Book Of Ra
Book of Ra: The Legendary Egyptian Slot
| Main Feature | Data |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic |
| Release Year | 2005 |
| Reels / Paylines | 5 reels / 9 lines |
| RTP | 92.13 % (land) / 94.26 % (online) |
| Volatility | High |
| Max Win | ≈ 5,000× stake |
| Bonus | 10 Free Spins + Expanding Symbol |
| Bet Range | $0.13 – $66* |
We know Book of Ra as Germany’s most iconic slot machine, but it’s a favourite among Canadian players too. Novomatic introduced this Egyptian adventure in 2005, and it’s still a staple at casinos today. The game features five reels with nine adjustable paylines, filled with explorers, pharaohs, scarabs, and the mysterious Book itself—serving as both wild and scatter.
High volatility combines with a 92.13% RTP at land-based venues and 94.26% when played online, creating plenty of thrilling swings as you spin. When three or more Book symbols appear, you’ll receive 10 free games with one randomly chosen expanding symbol. This straightforward feature inspired a whole genre of similar slots, but the original Book of Ra continues to lead the way in casinos.
*Licensed German operators set their own stake limits.
Official Game Versions and Variants
Classic and Deluxe Editions
We've seen Book of Ra evolve through several versions since its launch. The Classic edition features 5 reels, 3 rows, and 9 fixed paylines with an RTP of 92.13% and high volatility. Its trademark gamble feature lets players double their wins. Book of Ra Deluxe keeps the same layout but improves the graphics significantly, adds a 10th payline, and increases RTP to 95.03%. The core gameplay remains familiar, but Deluxe offers better long-term value with that higher return percentage.
Deluxe 6 and Magic Versions
Book of Ra Deluxe 6 introduced an optional sixth reel that doubles your stake when activated but pushes maximum potential to 15,000× with RTP at 95.02%. Book of Ra Magic arrived in 2018 with 5 reels, 10 lines, and 95.03% RTP. Its standout feature is the free-spin bonus that can unlock up to nine expanding symbols at once, creating massive win screens. Both versions offer 10 retriggerable free spins. None of these variants include progressive jackpots.
Game Symbols and Paytable Breakdown
High-Value and Low-Value Symbols
We've reviewed the Book of Ra Deluxe paytable to show you exactly what each symbol pays out. The explorer tops the chart, awarding 5,000× your line bet if five land on a payline. Next up is the Pharaoh sarcophagus, followed by the golden Statue of Horus and the sacred scarab beetle. These themed symbols are at the heart of the bigger wins. Regular card symbols—10, J, Q, K, and A—show up more often but come with smaller payouts.
| Symbol | 5× | 4× | 3× | 2× |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer | 5,000× | 1,000× | 100× | 10× |
| Pharaoh Sarcophagus | 2,000× | 400× | 40× | 5× |
| Statue of Horus | 750× | 100× | 30× | — |
| Scarab | 750× | 100× | 30× | — |
| A, K | 150× | 40× | 10× | — |
| Q, J, 10 | 100× | 25× | 5× | — |
| Book (Scatter) | 3–5 books pay 2×, 20×, or 200× total bet | |||
The Book Symbol
The Book of Ra acts as both wild and scatter. It substitutes for any symbol and awards 10 free spins if three land anywhere. Scatter wins are based on your total bet, which is how the game can reach its maximum potential of 50,000×.
Free Spins Feature and Expanding Symbols
How We Trigger Free Spins
We activate the bonus round when three or more Book of Ra symbols land anywhere on the reels. The Book acts as both the Wild and Scatter. Three Books award 10 free spins and a 2x scatter win. Four Books grant the same 10 spins but pay 20x our total bet. Five Books deliver 10 spins with a 200x scatter payout.
The Expanding Symbol
Before our free spins begin, the game randomly selects one regular symbol as the Special Expanding Symbol. During the spins, this chosen symbol expands across entire reels when enough appear. It then pays out across all ten lines without needing to be adjacent. The Explorer and Pharaoh need just two symbols to expand. The Statue, Scarab, and card symbols A through 10 require three.
We can retrigger the feature when three or more Books appear during the bonus. Each retrigger adds another 10 spins with no maximum limit. A screen filled with Explorers pays 5,000 times our stake, with all winnings in Canadian dollars (CAD).
RTP, Volatility, and Betting Options
Return to Player
We've found that Book of Ra's RTP varies depending on which version you're playing and where. The land-based Classic sits at 92.13%, while most online Deluxe versions offer 95.03%. Remember, these percentages reflect theoretical long-term payouts across millions of spins, not what you'll see in a single session.
Volatility
Every version carries medium to high volatility. You might experience dry spells between wins, but when they hit, payouts can reach 5,000× your line bet. That's why we always stress proper bankroll management before you start spinning.
Betting Range
Stakes run from $0.10 up to $225 per spin, though your exact range depends on the specific release and your casino's settings. This flexibility works for cautious players and those chasing bigger thrills.
| Version | RTP % | Typical Bet Range* |
|---|---|---|
| Classic (land) | 92.13 | $0.20 – 30 |
| Classic (online) | 94.26 | $0.10 – 75 |
| Deluxe | 95.03 | $0.10 – 150 |
| Deluxe 6 | 95.02 | $0.20 – 225 |
| Magic | 95.03 | $0.10 – 150 |
*Limits vary by operator and provincial regulations.
Where to Play Book of Ra Legally in Canada
The Legal Framework
We know finding Book of Ra online in Canada requires attention to licensing. Only casinos operating under provincial gaming authorities or with proper regulatory approval are legitimate. Each province has its own gambling regulator to oversee these operators and enforce strict rules: CA$1 maximum stake per spin, a 5-second pause between spins, and a CA$1,000 monthly deposit limit across all platforms may apply depending on the province.
Licensed Platforms
We recommend verifying the licence number and regulatory seal before playing. Book of Ra only appears on sites with official Greentube distribution agreements. Three verified options include Novoline.ca, which offers Book of Ra Deluxe and Book of Ra Magic directly from Novomatic. StarGames.ca returned in 2022 with full provincial licensing, while DrückGlück.ca now holds a national permit. We suggest checking Greentube.com's licensed operators page to confirm a casino's legitimacy.
Winning Strategies and Gameplay Tips
Budget Control
We set a fixed budget before playing Book of Ra. Dividing our total into smaller amounts for each session helps us enjoy longer playtime without risking too much at once. If a session isn't going well, we take a break and return later instead of increasing our bets on impulse.
Bet Adjustments
We usually start with smaller bets. Sometimes, it makes sense to adjust our bet size, such as after finishing a bonus round or when we're on a lucky streak. However, we avoid jumping to the maximum bet in hopes of quick wins, since Book of Ra generally has medium-to-high volatility.
Realistic Expectations
We understand that results are always based on luck. Large wins can happen, but they're never certain. We focus on having fun, take advantage of free spins when they come up, and cash out when we're ahead to protect our bankroll. Playing all paylines increases our chances of landing three Book scatters.
Mobile Gaming and Accessibility
Playing on Smartphones and Tablets
We've found that Novomatic's HTML5 rebuild makes Book of Ra run smoothly on modern mobile devices. If you're using iOS 12 or later, or Android 6.0 and up, the game loads directly in your browser without hassle. The controls respond well to touch—you can adjust your bet, check the paytable, or start a spin with one tap. Graphics maintain their quality at 16:9 HD whether you hold your phone upright or turn it sideways.
Apps vs Browser Play
Most Canadian-licensed casinos let you play Book of Ra straight through Safari, Chrome, or Firefox. No download needed. Some operators like Casino Club and Admiral go further and provide dedicated apps through the Apple App Store and Google Play. These native apps preload game files, which cuts loading time and adds biometric login options like Face ID or Touch ID.
Mobile vs Desktop Differences
We've compared both experiences. The RTP stays identical—95.03% for Classic and 95.10% for Deluxe—regardless of your device. Bet limits remain the same too, typically $0.10 to $50 per spin based on casino rules. You'll still find auto-play and the gamble feature on mobile, though Canadian regulations sometimes disable auto-play. The main difference is visual: mobile versions use a compact control panel that bundles menu, sound, and turbo spin buttons together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Game Details
Book of Ra Classic features 5 reels with 9 adjustable paylines, offering an RTP of 92.13%. Book of Ra Deluxe upgrades the experience with enhanced graphics, an extra payline, and a higher 95.10% RTP. Landing five explorer symbols pays 5,000× your line bet. When three or more Book symbols appear, you receive 10 free spins. Before the round starts, a standard symbol is randomly chosen to expand across its entire reel during spins, paying out on any active line regardless of position. The free spins feature can be retriggered indefinitely.
Availability and Play Options
Book of Ra is legally available to play at licensed online casinos operating under the German State Treaty on Gambling 2021, powered by Greentube. Demo play is available after you verify your age and identity. In the Deluxe version, bets start at $0.10 per spin—that’s $0.02 per line—and can go up to $50 or $100 depending on the casino. Most Canadian players prefer Deluxe for its upgraded visuals and extra payline, though Classic still has a loyal following.