Book of Ra
RTP settings, and who runs which
Novomatic's games are distributed online by Greentube, and the casino picks the setting. The figure below is the setting shown on public listings for the original 2005 game; later editions such as Deluxe are separate games with their own settings.
| Setting | RTP | House edge | Casinos on this setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full | 92.13% | 7.87% |
How Book of Ra plays
Book of Ra is the Novomatic classic that started the “book” genre, now distributed online by Greentube. It is a five-reel, three-row slot with 9 lines and an Egyptian-explorer theme. The book symbol is both wild and scatter: it substitutes for other symbols and, when three or more land, starts the free spins.
At the start of the free spins one symbol is chosen at random to be the expanding symbol. Whenever it lands during the feature, it can expand to cover its whole reel and pay on all lines. A high-paying expanding symbol, such as the explorer, is where the 5,000x ceiling comes from. Book of Dead and many other “book” games copy this design almost exactly.
Volatility in practice
High. With 9 lines, base-game wins are small and fairly frequent, about one spin in 3.6 on the listing, but much of the value sits in the free spins and depends on which symbol expands. A low-paying expanding symbol often means a small feature.
RTP settings
The original Book of Ra is listed at 92.13%, about four points below most modern slots. That is roughly €40 more lost per €1,000 wagered compared with a 96% game. The gamble feature does not change that. If you like the book mechanic, compare the RTP of the editions your casino offers before you play.
Questions people ask
What is the RTP of Book of Ra?
The original is listed at 92.13%, low by modern standards. Check the info panel, and note that Book of Ra Deluxe and later editions are different games.
How do the free spins work?
Three or more book symbols start the free spins. One symbol is picked at random to expand across whole reels during the feature, which is where the big wins come from.
What is the gamble feature?
After a win you can gamble it on a card colour to double it or lose it. It does not improve the return, and in many markets it is disabled.
When was Book of Ra released?
The original was released in 2005 (listed date 3 March 2005).