Book of Ra
Book of Ra at a glance
Book of Ra is Novomatic's most famous slot, first released around 2008. Unlike today's cluster and tumble games, it is a traditional reel machine built on fixed paylines: five reels, three rows and left-aligned line wins. The benchmark version is Book of Ra Deluxe from roughly 2009, still the most-played edition for Canadian players.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Studio | Novomatic / Greentube |
| Reference version | Book of Ra Deluxe (circa 2009) |
| Reels / rows | 5 reels x 3 rows |
| Paylines | 10 adjustable (original had 9) |
| The Book | scatter and wild in a single symbol |
| Free games | 3+ Books award 10 free games |
| RTP | around 95.10% (92-96% across versions, varies) |
| Volatility | High |
| Max win | up to roughly 5,000x the stake |
Its charm is its simplicity. There are no cascading symbols and no multiplier chains — everything revolves around a single golden Book that both triggers the bonus and stands in for missing symbols. That stripped-back design is exactly why the machine has stayed popular for so long.
Theme and story
The setting takes you into the burial chambers of ancient Egypt. An adventuring explorer in the mould of a tomb-raiding hero descends into forgotten pyramids in search of the fabled Book of the sun god Ra. A pharaoh mask, a scarab beetle and playing-card values from ten to ace fill out the rest of the symbols.
The explorer is the top-paying regular symbol and pays from just two on a line. The golden Book sits above everything else: it is the key to the bonus round and drives the whole narrative — the hunt for hidden knowledge deep beneath the desert sand.
Reels and paylines
Book of Ra Deluxe runs on five reels and three visible rows. By default it offers 10 paylines that you can dial down, while the older original used 9 fixed lines. Wins form when matching symbols sit next to each other along an active line, starting from the leftmost reel.
This line-bound structure sets Book of Ra firmly apart from modern Pragmatic Play titles, where symbols count anywhere on the grid. Here the line is everything — activating more lines covers more possible combinations but also raises your total stake per spin.
The Book: scatter and wild in one
The golden Book is the heart of the game and performs two jobs in a single symbol. As a wild it substitutes for any regular symbol to complete line combinations. As a scatter it pays regardless of lines and triggers the bonus round.
Three or more Books anywhere on the reels award 10 free games. Because the same symbol covers both roles, a single spin can deliver a line win and the entry into free games at the same time — a neat trick that keeps this classic engaging.
Free games and the Special Expanding Symbol
The moment three Books trigger the 10 free games, the real twist happens: before the first free spin, the game randomly selects one ordinary symbol as the Special Expanding Symbol. That symbol gains an extended power for the entire free-game round.
Whenever the special symbol appears during the free games, it expands to cover a whole reel and can pay across the reels even on non-adjacent positions. Land three more Books and you win another 10 free games. If a high-value symbol is chosen as the special, this phase holds the biggest win potential.
The Gamble (risk) feature
After any base-game win, Book of Ra offers an optional gamble. In the colour gamble you guess whether the next face-down card is red or black: guess right and your win doubles, guess wrong and the win is lost in full.
For a bigger step you can instead guess the card suit — hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades — at a lower chance of success. The feature is tempting but high-risk: a single wrong call wipes out the entire win you were holding. It is always optional and can be stopped after any step.
Novomatic by the numbers: RTP 95.03% and the win cap
Book of Ra Deluxe is usually quoted at an RTP of around 95.10%. Older and other editions sit roughly between 92% and 96%, and the exact figure varies by casino and version. Volatility is high: wins arrive unevenly, but the bonus round carries strong potential.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| RTP (Deluxe) | around 95.10% (varies by version) |
| Volatility | High |
| Max win | up to roughly 5,000x the stake |
| Free games | 10 with a random Special Expanding Symbol |
Playing the free demo
You will find Book of Ra here as a free demo. One thing to know up front: unlike many modern slots, the Novomatic demo cannot be embedded directly into this page. Instead, you see a launcher button.
Clicking that button opens the official provider demo in a new browser tab. There the game runs on play money, with no sign-up and no deposit — an ideal way to get to know the free games and the Special Expanding Symbol risk-free before any real money is involved.
Editions and similar Egyptian book slots
Book of Ra has grown into a whole series over the years:
- Book of Ra Deluxe — the most-played version with 10 lines and upgraded graphics.
- Book of Ra Magic — featuring two linked playfields and extra selection mechanics.
- Book of Ra 6 — a variant adding a sixth reel for more lines.
The book formula inspired many imitators. A well-known example is Book of Dead by Play'n GO, which takes the same Egyptian premise and its own expanding special symbol.
Book of Ra in Canada: Classic Novomatic Slot at Regulated Casinos
Book of Ra Deluxe is available at AGCO-licensed Ontario casinos and through BCLC. It offers a straightforward slot experience: spin, match symbols on paylines, and aim for free spins with an expanding special symbol. The optional gamble feature (double-or-nothing on each win) may be available depending on the casino.
Book of Ra cannot be embedded as an iframe on third-party sites – the demo button above links to the official demo page in a new tab. For real money play in Canada, only use AGCO or BCLC-regulated casinos. Responsible gambling support is available through ConnexOntario (1-866-531-2600).
Quick Reference (Canada)
- RTP: 95.03%
- Developer: Greentube / Novomatic
- Paylines: 10 (all recommended)
Book of Ra: everything you need to know
How do I trigger the free games in Book of Ra?
Land three or more Book symbols anywhere on the reels to start 10 free games. Three more Books during the round award another 10 free games.
What is the Special Expanding Symbol?
Before the free games begin, one ordinary symbol is chosen at random. It then expands to fill a whole reel and can pay across the reels even on non-adjacent positions.
Is Book of Ra made by Pragmatic Play?
No. Book of Ra is made by Novomatic through its Greentube studio. It is a classic line-based slot, not a Pragmatic Play tumble game.
What is the RTP of Book of Ra?
The Deluxe version sits at around 95.10%. Other editions range roughly between 92% and 96%, and the exact figure varies.
Can I play Book of Ra for free?
Yes. The launcher button on this page opens the provider demo in a new tab, where it runs on play money with no deposit needed.
Is the Gamble feature worth using?
It can double a win, but a wrong guess costs the whole win. Given the high volatility it comes down to preference, and it is always optional.
Who made Book of Ra?
Book of Ra was created by Novomatic and was originally a land-based casino classic. The digital version is by Greentube (Novomatic's online subsidiary) and is one of the most-played slots in casino history.
What is the expanding symbol?
At the start of the free spins bonus, one symbol is chosen at random. If it appears on any reel, it expands to fill the entire reel height, dramatically increasing potential wins.
Is there a gamble feature?
Yes. After any win you can guess the card colour (red/black) or suit. A correct guess doubles or quadruples your win; a wrong guess forfeits it.
What's the difference between Book of Ra and Book of Ra Deluxe?
Book of Ra Deluxe uses a 5×3 grid with 10 paylines instead of the original's 9 lines. Gameplay is identical but graphics are updated.
What is Book of Ra Deluxe's RTP?
Book of Ra Deluxe has an RTP of 95.03%, slightly below the industry average. The trade-off is the potential for large single-hit wins through the expanding symbol feature.