Added: Dec 12, 2025
Provider:
Greentube
Book of Ra from Greentube is the classic Egyptian “book” slot that helped define the genre: 5 reels, 9 adjustable paylines, and a straightforward base game that funnels toward the free spins bonus. Land 3+ Book symbols to trigger 10 free spins, watch one random symbol become the expanding icon for…
Book of Ra is one of the most recognisable “book” slots ever released, and it remains a go-to pick for players who enjoy classic casino pacing and a clear, singular objective: reach the free spins bonus and let the expanding symbol do the heavy lifting. Greentube publishes the online edition under the Novomatic umbrella, keeping the mechanics intentionally simple so the bonus round stands out as the main source of excitement.
This is not a modern feature-fest. Instead, Book of Ra focuses on fundamentals: an adjustable payline setup, a small set of themed symbols, and the iconic Book symbol that doubles as both wild and scatter. If you like slots where the suspense builds steadily and the biggest moments are concentrated into a single bonus feature, this title still delivers.
Book of Ra leans into a straightforward Ancient Egypt adventure motif. The reels are framed by temple columns and sit against a desert backdrop, with symbol art built around familiar tomb-raiding imagery rather than elaborate cinematics. The overall presentation reflects its heritage as a long-running classic: the animations are minimal, the interface is functional, and the focus stays on readability over spectacle.
That “retro” feel is part of the appeal. Many players return to Book of Ra precisely because it looks and plays like a traditional casino slot, only delivered online. Sound effects are similarly old-school, with sharp chimes and arcade-style cues that make it easy to track wins and feature triggers even during faster spin sessions.
The game runs on 5 reels with 3 rows and up to 9 paylines. Paylines are adjustable, which means you can reduce the number of active lines or play with all 9 for full coverage of the reel window. This structure is one of the reasons Book of Ra became so widely copied: it is immediately familiar, easy to understand, and quick to play once you know what each symbol does.
Wins are evaluated on paylines, starting from the leftmost reel, and the simplicity of the grid keeps the core loop clean: set your lines, set your stake, spin, and look for either a payline hit or a Book-triggered feature. The adjustable payline format also makes it easy to tailor sessions to a particular bankroll approach without changing the underlying rhythm of the game.
Book of Ra uses a small set of higher-value themed icons alongside lower-value card ranks. The explorer character is typically the top-paying regular symbol, supported by several Egyptian artefacts and figures, while the 10 through Ace symbols handle the steady, low-impact line hits that keep the base game moving.
The key structural detail is that the slot is not designed around constant feature triggers or stacked modifiers. Instead, it relies on a classic paytable approach where line wins are meaningful when they land, but the biggest swing potential comes from the bonus round. That design choice influences everything from session pacing to stake selection, and it is why many players treat Book of Ra as a “bonus-first” slot rather than a base-game grinder.
Book of Ra combines two familiar controls: the number of active paylines and the stake per line. In commonly listed online configurations, stakes start at 0.01 per line and go up to 10 per line, which translates to 0.09 to 90 per spin when all 9 paylines are active. This style of staking rewards clarity: you always know how much of your total wager is being allocated to each payline.
The most practical way to approach staking is to decide whether you want to play all paylines. Many players prefer keeping all 9 active so they do not miss payline combinations, then adjust the cost per line to match their budget. If you choose to reduce paylines, remember that you are narrowing your coverage in exchange for a lower total bet, which can materially change how often you see small line hits during base play.
RTP: 92.13% (with other published configurations ranging from 88.21% to 96.06%). Volatility: high. In practical terms, Book of Ra is shaped around a “wait for the bonus” experience: stretches of routine spins can be followed by a comparatively dramatic bonus round outcome when the expanding symbol connects across reels.
The high-volatility profile is reinforced by how the feature works. Your biggest session swings usually come from a strong expanding-symbol sequence during free spins, especially when it lands on multiple reels and stacks into several payline wins at once. This is why many players keep stakes conservative until they have a strong feel for the slot’s pacing, then scale up cautiously if they want more meaningful bonus round upside.
The Book symbol is the heart of the game, because it serves two roles at the same time. First, it functions as a wild in regular gameplay, substituting for other symbols to help complete payline wins. Second, it functions as a scatter for the main bonus feature, with 3 or more Books landing anywhere triggering the free spins bonus.
This dual-purpose design is part of why Book of Ra feels so focused: there is one symbol you are always watching. In the base game, Books can turn near-misses into wins; in the bigger picture, they are your gateway into the bonus feature where the expanding symbol mechanic can deliver the most memorable results.
The signature bonus round is triggered by landing at least 3 Book symbols. The game awards 10 free spins, and before the spins begin it selects a random regular symbol to become the expanding symbol for that entire feature. As free spins play out, whenever the chosen symbol participates in a win, it can expand to fill its reel positions and effectively amplify the payline impact across the grid.
What makes this feature special is the way it can concentrate value. A single lucky sequence where the expanding symbol lands on multiple reels can create a “full-screen” feeling of coverage, leading to multiple line wins paid together. The feature can also be extended: landing additional Books during the bonus round awards extra free spins, keeping the same expanding symbol in play and giving you more chances to connect the reels in your favour.
Book of Ra also includes a traditional gamble option, allowing you to risk a win for a chance to increase it. This feature is simple by design: it is an optional post-win decision rather than a core part of the slot’s math model. Players who enjoy classic casino traditions may appreciate it, while others will prefer to bank wins and stay focused on the primary goal of reaching free spins.
From a session-management perspective, the gamble feature can change volatility feel even further, because it introduces additional all-or-nothing decisions after a payout. If your objective is to keep your bankroll stable while hunting for the bonus round, a conservative approach is to treat the gamble feature as occasional entertainment rather than a default step after every win.
Book of Ra does not rely on progressive jackpots or modern collect-and-link mechanics. There is no hold-and-win grid, no persistent collection trail, and no expanding prize ladder that carries over between spins. Instead, the slot places its ceiling in the free spins bonus and keeps everything else direct and transparent.
The published maximum win is 5,000× bet, which is substantial for a classic-format slot. There is also no bonus buy feature in the standard version, so reaching free spins is always a natural trigger rather than a paid shortcut. If you prefer a single, iconic bonus feature over layers of extra systems, this “what you see is what you get” structure is exactly why Book of Ra still holds attention.
Despite its classic origins, Book of Ra is typically delivered in a mobile-friendly format with a clean interface that scales well to smaller screens. The reels remain easy to read, the controls are simple enough to use one-handed, and the low visual complexity helps the game run smoothly on a wide range of devices.
On mobile, the best experience usually comes from locking in a comfortable stake setup and playing at a steady pace, since the bonus round is the main attraction and can take time to arrive. If you are testing the game for the first time, portrait mode can be helpful for quick spins, while landscape mode can make the reels and payline indicators easier to follow during free spins sequences.
Book of Ra is a slot where demo play has genuine value, because the mechanics are simple but the pacing is not always intuitive for new players. In demo mode, you can practice setting paylines, adjusting the cost per line, and recognising how the expanding symbol behaves during free spins without putting bankroll at risk.
When you are ready, you can play the Book of Ra slot online at casinos that offer Greentube games. A practical approach is to start with a conservative real-money stake after the demo, then increase only if you are comfortable with the high-volatility profile and the bonus-focused nature of the game. This is the kind of slot where patience and bankroll discipline matter more than chasing constant action.
Book of Ra still earns its place in modern lobbies for one main reason: it delivers a clean, classic experience that many newer releases have moved away from. The base game is uncomplicated, the feature trigger is easy to understand, and the free spins mechanic remains satisfying when the expanding symbol lands at the right time.
If you enjoy this style of gameplay, try more games from Greentube that build on the same straightforward foundations, often with upgraded visuals or slightly different feature twists. Many casino lobbies file Greentube slots online in the same classic category, making it easy to compare titles and find the version that matches your preferred pace and feature intensity.