UltraGambler earns a commission if you sign up through some links on this page. It never changes our ratings. 18+. How we make money
Quick verdict: Book of Ra is Novomatic’s 2005 slot that started the whole “Book” genre: explore a tomb with an adventurer, land three Books for 10 free spins, and hope a high-paying symbol expands across the reels. The classic version has a low 92.13% RTP; Book of Ra Deluxe raises it to 95.10% and adds a tenth payline. Both are high volatility with a 5,000x top win.
Where we play Book of Ra
1win is our top-rated casino (9.9/10), with thousands of slots and a crypto withdrawal that took 15 minutes in our test.
Play at 1win18+. T&Cs apply. Not available in every country. Game libraries vary, so search the lobby for Book of Ra.
Book of Ra at a glance
| Provider | Novomatic (Greentube) |
|---|---|
| Released | 2005 (Deluxe later) |
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | Classic: 1 to 9; Deluxe: 1 to 10 |
| RTP | Classic 92.13%; Deluxe 95.10% |
| Volatility | High |
| Min bet | From $0.01 per line |
| Max win | 5,000x your stake |
| Free spins | 10, with an expanding symbol |
18+. T&Cs apply. Check that online gambling is legal where you live.
How Book of Ra works
Wins pay left to right on the active paylines. The adventurer pays the most, followed by the pharaoh mask, the scarab and the statue, with card royals at the bottom. The Book symbol is both wild and scatter, so it substitutes for everything and pays anywhere on the reels.
Free spins and the expanding symbol
Three or more Books trigger 10 free spins. Before they start, one regular symbol is picked at random to be the expanding symbol. Whenever it lands on enough reels to make a win, it fills those reels completely and pays on every active line. Three more Books during the feature retrigger it.
Classic vs Deluxe
The original Book of Ra has 9 paylines and a 92.13% RTP, which is low by today’s standards. Book of Ra Deluxe updates the graphics, adds a tenth payline and raises the RTP to 95.10%. If both are available, Deluxe is the better choice.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Simple rules and a famous bonus | Classic RTP of 92.13% is low |
| Expanding symbol can fill the screen | High volatility means long dry spells |
| Bets from a cent per line | Dated look on the classic version |
| 5,000x max win | Only one bonus feature |
Tips
- Pick Book of Ra Deluxe over the classic version where you can, for the better RTP.
- Play all lines: expanding symbols pay per line, so fewer lines means smaller bonus wins.
- If you like the format, Play’n GO’s Book of Dead offers a 96.21% default RTP.
- Find more low-stake options in our 1 cent slots guide.
Book of Ra vs Book of Dead and other book slots
Book of Ra created the formula that dozens of later “book” slots copied: a book symbol that is both wild and scatter, and free spins with one expanding symbol. The biggest difference between them today is the RTP. The classic Book of Ra returns 92.13%, while Play’n GO’s Book of Dead and Legacy of Dead both run above 96% at their best settings, with the same 5,000x top win. Not every Egyptian slot is a book game: WMS’s Lady of Egypt uses a scrolling 10-reel strip instead.
| Slot | Provider | Released | Top RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra (classic) | Novomatic | 2005 | 92.13% | 5,000x |
| Book of Ra Deluxe | Novomatic | Later remake | 95.10% | 5,000x |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 2016 | 96.21% | 5,000x |
| Legacy of Dead | Play’n GO | 2020 | 96.58% | 5,000x |
Should you play Book of Ra or Deluxe?
If you can choose, pick Book of Ra Deluxe: it plays almost the same but returns about 3% more over time and adds a tenth payline. The classic is worth playing only for nostalgia. Both are high volatility, so most sessions depend on the free spins and on which symbol expands; a high-paying symbol such as the adventurer can fill the screen, while a low card symbol pays far less. For more Novomatic (Gaminator) slots, see our guide.
Where to play Book of Ra
Our first choice is 1win (9.9/10), which paid our test crypto withdrawal in 15 minutes. BitStarz (9.5/10) is a good alternative. Novomatic games are not stocked in every country, so search the lobby for Book of Ra Deluxe first, since it has the better RTP (95.10% against 92.13%). Compare more options in our casino reviews.
Book of Ra FAQs
What is the RTP of Book of Ra?
92.13% for the classic version and 95.10% for Book of Ra Deluxe.
How do you trigger free spins in Book of Ra?
Land three or more Book symbols anywhere for 10 free spins with an expanding symbol.
What is the max win on Book of Ra?
5,000x your stake.
Is Book of Ra Deluxe better than the original?
Yes for most players: it has a higher RTP and an extra payline.
Who makes Book of Ra?
Novomatic, through its online studio Greentube.
Is Book of Ra the same as Book of Dead?
No. They work in a similar way, but Book of Ra is Novomatic’s 2005 original and Book of Dead is Play’n GO’s 2016 game, with a higher top RTP of 96.21%.
Signing up at 1win? Use promo code Ultragambler for the 500% welcome package. How it works
18+. T&Cs apply.
Check your local laws before you play
Online gambling laws differ from country to country, and in some places it is restricted or not permitted at all. Before you sign up to any casino listed on UltraGambler, check that online gambling is legal where you live and that the casino accepts players from your country. You must be 18 or older (or the legal gambling age in your country, if higher) to play. Only gamble with money you can afford to lose, and use the deposit limits and self-exclusion tools your casino provides if gambling stops being fun.
