Discover Book of Ra Essentials

FeatureDetails
DeveloperNovomatic (Austrian studio, 2005 release)
Reels / Rows5 reels, 3 rows
Paylines1–9 adjustable
RTP94.26 %
VolatilityHigh
Min–Max Bet€0.18 – €45 (varies by casino)
Top Win5,000× line stake (Explorer x5)
Bonus10 Free Games with special expanding symbol

How You Play

You play Book of Ra on a 5×3 grid where you can activate up to nine paylines. Set your coin value from €0.02 to €5.00, then pick 1–9 lines. Your total bet equals coin value × lines × bet level. You need matching symbols from left to right on active paylines to win.

Your Symbol Guide

The Explorer pays the most, followed by the Pharaoh statue, Scarab, and Golden Sarcophagus. Card symbols 10 through A offer smaller wins. The Book of Ra works as both Wild and Scatter - it replaces other symbols and triggers 10 free spins when three or more land anywhere on your reels.

What You Can Win

Five Explorers give you 5,000× your line stake. Pharaoh statues pay 2,000× while Scarabs award 750×. Most symbols need three matches, but you win with just two Explorers or Books. Free spins feature expanding symbols that cover whole reels and pay anywhere, potentially delivering up to 45,000× your stake in one round.

Meet Novomatic: The Game Provider

You're playing slots from one of Europe's biggest gaming companies. Novomatic started in 1980 when Austrian businessman Johann Graf founded the company in Gumpoldskirchen, Austria. Today you benefit from their massive operation - over 21,000 employees managing 270,000+ gaming terminals across 80+ countries worldwide.

Your Book of Ra experience comes from a developer with serious credentials. They've built over 400 different games, but Book of Ra stands out as their crown jewel. When it launched in land-based casinos back in 2005 and moved online in 2008, it basically created the entire "Book" slot category that dozens of other companies now copy.

Company Facts

  • Founded: 1980 by Johann Graf
  • Location: Gumpoldskirchen, Austria
  • Staff: 21,000+ employees
  • Markets: 80+ countries
  • Signature Game: Book of Ra (original 9-payline plus 10-payline Deluxe)

Your Gaming Safety

You get certified fair play with every spin. Novomatic uses RNG technology that's tested by GLI and iTech Labs - two respected auditing companies that verify random outcomes. Since they hold gambling licenses in the UK, Italy, Spain and other regulated markets, you also get built-in protection tools like session timers and self-exclusion options.

Dive into Book of Ra Deluxe

Book of Ra Deluxe takes Novomatic's classic and gives it a serious upgrade. You'll notice sharper 3D-style graphics right away, plus higher resolution backgrounds that make those ancient Egyptian temples pop. The reel transitions flow smoother too, creating a desert atmosphere that actually draws you in.

Key Differences at a Glance

FeatureOriginalDeluxe
Reels / Rows5 × 35 × 3
Paylines9 fixed10 adjustable
RTP≈ 92.13 %≈ 95.03 %
VolatilityMedium-HighHigh
Min–Max Bet*€0.09–€45€0.10–€50

*Bet limits may vary by operator.

What Changed from the Original

That extra 10th payline gives you more control over your stake and creates different winning patterns. The soundtrack got a complete makeover with deeper bass and temple drums that won't wear you down during longer sessions. You can also play on any device thanks to the HTML5 build that works perfectly on retina displays, iOS and Android.

Enhanced Bonus Features

Your beloved Book symbol still acts as Wild and Scatter, but the improved engine triggers those 3-Book free spins roughly every 150 spins. You get 10 free spins with one randomly chosen expanding symbol that stretches across entire reels when it appears. The red-or-black Gamble feature lets you double wins up to five times, just like before but with cleaner visuals.

Master Winning Strategies

Manage Your Bet Sizes

You need to balance your bets with your bankroll carefully. Starting with smaller stakes lets you play longer and wait for the free spins feature to trigger. Once you're comfortable with the game's rhythm, you can adjust your bet per line. Some players increase their stakes slightly when they sense a hot streak, but there's no guaranteed pattern.

Set a session bankroll of at least 100× your base bet to absorb lengthy dry spells. Book of Ra Deluxe has an RTP of 95.03% and high volatility. Use the full 10 paylines since reducing lines lowers hit frequency and your chance of landing three Book symbols. After any 30-40 dead spins, consider dropping to the table minimum to preserve funds until variance swings back.

Target the Free Spins Round

Your main goal is triggering the bonus feature with three or more Book symbols. This is where the real wins happen. The expanding symbol chosen at the start of free spins can cover entire reels and pay on any position across the paylines.

You'll want to keep playing until you activate this feature since base game wins tend to be modest. Pay attention to which symbol expands during your bonus round. Higher-value symbols like the explorer deliver better payouts when they stretch across the reels. Three, four, or five Books award 10 free spins plus 2×, 20×, or 200× your stake respectively. Free spins can be retriggered indefinitely, often accounting for 60%+ of total session profit.

Navigate Payment Methods

Quick Deposit Options

You can fund your Book of Ra sessions using several payment solutions accepted at French-licensed online casinos. Credit cards like Visa and Mastercard work best for most players, putting money in your account within minutes. E-wallets such as Skrill, Neteller, and PayPal are faster, showing funds almost instantly. Banking services like Trustly and mobile options including Apple Pay or the French app Lydia let you top up with one tap without sharing card details.

Processing Times

Standard bank transfers take two to three business days before credits show up. Prepaid cards like Paysafecard only work for deposits but keep your banking info private. French casinos process most deposits right away for cards, e-wallets, and Trustly. Withdrawals take longer: e-wallets pay out in 12–24 hours, Trustly needs 24–48 hours, cards require three to five days, and wire transfers can take up to five days.

MethodDeposit TimeWithdrawal TimeMin. DepositFees
Visa/MastercardInstant3–5 days€10–€200–2%
Skrill/NetellerInstantUnder 24h€10Up to 2.5%
PayPalInstantUnder 24h€10None
TrustlyInstant24–48h€10None
PaysafecardInstantNot available€102% reload

Check your casino's cashier for exact limits. ANJ-regulated sites often enforce €10 minimums, though VIP players might get higher flexibility.

Unlock Free Spins Features

How to Trigger Bonus Rounds

You need three or more Book of Ra symbols anywhere on the reels to start the free spins feature. These books work as both Wild and Scatter symbols. The number of books doesn't change your spin count—you always get 10 free games. However, more books mean bigger instant prizes: 3 books pay 2× your total stake, 4 books give you 20×, and 5 books deliver 200× before your bonus round starts.

Special Expanding Symbols

Before your free spins begin, the game randomly picks one regular symbol as your Special Expanding Symbol. When this symbol appears during bonus spins, it stretches across the entire reel and pays on all paylines. It doesn't matter if the symbols aren't next to each other—they still count as wins. High-value symbols like the Explorer can pay up to 5,000× your line bet for five matching symbols, creating massive payouts when they expand across multiple reels.

Extending Your Bonus

Your bonus round can continue indefinitely. Landing 3 or more books during free spins gives you another 10 spins while keeping your expanding symbol active. Novomatic's original and Deluxe versions have no official limit on retriggers, so you could theoretically play 100+ bonus spins in one session.

Access Mobile Gameplay

You can play Book of Ra instantly on your smartphone or tablet thanks to HTML5 technology. No downloads needed - just open any modern mobile browser and start spinning. The game adapts automatically to portrait or landscape mode while keeping the same 5-reel, 9-payline setup you know from desktop.

Your mobile experience maintains identical RTP rates: 92.13% for the classic version and 95.50% for Deluxe. French casinos optimize the interface for touch controls, so you'll find oversized spin buttons and swipe-friendly bet menus. Due to ANJ regulations in France, auto-play features often aren't available on mobile platforms.

Connection Requirements

You need at least 1 Mbps internet speed for smooth gameplay. Wi-Fi works best, though 4G and 5G handle the streaming without issues. EDGE connections might cause bonus animations to lag or freeze.

Battery and Data Usage

Expect around 5 MB of data usage per 10 minutes of continuous play. Your battery will drop roughly 10-12% during a 30-minute session. OLED screens on newer devices help conserve power by dimming the dark backgrounds in the Egyptian tomb setting.

Some operators like Casino777 and Betway offer dedicated mobile apps that preload graphics, reducing data consumption by up to 20% while delivering the same game engine and payout structure.

Locate Top French Casinos

Since June 2021, the former ARJEL merged into the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). The ANJ handles licenses for sports betting, horse racing and poker, but real-money online slots like Book of Ra aren't regulated in France. You won't find Book of Ra on any ANJ-licensed website.

Your options are land-based casinos or EU-licensed platforms. Physical venues like Casino Barrière Enghien-les-Bains and Casino Partouche Lyon Vert feature Novomatic cabinets with Book of Ra. For online play, you can join reputable platforms regulated by Malta Gaming Authority or Gibraltar that accept French residents.

Choosing the Right Platform

When selecting an international casino offering Book of Ra Classic, Deluxe or 10, verify the site holds a Tier-1 EU license. Look for published RTP certificates and responsible gaming tools that meet French player protection standards.

Registration Checklist

  • License: MGA, UKGC, or Gibraltar required
  • Game Library: Confirm Book of Ra variants available
  • Currency: Euro deposits without conversion fees
  • Payment Methods: Carte Bancaire, Paysafecard, Skrill accepted
  • Support: French language chat and GDPR compliance