to avoid accidental taps when changing your bet.
The classic version is lightweight and runs well even on older phones. Deluxe variants use heavier animations, so performance may vary on lower-end devices.
Demo mode or real-money play?
Book of Ra is available in both free demo and real-money mode. Demo play uses virtual credits, so it's a good way to get a feel for the game's volatility before risking anything.
Real-money play requires a funded casino account. The mechanics are identical in both modes — the only difference is whether real cash is at stake.
Where Italian players can play
Book of Ra is only available legally in Italy through online casinos licensed by the ADM (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli). The game is distributed digitally by Greentube, Novomatic's interactive division, which holds the required supplier approvals for the Italian market.
You'll find it at most major licensed platforms, including:
- Domestic brands like Snai, Lottomatica, and Sisal.
- International operators with Italian ADM licences, such as LeoVegas, 888casino, and PokerStars Casino.
Always check the casino's footer for the ADM logo and a valid concession number. If a site lacks these, it operates outside the legal framework and offers no player protection.
Local deposit and withdrawal methods
Italian casinos support the usual mix of cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. The exact options depend on the operator.
PostePay is the most common local method, widely accepted alongside Visa and Mastercard. PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller are also standard on most platforms.
Processing times and limits
Deposits are instant with most methods except traditional bank transfers. Withdrawals are slower: e-wallets usually clear within 24 hours, while cards and bank transfers take two to five business days.
Minimum deposits and withdrawals are typically €10, though some platforms go as low as €5.
Account verification
You can't withdraw until your identity is verified. Italian regulations require you to submit ID within 30 days of opening an account. Many operators now integrate with SPID, which automates the process and removes the need to upload documents manually.
Pros and cons
Book of Ra's expanding symbol bonus remains a genuinely engaging mechanic, and the game is easy to pick up. That said, it shows its age next to modern releases.
Pros
- Expanding symbol bonus with full-screen win potential up to 5,000× your stake.
- Simple enough for complete beginners.
- Strong nostalgic appeal for players who know it from physical casino terminals.
- Optional gamble feature adds a risk-reward layer after every win.
Cons
- Graphics and sound are noticeably dated.
- No base game modifiers or extra features between bonus triggers.
- The Classic version's 92.13% RTP is well below the ~96% industry average.
- Base game spins can feel repetitive over longer sessions.
Common questions about Book of Ra
Is there a progressive jackpot?
No. All payouts are fixed and scale with your bet size.
Can you buy the free spins?
No. There's no bonus-buy feature in any version of Book of Ra. You need to land three or more Book scatters during normal play to trigger the free spins round.
Are there working cheats or tricks?
No. Every spin uses a certified Random Number Generator, as required by Italian regulators. Changing your bet size or timing your spins has no effect on the outcome.