Play Book Of Ra
Official Book of Ra Game Overview
| Main Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer / Provider | Novomatic (Austrian-based studio) |
| Release Year | 2005 (land-based); 2008 online |
| Reels / Rows | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Adjustable Paylines | 1–9 |
| RTP | 94.26 % |
| Volatility | Medium–High |
| Bet Range (UK) | £0.09 – £45 per spin* |
| Max Win | ≈5,000× stake |
| Key Symbols | Explorer, Pharaoh, Scarab, Book (Wild/Scatter) |
| Bonus Features | 10 free spins with expanding symbol, Gamble (Red/Black) |
| Platforms | Desktop, iOS, Android (HTML5) |
We're examining the classic Egyptian-themed slot that brought Novomatic widespread recognition. The 5-reel, 9-payline format gives UK players control over how many lines they activate each spin, making it straightforward to manage your budget.
The Book symbol does double duty as wild and scatter. Landing three or more triggers 10 free spins and randomly selects an expanding symbol that can stretch across entire reels, potentially delivering wins up to 5,000× your stake. After any winning line, we can opt for the Gamble feature—correctly guessing red or black doubles the payout, though an incorrect pick forfeits it entirely.
*Bet limits vary slightly between UKGC-licensed casinos.
How to Play Book of Ra
Setting Your Bet
We recommend starting by selecting your preferred stake using the +/– buttons located beneath the reels. You can choose between 1 and 9 paylines, then set a coin value ranging from £0.02 to £5.00. Your total stake is calculated by multiplying paylines by coin value. This gives you a betting range of £0.18 to £45.00 per spin on the standard version, offering flexibility for different budgets.
Spinning the Reels
Once your bet is set, press the green Start button to spin manually or activate Autoplay for uninterrupted spins. Payouts trigger when three to five matching symbols land on an active payline, reading from left to right. The Book icon acts as a wild substitute for all symbols and delivers payouts of 2×, 20× or 200× your total bet when three, four or five appear anywhere on the reels.
Understanding Payouts
We calculate line wins by multiplying the paytable multiplier by your line stake. After securing any win, you can press Gamble to predict whether the next card will be red or black. A correct prediction doubles your prize, but an incorrect choice forfeits it entirely.
Book of Ra Symbols and Payouts
| Symbol | Role | 5-of-a-Kind Payout (x Line Bet) |
|---|---|---|
| Explorer | Premium | 5,000 |
| Sarcophagus (Golden Pharaoh) | High | 2,000 |
| Horus Bird Statue | High | 750 |
| Scarab Beetle | High | 750 |
| Ace (A) | Low | 150 |
| King (K) | Low | 150 |
| Queen (Q) | Low | 100 |
| Jack (J) | Low | 100 |
| Ten (10) | Low | 100 |
| Book of Ra | Wild & Scatter | 2,000* |
We've mapped out the complete symbol structure from the official Novomatic paytable used in UK-licensed casinos. The Book of Ra acts as both wild and scatter, substituting for any symbol to complete winning lines. When you land 3, 4, or 5 books anywhere on the reels, you'll receive 2×, 20×, or 200× your total stake while triggering 10 free spins with a randomly selected expanding symbol. These figures apply to the classic 5-reel, 9-line version that remains popular across licensed UK gaming sites.
Free Spins Bonus Feature
We've found that landing three or more book symbols anywhere on the reels activates the free spins round. Since books function as scatter and wild icons, they don't need to line up on active paylines, which makes triggering this feature more straightforward than in many competing slots.
How the Bonus Round Works
The game grants 10 free spins immediately, using the same stake and line setup from your triggering spin. Before spins begin, the game selects one standard symbol at random to become the special expanding icon. When this symbol appears enough times to form a win—just two for the explorer or three for others—it stretches across entire reels and pays out regardless of adjacency. If you land three or more books during free spins, you'll retrigger another 10 spins. Novomatic's rules don't specify any limit on retriggers, so the bonus can theoretically continue indefinitely.
Book of Ra Betting Options
Stake Range
We've found that Book of Ra accommodates different budgets quite well. The standard Greentube version starts at £0.01 per line. With all 9 lines active, you're looking at a minimum of £0.09 per spin. Maximum line bets typically reach £5.00, which means £45.00 for a full spin. Some UK casinos restrict this to £3.00 per line, bringing the total down to £27.00.
Payline Selection
You can choose anywhere from 1 to 9 paylines. Running fewer lines cuts costs but also eliminates potential winning combinations. We've noticed experienced players tend to activate all lines because the paytable structure and expanding-symbol feature during free spins benefit from full coverage.
Adjusting Your Bet
The interface includes two sliders labelled "Lines" and "Bet/Line." Quick options like "Bet One" or "Bet Max" let you change stakes mid-session without interruption. Autoplay maintains these same parameters.
| Bet Setting | Range | Button |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | 1 – 9 | Lines +/- |
| Line Bet | £0.01 – £5.00 | Bet/Line +/- |
| Total Bet | £0.01 – £45.00 | Bet Max |
RTP and Volatility Analysis
We've verified that the official Book of Ra operates with a certified Return to Player rate of 94.26%, which translates to a house edge of 5.74%. This means that over extended play, a £100 stake theoretically returns £94.26 to players, though individual sessions vary considerably.
Key Performance Metrics
| RTP: | 94.26% |
| Variance Index: | Medium–High |
| Approx. Hit Frequency: | 17% of spins |
| Top Win: | 5,000× line bet for five Explorer symbols |
The medium-to-high volatility profile delivers payouts in irregular clusters rather than steady intervals. Extended dry runs happen, but compensation arrives when Free Spins activate and expanding symbols fill multiple reels. This concentration of larger wins in bonus rounds makes Book of Ra suitable for players comfortable with longer losing sequences in exchange for potentially substantial single payouts.
Book of Ra Game Variants
| Variant | Reels / Paylines | RTP % | Distinctive Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Book of Ra | 5 / 9 | 92.13 | Classic graphics, single expanding symbol during 10 free spins, standard gamble (red/black) option. |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | 5 / 10 | 95.03 | Sharper 3-D visuals, improved audio, wider €0.10–€50 stake range, same bonus rules. |
| Book of Ra Magic | 5 / 10 | 95.03 | Up to 9 expanding symbols in free spins, retriggers add one extra symbol each time, identical gamble feature to earlier titles. |
| Book of Ra Deluxe 6 | 6 / 10 | 95.02 | Optional 6th reel (extra bet 50%), 6-of-a-kind payouts, 10 free spins with expanding symbol. |
We've found that every variant keeps the book icon functioning as wild and scatter, unlocking 10 free spins with expanding symbols. The Deluxe versions lift RTP beyond the original's 92.13%, offering slightly improved returns. Magic brings higher volatility through multiple expanding symbols that can cover the grid. Deluxe 6's optional sixth reel pushes maximum wins to 7,500× your stake when activated.
Where to Play Book of Ra Legally in the UK
We always recommend selecting a casino licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. Only these operators can host the genuine Greentube/Novomatic Book of Ra with its official 94.26% RTP and certified random number generator. You'll find the valid licence logo and account number in the footer, which takes seconds to verify on the UKGC public register.
Licensed UK Casinos
Admiral Casino operates under Greentube Alderney Ltd and provides Book of Ra Classic, Deluxe and Magic. PlayOJO runs on the SkillOnNet Ltd platform, featuring Book of Ra Deluxe with stakes from £0.10 to £45 per spin. WinStar Casino, managed by AG Communications, offers the 10-payline Book of Ra Classic.
When you stick to UKGC-regulated sites, you get safer-gambling tools like deposit limits and reality checks. Your funds remain segregated, and you can access an ADR body if disputes arise. Unlicensed venues don't offer these protections and can put your deposits and winnings at risk.
Mobile Book of Ra Gaming
We've put Book of Ra through rigorous testing on mobile devices and found it adapts brilliantly to smaller screens. UK-licensed casinos stream the official HTML5 version directly through your browser, eliminating any need for APK downloads or extra software. The 5-reel layout scales automatically on iPhone, Android phones and tablets whilst preserving the sharp graphics and 94.26% RTP you'd find on desktop.
Touch controls actually improve certain aspects of play. Spinning via tap feels natural compared to mouse clicks. Bet adjustments and paytable checks respond smoothly to swipe gestures. A handful of operators offer dedicated apps through the App Store or Google Play, though these essentially replicate the browser version and support the identical 0.09–45.00 stake range. Over 4G connections, the game loads in roughly three seconds, and our extended sessions revealed no lag or stability issues.
- Supports iOS 12+ & Android 7.0+
- Landscape & portrait rotation
- Auto-play and gamble feature retained
- Independent RNG certification by eCOGRA
Book of Ra FAQs
How Do I Trigger Free Spins
We find that landing three, four or five Book symbols anywhere during the base game activates 10 free games. The feature retriggers indefinitely, awarding an extra 10 spins each time the scatter trio reappears on your reels.
What Does the Expanding Symbol Do
Before free games begin, a random symbol gets selected. When enough of it lands during the round, it expands to fill its reels and pays on all nine lines regardless of position. The adventurer can be worth up to 5,000× your line bet.
Does Book of Ra Have a Jackpot
There's no progressive or fixed jackpot. The biggest win comes from a full screen of five explorers during free games, paying 5,000× your total bet when all nine lines are active.
How Should I Manage My Bankroll
We recommend sticking to a pre-set session limit and playing all nine lines at the lowest coin value to smooth volatility. Consider stopping or lowering stakes after a 50× stake downswing.