Novomatic slots have shaped European casino gaming for decades, from stripped-back fruit machines and the Book of Ra expanding-symbol formula to sticky Wilds, cascading reels, fixed jackpots and newer Lock & Spin mechanics. We compared the best Novomatic and Greentube slots across bonus design, volatility, jackpot structure, reel mechanics and player experience to find the strongest games for different styles of play.
Best Novomatic Slots: Quick Comparison
| Game | RTP / Volatility | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Deluxe Special Expanding Symbol Free Games Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel High |
Best for classic expanding-symbol slots | Play Now |
| Cash Connection™ – Book of Ra™ Lock & Spin / four jackpots Max Win: 500x line win + jackpots |
Check game panel | Best for Book of Ra jackpot gameplay | Play Now |
| Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe Free Spins / Lucky Lady Wild Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel Medium |
Best for classic Novomatic Free Spins | Play Now |
| Sizzling Hot Deluxe Classic fruit symbols / Star Scatter Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel High |
Best for classic fruit-machine play | Play Now |
| Lord of the Ocean Special Expanding Symbol Free Games Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel High |
Best for mythology-themed expanding symbols | Play Now |
| Faust Wild-Scatter hybrid / Expanding Symbol Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel High |
Best for high-volatility Book-style bonuses | Play Now |
| Jackpot Diamonds Diamond Mystery four-tier jackpot Max Win: Up to 5,000x in Diamond Mystery series |
Check game panel Low-Medium |
Best for fixed four-tier jackpots | Play Now |
| Garden of Riches Sticky Wild Free Games Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel Medium |
Best for accumulating Sticky Wilds | Play Now |
| Santa’s Riches Cascading Reels / Free Games Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel Medium |
Best for Novomatic cascading wins | Play Now |
| Gangster Paradise Stacked Wilds / Free Games Max Win: Check game panel |
Configurable Medium |
Best for stacked-Wild Free Spins | Play Now |
| Wild West Multi-reel-set architecture Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel Medium-High |
Best for unusual Novomatic reel layouts | Play Now |
| Cops ‘n’ Robbers Multiple bonus routes / Free Games Max Win: Check game panel |
Check game panel Medium |
Best for multiple classic bonus features | Play Now |
Greentube is the digital gaming and entertainment division of NOVOMATIC, and its online catalogue combines long-running land-based brands with newer jackpot and feature families. You can compare Novomatic with other slot software providers in our main developer guide.
Do All Novomatic Slots Play Like Book of Ra?
| Game | Main Mechanic | Book-Style? |
|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra Deluxe | Special Expanding Symbol | Yes |
| Lord of the Ocean | Special Expanding Symbol | Yes |
| Faust | Special Expanding Symbol | Yes |
| Garden of Riches | Sticky Wilds | No |
| Santa’s Riches | Cascading Reels | No |
| Cash Connection™ – Book of Ra™ | Lock & Spin / jackpots | No, modernised format |
No. Only three of the 12 games in this selection use the classic special expanding-symbol Free Games formula directly: Book of Ra Deluxe, Lord of the Ocean and Faust.
That mechanic is hugely influential in the Novomatic catalogue, but it is not the whole catalogue. Garden of Riches builds a bonus around Sticky Wilds, Santa’s Riches uses cascades, Jackpot Diamonds uses a four-tier jackpot pick, Sizzling Hot Deluxe strips the experience back to fruit symbols and scatter pays, and Cash Connection – Book of Ra moves the Book franchise into Lock & Spin jackpots.
The Book formula is therefore better understood as one of Novomatic’s defining mechanics rather than a template used by every game.
Full Reviews: The 12 Best Novomatic Slots
Book of Ra Deluxe
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: High
- Best For: Classic expanding-symbol slots
- Best Feature: Special Expanding Symbol Free Games
Book of Ra Deluxe is the defining Novomatic online slot and the title most closely associated with the entire “Book” genre. The five-reel, 10-line structure is deliberately simple, with the Book acting as both Wild and Scatter.
The Free Games feature creates the game’s identity. One regular symbol is randomly selected as the Special Expanding Symbol for the bonus, and whenever enough copies appear they can expand vertically across their reels. That makes the feature highly dependent on which symbol is selected and how often it lands, producing a much more volatile bonus than the sparse base game suggests.
Cash Connection™ – Book of Ra™
- RTP: Check game panel
- Grid: 5 reels / 10 win lines
- Best For: Book of Ra jackpot gameplay
- Best Feature: Lock & Spin
- Jackpots: Four levels
Cash Connection – Book of Ra takes the recognisable five-reel, 10-line Book of Ra framework and bolts a modern jackpot system onto it. Six or more Coin symbols trigger Lock & Spin, where the objective shifts from normal paylines to collecting additional Coins and chasing one of four jackpot levels.
The Explorer can still produce a conventional line win of up to 500x stake, but the headline reason to choose this version is the jackpot architecture. It is aimed at players who like the Book of Ra identity but want a modern respin-style feature rather than relying entirely on expanding-symbol Free Games.
Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: Medium
- Best For: Classic Novomatic Free Spins
- Best Feature: Lucky Lady Wild / Free Games
Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe is one of Novomatic’s enduring Blue Chip classics, built around horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, ladybirds and other European symbols of good fortune. The Lucky Lady herself acts as the Wild, while the Crystal Ball provides the route into the Free Games feature.
The game is much easier to read than the modern jackpot titles in the catalogue. There are no large collection meters or variable reel systems to track, making Lucky Lady’s Charm one of the cleaner recommendations for players who simply want traditional Novomatic Free Spins.
Sizzling Hot Deluxe
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: High
- Best For: Classic fruit-machine play
- Best Feature: Star Scatter Pays
Sizzling Hot Deluxe is the most stripped-back game in this selection. Cherries, lemons, oranges, plums, grapes, watermelons and 7s make up the paytable, while the Star pays as a Scatter.
There are no Free Spins, Wild symbols or layered bonus games. That makes it the mechanical opposite of Cash Connection – Book of Ra or Jackpot Diamonds. Players looking specifically for traditional European fruit-slot play without waiting for a feature trigger should start here.
How Did Book of Ra Change When Greentube Added Cash Connection?
| Feature | Book of Ra Deluxe | Cash Connection – Book of Ra |
|---|---|---|
| Reels | 5 | 5 |
| Win Lines | 10 | 10 |
| Signature Feature | Special Expanding Symbol Free Games | Lock & Spin |
| Jackpots | None | Four levels |
| Lock & Spin Trigger | None | 6+ Coin symbols |
The surprising part is how little Greentube changed the visible chassis. Both versions use five reels and 10 win lines, so Cash Connection still looks recognisably like a Book of Ra game.
The major change is where the feature value sits. Book of Ra Deluxe concentrates its volatility into the Special Expanding Symbol Free Games feature. Cash Connection – Book of Ra instead introduces Coin collection, Lock & Spin and four jackpot levels.
It is therefore less a replacement for Book of Ra Deluxe than a different interpretation of the same franchise: one built around expanding symbols, the other around jackpot respins.
Lord of the Ocean
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: High
- Best For: Mythology-themed expanding symbols
- Best Feature: Special Expanding Symbol Free Games
Lord of the Ocean takes the central Book-style mechanic and moves it underwater. Poseidon, mermaids, treasure chests and ancient artefacts replace the Egyptian symbols, but the core appeal remains the Special Expanding Symbol during Free Games.
That makes Lord of the Ocean the natural alternative for players who enjoy Book of Ra’s bonus architecture but prefer Greek mythology. Mechanically, the resemblance is deliberate rather than incidental.
Faust
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: High
- Best For: High-volatility Book-style bonuses
- Best Feature: Mephistopheles Wild-Scatter / Expanding Symbol
Faust gives the same broad expanding-symbol formula a much darker identity. Mephistopheles works as both Wild and Scatter, while the Free Games round randomly selects an expanding symbol for the feature.
The Goethe theme also makes Faust one of the more unusual narrative choices in Novomatic’s back catalogue. Players searching for Book-style gameplay without the standard Egyptian or mythological setting should find this the most distinctive alternative.
Jackpot Diamonds
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: Low-Medium
- Best For: Fixed four-tier jackpots
- Best Feature: Diamond Mystery Jackpot
- Top Series Prize: Up to 5,000x depending on title
Jackpot Diamonds represents Greentube’s Diamond Mystery approach, where classic slot presentation is combined with a four-level fixed jackpot system. When the jackpot feature triggers, the player moves to a pick screen and reveals symbols until one of the corresponding jackpot tiers is awarded.
The Diamond Mystery family can offer prizes of up to 5,000x stake, although the exact value varies between titles. That makes Jackpot Diamonds the cleaner choice for players who want a recognisable fixed jackpot ladder rather than the Lock & Spin structure of Cash Connection.
Garden of Riches
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: Medium
- Best For: Accumulating Sticky Wilds
- Best Feature: Sticky Wild Free Games
Garden of Riches is built around a feature that can improve as it progresses. Fairy Princess Wilds landing during Free Games remain fixed in position for the rest of the bonus, gradually increasing the number of useful Wild positions available.
That gives the bonus an obvious arc. Early Free Games can establish the Wild structure, while later spins benefit from everything already collected. It is one of the strongest Novomatic options for players who like persistent progress during a bonus rather than independent Free Spins.
Santa’s Riches
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: Medium
- Best For: Novomatic cascading wins
- Best Feature: Cascading Reels
Santa’s Riches is unusual in this catalogue because a winning spin does not necessarily finish after its first payout. Winning symbols disappear and replacements fall into the gaps, creating the possibility of another combination without another paid wager.
That cascading loop gives it a very different tempo from Book of Ra, Sizzling Hot or Lucky Lady’s Charm. Players searching specifically for a Novomatic game where one spin can produce a chain of consecutive wins should start here.
Gangster Paradise
- RTP: Configurable
- Volatility: Medium
- Best For: Stacked-Wild Free Spins
- Best Feature: Stacked Wilds
Gangster Paradise uses a 1920s crime theme with suited mobsters, getaway cars and police imagery, but the gameplay is straightforward. Stacked Wilds provide the main source of stronger combinations, while Police Badge Scatters trigger Free Games.
The Wild stacks remain important during the feature, where full-reel coverage can connect several paylines at once. It is a good middle-ground option for players who want more feature activity than Sizzling Hot but do not want jackpot meters or expanding-symbol mechanics.
Wild West
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: Medium-High
- Best For: Unusual Novomatic reel layouts
- Best Feature: Multi-Reel-Set Architecture
Wild West earns its place because it is structurally different from the majority of Novomatic classics. The Western setting is conventional, but the use of multiple reel sets makes the presentation less predictable than the familiar five-reel Book and fruit-machine formats.
That makes it the stronger pick for players who want something visually and mechanically different without leaving the older Novomatic catalogue entirely.
Cops ‘n’ Robbers
- RTP: Check game panel
- Volatility: Medium
- Best For: Multiple classic bonus features
- Best Feature: Multiple Bonus Routes / Free Games
Cops ‘n’ Robbers uses a lighter crime-comedy presentation than Gangster Paradise and layers several bonus routes around a conventional reel structure. The Dog works as the Wild, while Scatter combinations provide access to the Free Games feature.
The main attraction is variety rather than one dominant mechanic. It is the better option for players who prefer several smaller bonus routes over a game where almost all the value is concentrated into one expanding-symbol or jackpot feature.
Which Novomatic Slot Is Better for Jackpots?
| Game | Jackpot Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Jackpot Diamonds | Four-tier Diamond Mystery pick | Simple fixed jackpot selection |
| Cash Connection – Book of Ra | Lock & Spin with four jackpots | Respins and jackpot collection |
Jackpot Diamonds is the simpler jackpot game. Its Diamond Mystery structure moves into a pick feature where matching symbols determine which fixed jackpot tier is awarded.
Cash Connection – Book of Ra is the more mechanically involved option. Six or more Coins trigger Lock & Spin, so the jackpot chase becomes part of a respin sequence rather than a separate reveal screen.
Neither format is inherently better. Choose Jackpot Diamonds if you want a direct fixed-jackpot feature, and Cash Connection – Book of Ra if you prefer a modern Hold/Lock & Spin style where the feature itself builds before the final prize.
Which Novomatic Slot Should You Play?
Book of Ra Deluxe remains our overall Novomatic pick because it is the clearest expression of the provider’s most influential mechanic and the benchmark against which later Book-style slots are still compared.
Best Novomatic Slot for Jackpots
Cash Connection – Book of Ra is the better choice if you want Lock & Spin plus four jackpot levels. Jackpot Diamonds is the stronger alternative for a simpler fixed four-tier jackpot feature.
Best Novomatic Slot for Expanding Symbols
Book of Ra Deluxe remains the benchmark. Lord of the Ocean offers a similar mechanic with a mythology theme, while Faust gives it a darker, higher-volatility presentation.
Best Classic Novomatic Fruit Slot
Sizzling Hot Deluxe is the cleanest choice. There are no Wilds, Free Spins or complicated feature states, just traditional fruit symbols and Scatter payouts.
Best Novomatic Slot for Sticky Wilds
Garden of Riches stands out because Wild positions remain active during Free Games, allowing the bonus grid to become stronger as more Sticky Wilds accumulate.
Best Novomatic Slot for Cascading Wins
Santa’s Riches is the strongest choice in this sample because winning symbols disappear and replacements can create additional combinations from the original wager.
Best Novomatic Slot for Simple Free Spins
Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe is one of the most accessible classic options, combining a conventional reel setup with a straightforward Free Games trigger and Wild symbol.
Novomatic Slot Games – Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Novomatic slot?
Book of Ra Deluxe is our overall choice because its Special Expanding Symbol Free Games feature became one of Novomatic’s defining mechanics. Cash Connection – Book of Ra is the better alternative if you want the same franchise combined with Lock & Spin jackpots.
What is the difference between Novomatic and Greentube?
NOVOMATIC is the wider Austrian gaming group, while Greentube is its digital gaming and entertainment division. Greentube supplies online casino content that includes many of the best-known Novomatic brands and classic slot franchises.
What is the Book of Ra expanding symbol?
When Book of Ra Deluxe Free Games begin, one regular symbol is selected as the Special Expanding Symbol. During the feature, qualifying appearances can expand vertically across the full reel and create wins across more paylines.
Do all Novomatic slots use expanding symbols?
No. Only three of the 12 games in this comparison directly use the classic Book-style Special Expanding Symbol mechanic: Book of Ra Deluxe, Lord of the Ocean and Faust. Other titles use Sticky Wilds, cascades, jackpots, stacked Wilds or traditional fruit-machine gameplay.
Which Novomatic slots have jackpots?
Jackpot Diamonds uses the four-tier Diamond Mystery fixed jackpot system, while Cash Connection – Book of Ra combines four jackpot levels with a Lock & Spin feature. Greentube also operates wider Cash Connection, Diamond Mystery and Diamond Link jackpot families.
Which Novomatic slots are the Blue Chip classics?
Book of Ra Deluxe, Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe and Sizzling Hot Deluxe are repeatedly presented together in Greentube’s market materials as its iconic classic Novomatic games.
Do Novomatic slots have a gamble feature?
Many classic Novomatic and Greentube slots include a card-based gamble option after a win, allowing players to risk the payout on a double-or-nothing colour guess. Availability can vary between games and casino deployments.
Why do Novomatic RTPs vary between casinos?
Greentube does not consistently publish one universal RTP for every online title, and some games can be supplied in different approved configurations. Check the in-game information or paytable at the casino where you are playing rather than assuming a figure from another deployment applies.
Gavin has spent over a decade writing about online casinos across every major operator and market. He has hundreds of published articles about online casinos, games like slots, blackjack, and roulette, and has played at top sites across the world.