Discover Book of Ra

Get ready to embark on an epic adventure through ancient Egypt with Book of Ra, one of the most beloved slot games in Germany. This Novomatic classic has been captivating players since 2005, first in land-based arcades and later online in 2008. You’ll be on the hunt for priceless treasures alongside a fearless explorer, with scarabs, pharaohs, and mystical books spinning across your screen.

What Makes It Special

The game’s appeal lies in its perfect mix of simple gameplay and thrilling bonus rounds. Land just three Book scatter symbols to trigger 10 free spins, during which one randomly chosen symbol expands to cover entire reels. This can result in huge wins of up to 5,000 times your stake.

With only nine adjustable paylines on a 5×3 grid, you won’t be bogged down by complicated rules. The minimum bet starts at just £0.09, making it accessible whether you’re new to slots or a seasoned player. UK players especially appreciate its high volatility and nostalgic soundtrack reminiscent of classic arcade halls.

Developer Novomatic / Greentube
Release Year 2005 (land-based), 2008 online
Reels / Rows 5 × 3
Paylines 9 (adjustable)
RTP ≈92.13%
Volatility High
Top Win 5,000× stake
Bonus 10 Free Spins + Expanding Symbol

Understand the Rules

Setting Your Bet

You’ll need to select your coin value and decide how many paylines to activate before spinning. The Classic version allows you to choose 1-9 lines, but newer versions like Deluxe, Deluxe 10, and Magic offer up to 10 paylines. Your stakes can range from £0.09 (minimum coin 0.01 on one line) up to £50.00 per spin, although this may vary depending on the casino. Once you’ve set your stake, you can use Autoplay if you’d like the reels to spin automatically.

How Wins Work

Press the Spin button and watch for matching symbols that pay from left to right on your active paylines. Premium symbols such as the Explorer, Pharaoh, and Statue pay out with just two matches, while standard symbols require at least three. The Book symbol acts both as a wild and a scatter – it substitutes for other symbols and triggers bonuses. Landing three, four, or five Books anywhere awards 10 free spins and pays 2×, 20×, or 200× your total bet respectively.

Your paytable updates automatically to display the current returns based on your bet. You’re only paid for the highest win per line, but scatter wins are paid in addition to regular payouts. After any win, you can gamble your winnings by guessing the next card’s colour for a chance to double your prize.

Explore Symbols and Payouts

Getting to know the Book of Ra Deluxe paytable will help you make more informed betting choices. Most UK casinos feature this enhanced version, and the values shown represent multiples of your stake per line.

Symbol 5 in a line 4 in a line 3 in a line
Explorer 5,000× 1,000× 100×
Pharaoh Sarcophagus 2,000× 400× 40×
Golden Statue 750× 100× 10×
Scarab Beetle 750× 100× 10×
A, K 150× 40×
Q, J, 10 100× 25×

The Magical Book Symbol

Your key to bigger wins is the Book of Ra symbol. It acts as both a wild and scatter, substituting for other symbols and unlocking bonus features. Land three books anywhere and you'll receive 2× your total bet plus 10 free spins with a randomly selected expanding symbol. Four books award you 20× your stake, while five books bring a substantial 200× payout.

Key Winning Strategies

You're playing a high volatility game where patience is rewarded. The biggest wins usually come from landing five premium symbols or during the free spins feature. During free spins, look out for the expanding symbol—it pays out across all lines once expanded, even if they're not adjacent.

Try the Free Demo

Play Without Spending Money

You don't need to spend anything to experience Book of Ra. The demo version at UK-licensed casinos uses exactly the same setup as real money games—5 reels, 9 paylines, 92.13% RTP, and identical volatility. Every spin gives you the authentic game experience without requiring funds or registration.

Perfect Your Strategy

Demo mode is ideal if you're new to slots or want to test betting strategies. You can observe how often the Book Scatter appears to trigger 10 free spins and see the expanding symbol feature in action. UK regulations require a five-second pause between spins, which applies to both demo and real money versions.

Key Features to Test

  • Adjust coin values from £0.02 to £5 and see how bet size affects your potential wins
  • Check the paytable—Explorer symbols pay 5,000x your line bet while Pharaoh symbols pay 2,000x
  • Use Auto-Play where available to study the game's variance patterns

Take your time getting comfortable with the game mechanics. When you're ready to switch to real money play, it's simple to make the transition.

Play for Real Money

You’re set to experience the real excitement of Book of Ra when you switch from demo mode to playing with actual cash. This Novomatic classic offers a 94.26% RTP with high volatility, so you could land huge wins when fortune is on your side. The legendary five-Explorer combination pays an incredible 5,000× your line bet, and every win goes straight into your account balance.

As a UK player, you’ll want to stick with operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). These sites guarantee secure transactions and operate under strict regulations to protect your money and personal information.

Finding the Right Casino

You should ensure any casino holds a valid UK licence from the Gambling Commission before depositing. Look for 256-bit SSL encryption, proper £1-per-spin limits, and mandatory 5-second spin timers. Quality sites also offer 24/7 customer support in English whenever you need help.

Payment Options for UK Players

You can choose from several trusted payment methods including instant bank transfers, Trustly for fast withdrawals, and standard Visa or Mastercard debit cards. Paysafecard vouchers are ideal if you prefer prepaid options, while PayPal is available at fully licensed UK sites.

Start with smaller bets like £0.10 per line while you get a feel for the game’s rhythm. The bonus round typically triggers roughly every 150 spins.

Make a Deposit

Available Payment Methods

You can fund your account quickly at UK-licensed casinos, though local regulations affect your options. While Visa and Mastercard work perfectly well, many players favour instant banking services such as Trustly or Klarna, as they transfer funds directly from your bank account without exposing card details. PayPal no longer supports online slots as of 2019, so for e-wallet payments, you'll want to use Skrill or Neteller.

Deposit Limits and Requirements

The UK Gambling Commission sets robust rules around deposit limits and ID verification. Most deposit methods start at a £10 minimum, though Paysafecard vouchers can start from £5. Bank transfers may require a £20 minimum and can take 1-3 working days to process.

  • Visa / Mastercard – instant, 0–2% fee
  • Klarna – instant, no fee
  • Trustly – instant, no fee, supports Pay N Play
  • Skrill & Neteller – instant, ~2.5% fee
  • Paysafecard – instant, anonymous, 0% fee
  • Bank Transfer – 1-3 days, no fee

Simply log in, visit the cashier, choose your preferred method and amount, then confirm. Sites like Stargames often match your first deposit 100% up to £100, plus 30 free spins on Book of Ra Deluxe—just activate the offer before clicking "Deposit".

Unlock Bonus Features

Free Spins Round

You’ll trigger 10 free games when 3, 4, or 5 Book symbols land anywhere on your reels. These special symbols act as both Wild and Scatter, making them exceptionally valuable. The best bit? You can retrigger this feature endlessly—each new set of Books during your bonus round awards another 10 spins.

  • 3 Books – 10 free spins + 2× total bet payout
  • 4 Books – 10 free spins + 20× total bet payout
  • 5 Books – 10 free spins + 200× total bet payout

Expanding Symbols

Before your free games begin, the game randomly selects one standard symbol as your Special Expanding Symbol. When this chosen symbol lands during bonus rounds, it expands to fill the entire reel after regular wins have paid out. It then awards scatter-style payouts across all 9 paylines. You only need two Explorers for a win, but if you’re lucky enough to land five expanded Explorers, you’ll secure the slot’s top prize of 5,000× your line bet.

FAQs

What's the RTP of Book of Ra?

Your return-to-player percentage depends on which version you're playing. The rates vary across different releases:

  • Book of Ra Classic (land-based) – 92.13% RTP
  • Book of Ra Deluxe – 95.03% RTP
  • Book of Ra Deluxe 6 Reels – 95.02% RTP
  • Book of Ra Magic – 95.03% RTP

Most UK-licensed online casinos offer the 95% versions, but you should always check the game's paytable or help section to confirm the precise figure.

How do the free spins actually work?

When you land 3, 4 or 5 Book scatter symbols anywhere on the reels, you'll receive 10 free games along with instant prizes worth 2×, 20× or 200× your stake. One symbol is randomly chosen as an expanding special before your bonus round begins. If enough of that symbol appears (2 premium symbols or 3 royals), it expands to cover entire reels and pays out on all ten lines, no matter the position, potentially awarding wins up to 5,000× your bet.

Can I play on my phone?

Absolutely. Novomatic's HTML5 version works seamlessly on your iOS, Android or Windows device. You can play in portrait or landscape mode with all features available, including the Gamble ladder option. Simply open your browser and visit any licensed UK casino – no downloads required.