Book Of Ra
What is Book of Ra?
Book of Ra is an Egyptian-themed slot from Novomatic. First released in 2005, it became well known in land-based casinos across Europe and later moved online without changing its core style too much.
For many Romanian players, it's one of the most recognisable classic slots. The appeal is simple: a familiar adventure theme, easy-to-follow gameplay, and a bonus round that can turn ordinary symbols into the main source of bigger wins.
It still has a place in today's market, but it's best seen as a classic rather than a modern feature-heavy slot. If you want straightforward gameplay with high volatility and a traditional casino feel, Book of Ra remains a relevant option.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic (Greentube) |
| Release year | 2005 |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | 9, adjustable |
| RTP | 92.13% in the classic version |
| Volatility | High |
| Max win | 5,000x stake |
| Free spins | 10 spins with one expanding symbol |
| Gamble feature | Yes, by guessing card colour |
| Mobile play | Yes, on iOS and Android |
Game setup and main features
Book of Ra uses a simple five-reel, three-row layout with nine selectable paylines. That basic setup has stayed largely the same since the original land-based version, which is part of why the game still feels familiar across many casino sites.
Before each spin, you choose how many lines to play and set your stake per line. The exact bet range can vary by version or operator, but your total stake depends on both the number of active lines and the line bet you choose. The control bar shows your balance, current bet and any win from the spin.
When you press spin, the reels stop from left to right. The game then checks the active paylines for matching symbols. Winning combinations normally pay from left to right and are shown straight away on the screen.
Most versions also include autoplay, which lets the game spin automatically using your current settings.
After a winning spin, the gamble feature may appear. This lets you risk the win by guessing whether a hidden card is red or black. If you guess right, the win doubles. If you guess wrong, you lose it. You can usually repeat this several times, but it is still a high-risk option.
Symbols, payouts, and free spins
The Book of Ra symbol has two roles: it works as a wild and as a scatter. It can replace other regular symbols to help complete winning lines, and it is also the symbol that starts the bonus feature.
Symbol set and payouts
The game uses low-value card symbols (10, J, Q, K, A) and higher-value Egyptian symbols. Card symbols usually need at least three matching icons on an active payline to pay. The premium symbols pay more and can start winning from two of a kind. These are the explorer, pharaoh mask, scarab beetle, golden statue and the Book of Ra. The explorer is the top-paying regular symbol, with up to 5,000× the line bet for five on a payline.
How the Book works
If you land three, four or five Book symbols anywhere on the reels, they pay as scatters and trigger the bonus round. The scatter payout is 2×, 20× or 200× your total stake, depending on how many Books land.
Free spins and expanding symbols
Three or more Books award 10 free spins. Before the feature starts, the game randomly chooses one regular symbol to be the expanding symbol.
During free spins, whenever that symbol lands, it expands to cover the full reel. In the feature, the expanding symbol pays across the reels without needing to land on adjacent positions. Together with the Book symbol acting as a wild, this is where the game's biggest wins usually come from.
If more Book symbols land during free spins, you get 10 extra spins each time. Retriggers are not capped.
RTP, volatility, and bet range
Book of Ra Classic has an RTP of 92.13% based on the developer's figure. This can vary by version and casino. For example, Book of Ra Deluxe is usually listed at around 95.10%.
The game is high volatility. That means wins are less frequent, but bigger payouts are possible when they do land. The top win is 5,000x your stake for five explorer symbols on one payline.
Bet sizes usually start at €0.01 per line and go up to €10 per line. With all nine paylines active, that means total bets from €0.09 to €90 per spin. Some casinos use different limits, so it's worth checking before you play.
Where Romanian players can play it
Romanian players can legally play Book of Ra online only at casinos licensed by the ONJN (Oficiul Național pentru Jocuri de Noroc). Sites without current Romanian authorisation are outside the regulated market.
The ONJN keeps an official list of licensed operators on its website. It’s worth checking that list first, then confirming the casino shows a valid ONJN licence number and approval seal in the footer or on its licensing page.
Confirming game availability
A Romanian licence doesn’t mean every casino offers every Novomatic slot. Book of Ra is available at many licensed sites, but each operator chooses its own game library. The easiest way to check is to log in, open the slots section, and search for the title or filter by provider name. You may see Book of Ra Classic, Book of Ra Deluxe, or both, depending on the casino.
Access is also location-based. In practice, you usually need to be physically in Romania to play, and casinos may block access if your connection shows you are outside the country.
Demo mode and mobile play
The demo version of Book of Ra lets you try the game with virtual credits before playing for real money. In most cases, it uses the same reel layout, features and bonus mechanics as the paid version, so it's a practical way to learn the game, test stake settings and get used to the pace without taking any risk.
Many Romanian operators place the demo option directly on the game thumbnail, so you can open it in one click if the free version is available.
Mobile usability
Book of Ra runs in modern mobile browsers through HTML5, so you usually don't need to download a separate app. The controls are simple, with a clear spin button, easy access to the paytable and the same core options you get on desktop, including bet settings, autoplay and the gamble feature.
The 5x3 reel layout fits well on smaller screens in both portrait and landscape mode, and the interface is designed not to block the reels. On current Android and iOS devices, the game is generally stable and easy to use over Wi-Fi or standard mobile data.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Familiar classic slot that many Romanian players know from land-based casinos | Graphics and sound feel old next to newer slots |
| Simple rules, so it's easy to start without learning complex features | High volatility can mean long losing stretches, especially at higher stakes |
| Big-win potential of up to 5,000x the stake | The Classic version has a low RTP of 92.13% |
| Gamble feature can double a win after a paying spin | Only one main bonus feature, so sessions can feel repetitive |
| Usually available in demo mode for practice | Lacks the extra features and bonus variety common in modern slots |
Similar games to try next
If you like Book of Ra, the closest alternatives usually keep the same mix of Egyptian themes, simple reel play, and free spins with expanding symbols.
Egyptian adventures
Book of Dead by Play'n GO is one of the most obvious alternatives, with an explorer theme, 10 paylines, 96.21% RTP, and a top win of 5,000×. Legacy of Egypt, also by Play'n GO, leans more into pharaohs and gods and includes Pyramid Spins that can award up to 20 free spins with multipliers. John Hunter and the Book of Tut by Pragmatic Play follows a similar tomb-exploration style on 10 paylines with 96.01% RTP.
Classic Novomatic options
Lord of the Ocean uses the same expanding symbol feature in free spins, but swaps Egypt for an underwater setting. Dolphin's Pearl Deluxe keeps the familiar five-reel, 10-payline Novomatic format in another sea-themed game. Lucky Lady's Charm Deluxe is a long-running favourite with an old-school feel and a 3× multiplier during free spins. If you want something even simpler, Sizzling Hot Deluxe is a straightforward fruit slot with five paylines.