Novomatic casinos are online casinos that carry games from Novomatic, the Austrian group behind Book of Ra, Sizzling Hot and Lucky Lady’s Charm. Novomatic was founded in 1980 by Johann F. Graf, is privately held and is based in Gumpoldskirchen near Vienna. Its online games come from Greentube, the group’s digital studio. Below you will find who Novomatic is today, a table of ten classic Novomatic slots with RTP, volatility, hit frequency and maximum win from Greentube’s own catalogue, how to check which version a casino runs, and the rules that shape these games in Germany and the UK.
We read Greentube’s games catalogue and Novomatic’s current game pages on 8 October 2026. The catalogue figures are Greentube’s published standard configurations; casinos can run other versions, so the in-game rules screen is the final word.
Who Novomatic is today
Novomatic AG is one of the largest gambling technology groups in Europe, with a history in land-based slot machines, arcades and casino equipment. The company was founded in 1980 by Johann F. Graf and has its headquarters at Wiener Strasse 158 in Gumpoldskirchen, Lower Austria. It describes itself as a non-listed company and is controlled by its founder through holding structures.
For online players, the relevant part of the group is Greentube. Greentube’s own history says it took the name Greentube Internet Entertainment Solutions AG in 2000 and became part of the Novomatic group in 2010. Today Greentube GmbH, based in Vienna, develops and distributes Novomatic’s online and social casino games, including the GameTwist social casino.
| Fact | Detail (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Group | Novomatic AG, Wiener Strasse 158, 2352 Gumpoldskirchen, Austria |
| Founded | 1980, by Johann F. Graf |
| Control | Privately held, not listed on a stock exchange |
| Online arm | Greentube GmbH, Wiedner Hauptstrasse 94, 1050 Vienna (part of Novomatic since 2010) |
| Great Britain | Greentube GmbH: remote gambling software licence, UKGC account 41020. Novomatic AG: UKGC account 45352 |
| Malta | Greentube GmbH: Type 1 gaming services, corporate authorisation MGA/CRP/120/2006, dated 1 March 2023 |
| Series and mechanics | Book of Ra, Sizzling Hot, Diamond Link, Win Ways, Diamond Mystery |
What we removed from the old page
The previous version of this page claimed that Novomatic used experts in “neurolinguistic programming” to design games that “fascinate” players. We found no source for that claim, and it is the kind of statement that has no place on a page about gambling, so it is gone. We also dropped vague lines about “technological research centres” in favour of facts you can check on Novomatic’s and Greentube’s own sites.
What Novomatic is known for
Novomatic’s online catalogue grew out of its land-based Novoline machines, and it shows. The games are simple, fast and built around a few mechanics that millions of players in Germany, Austria and Eastern Europe learned in arcades long before they played online.
The book mechanic. Book of Ra made the “book” free-spin round famous. When three or more book scatter symbols land, you win ten free spins and one symbol is chosen at random to become a special expanding symbol for the round. Whenever enough of that symbol lands to pay, it expands to fill its whole reel and pays on every line, even if the symbols are not on adjacent reels. Countless “book” slots from other studios, including Play’n GO’s Book of Dead, follow the same template.
Classic fruit slots. Sizzling Hot deluxe is a five-reel fruit game with no free spins and no wild, just cherries, lemons, plums, watermelons, grapes and the lucky seven. Its hit frequency in Greentube’s catalogue is only 12%, but it is rated a calmer 3 stars because the wins it does pay are modest and its maximum is 1,000 times the bet.
The gamble feature. Most classic Novomatic games offer a double-or-nothing gamble after a win: guess whether the next card will be red or black. A correct guess doubles the win, a wrong one loses it. The feature adds excitement and variance, not value; we explain why below.
Newer series. Greentube’s current catalogue is organised around series such as Diamond Link (linked respin jackpots), Win Ways mechanics and Diamond Mystery, alongside reworked versions of the classics with six reels, bonus buys or extra ways.
Notable Novomatic games: RTP and volatility
The figures below come from Greentube’s games catalogue, which lists RTP, volatility on a 1 to 5 star scale, hit frequency and the default maximum win multiplier for each game. Novomatic’s current game pages show the same volatility for Book of Ra deluxe (5) and Sizzling Hot deluxe (3).
| Game | RTP (Greentube catalogue) | Volatility (1 to 5 stars) | Hit frequency | Default max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra (classic) | 95.10% | 5 stars | 28% | 5,011x |
| Book of Ra deluxe | 95.10% | 5 stars | 29% | 5,010x |
| Book of Ra deluxe 6 | 95.03% | 5 stars | 29% | 7,505x |
| Lord of the Ocean | 95.10% | 5 stars | 29% | 5,010x |
| Faust | 95.10% | 5 stars | 29% | 5,010x |
| Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe | 95.13% | 5 stars | 25% | 2,745x |
| Dolphin’s Pearl deluxe | 95.13% | 5 stars | 25% | 2,745x |
| Sizzling Hot deluxe | 95.66% | 3 stars | 12% | 1,000x |
| Sizzling Hot Quattro | 95.36% | 2 stars | 41% | 1,020x |
| Columbus deluxe | 95.02% | 2 stars | 38% | 536x |
Greentube notes that the total win of a game round can exceed the default maximum, because one round can include several free spins. The multiplier is a guide to the ceiling of a single spin, not a hard cap on a bonus round.
The same maths under different themes
Look closely at the table and a pattern appears. Book of Ra deluxe, Lord of the Ocean and Faust share the same RTP (95.10%), the same volatility (5 stars), the same hit frequency (29%) and the same default maximum (5,010x). Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe and Dolphin’s Pearl deluxe also match each other exactly (95.13%, 5 stars, 25%, 2,745x). These are not coincidences: they are the same maths models with different artwork and symbols. If you know how Book of Ra plays, you know how Lord of the Ocean and Faust will feel.
That is useful when choosing. If you want a calmer Novomatic game, switching from Book of Ra deluxe to Lord of the Ocean changes nothing; switching to Columbus deluxe (2 stars, 38% hit frequency, 536x maximum) or Sizzling Hot Quattro (2 stars, 41%) changes a lot.
Book of Ra versions compared
Book of Ra is not one game but a family, and the versions are easy to confuse in a casino lobby. Greentube’s figures show how they differ:
| Version | RTP | Volatility | Hit frequency | Default max win | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Ra (classic, 9 lines) | 95.10% | 5 stars | 28% | 5,011x | Greentube catalogue |
| Book of Ra deluxe (10 lines) | 95.10% | 5 stars | 29% | 5,010x | Greentube catalogue |
| Book of Ra deluxe 6 (six reels) | 95.03% | 5 stars | 29% | 7,505x | Greentube catalogue |
| Book of Ra deluxe Jackpot Edition | 95.00% | 5 stars | 29% | 5,010x | Greentube catalogue |
| Book of Ra Deluxe with Buy Bonus (US sheet) | 94.26% (bonus buy 94.00%) | not stated | not stated | not stated | Greentube game sheet |
The sixth reel in Book of Ra deluxe 6 lifts the default maximum from 5,010x to 7,505x at almost the same RTP, because the extra reel creates rarer, larger line wins. The Jackpot Edition gives up 0.10 points of return to fund its jackpot levels. The bonus-buy version is a separate maths model again. When a lobby simply says “Book of Ra”, open the rules to see which one you have.
More classics from the catalogue
Greentube’s catalogue lists more than a hundred games, and the classic fruit and gem slots show how wide the range of returns is within one studio:
| Game | RTP | Volatility | Hit frequency | Default max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Hot deluxe | 95.17% | 2 stars | 8% | 150x |
| Always Hot deluxe | 95.36% | 2 stars | 6% | 60x |
| Mega Joker | 95.05% | 2 stars | 20% | 2,000x |
| Roaring Forties | 95.48% | 3 stars | 15% | 1,000x |
| Golden Sevens | 95.10% | 3 stars | 10% | 15,000x |
| Queen of Hearts deluxe | 95.31% | 3 stars | 35% | 1,301x |
| Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe 6 | 95.13% | 5 stars | 33% | 12,750x |
| Captain Venture | 94.01% | 5 stars | 30% | 8,172x |
| Pharaoh’s Tomb | 92.02% | 5 stars | 16% | 500x |
| Jolly Fruits | 92.00% | 2 stars | 13% | 1,051x |
Two lessons stand out. First, the returns run from 92.00% (Jolly Fruits) to 95.66% (Sizzling Hot deluxe and Hot Cubes), a spread of more than three and a half points inside one catalogue. On 1,000 euro of spins, that is an expected cost of 80 euro against about 34 euro. Second, volatility and maximum win do not always move together: Golden Sevens is rated only 3 stars yet lists a 15,000x maximum, while Always Hot deluxe pays on just 6% of spins and tops out at 60x. Read all four numbers, not one.
Why Novomatic RTPs sit around 95%
Most of the classic Novomatic titles return between 95.0% and 95.7%, a little below the 96% that many modern online studios aim for. On 1,000 euro of total spins, the difference between 95.10% and 96.10% is 10 euro of expected cost: 49 euro instead of 39 euro. That is not dramatic in one session, but it adds up for regular players.
Versions also differ. Greentube’s US sheet for Book of Ra Deluxe with the Buy Bonus option gives a theoretical return of 94.26% for the game and 94.00% for the bonus buy, below the 95.10% in the European catalogue. Another Greentube sheet for a Win Ways version with ante bet and bonus buy gives a range of 94.55% to 95.13%. The headline name is the same, but the maths is not, which is why the next section matters.
How to check a Novomatic game’s RTP at a casino
- Open the game at the casino; demo play is enough where offered.
- Open the help or paytable screen. On Greentube games, the theoretical RTP is stated in the game rules, often with a note on the bonus buy or ante bet if the version has one.
- Check the version name. “Book of Ra deluxe”, “Book of Ra deluxe 6”, “Book of Ra deluxe Win Ways” and “Book of Ra Magic” are different games with different maths.
- Compare with the catalogue figure in our table. If the casino’s number is lower, it runs a reduced version.
- If the rules do not show an RTP, choose another casino.
Two cautions about demo play. A free demo on a review site may run a different configuration from the real-money game at your casino, so read the rules inside the casino itself. And a demo session tells you nothing reliable about RTP: even thousands of spins are far too few to measure a return that is defined over millions. Use demos to learn how a game plays, and the rules screen to learn what it pays back.
The gamble feature: what it does to your money
The red-or-black gamble is the most recognisable Novomatic feature, and it is easy to misunderstand. Suppose you win 10 euro and gamble it. One correct guess turns it into 20 euro, two into 40, and one wrong guess at any point leaves you with nothing. Even if each guess were a perfect 50/50, the average outcome of gambling a win is the same as keeping it: you exchange a certain 10 euro for an equal chance of 0 or 20. What changes is the risk.
In practice that means the gamble does not improve your long-run return. It makes your results swingier and makes it easier to lose a good win in a moment of excitement. Most games limit how many times or up to what amount you can gamble; the rules screen gives the limit. If you are playing to a budget, the simplest approach is to collect wins and leave the gamble alone.
How the book feature pays: a worked example
Take a 10-line book game at 1 euro per spin (10 cents a line). Free spins start, and the explorer symbol is picked as the expanding symbol. On a free spin, the explorer lands on reels 1, 3 and 5. Normally that would not pay, because the symbols are not on adjacent reels. As the special symbol, each explorer expands to fill its reel, and the game pays three of a kind on all ten lines. If three explorers pay 20 times the line bet, that is 2 euro per line, 20 euro in total for the spin.
The same expansion on five reels pays the top line win across every line, which is how the default maximum of 5,010x arises in Book of Ra deluxe. Such spins are rare; the 5-star volatility rating is the catalogue’s way of saying so.
Diamond Link, Win Ways and newer Greentube games
Greentube’s newer releases are built around a few recurring series. Diamond Link is the best known: Greentube describes the Diamond Link feature as giving players the chance to win one of four jackpots, and it is attached to many themed games. Win Ways versions replace fixed lines with ways-to-win layouts, and Diamond Mystery is another branded series. These games usually carry their own maths sheets, often with ante bets or bonus buys, so the classic catalogue figures above do not apply to them.
Greentube today lists studios and offices in Vienna and Graz in Austria, Las Vegas, Nottingham in the UK, Ljubljana and Maribor in Slovenia, Bratislava, Waalwijk in the Netherlands, Belgrade, Birkirkara in Malta, Vancouver and Athens. That spread reflects the markets it supplies: regulated European markets, North America and its social casino business.
From arcade cabinets to browser games
Many Novomatic slots began life on Novoline cabinets in arcades and gaming halls, and the online versions keep the original look: five reels, a small number of fixed lines, bright symbols and a gamble button. That heritage explains features that seem old-fashioned next to modern online studios, such as the red-or-black gamble and the absence of cascades or multipliers in the base game. It also explains their staying power. Players who grew up with these machines recognise them instantly, and casinos in German-speaking markets in particular give them prominent lobby space.
Greentube also runs GameTwist, a social casino where players use virtual currency rather than real money. Social casino play is not gambling for cash prizes, but the games are the same titles, which is one reason Book of Ra and Sizzling Hot remain so widely known.
Novomatic in Germany: the rules that shape these games
Novomatic games are especially popular in Germany, where online slots are regulated under the Glücksspielstaatsvertrag 2021 (GlüStV 2021), in force since 1 July 2021. At casinos licensed by Germany’s joint gambling authority, the GGL, slot stakes are generally capped at 1 euro per spin. Since 1 July 2026 the GGL has allowed a tiered exception up to a maximum of 5 euro: stakes up to 3 euro only for players aged 21 and over, and 5 euro only after at least 90 days of play without signs of problem gambling and with monitoring by the operator, temporary until 31 December 2027.
Other German rules are just as visible in the games: an average game duration of at least 5 seconds per spin, no jackpots and no autoplay, and a mandatory 5-minute break after an hour of play. Deposits are limited across all licensed operators to 1,000 euro per calendar month as a rule, tracked through the central LUGAS system. That is why a Novomatic game at a German-licensed casino can feel slower and plainer than the same title elsewhere.
Choosing a Novomatic slot for your budget
Greentube’s star rating and hit frequency make it straightforward to match a game to your budget:
- Long sessions on a small budget: Sizzling Hot Quattro (2 stars, 41% hit frequency) and Columbus deluxe (2 stars, 38%) pay something on roughly two spins in five. Their maximum wins are modest, so they rarely produce big swings.
- Classic fruit feel: Sizzling Hot deluxe (3 stars) and Roaring Forties (3 stars) pay less often, 12% and 15% of spins, but keep their top wins at 1,000x.
- Bonus hunting: Book of Ra deluxe, Lord of the Ocean, Faust and Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe (all 5 stars). Most of their value sits in the free spins, and dry spells of a hundred spins or more are normal.
Whatever you choose, a lower stake gives the free spins more chances to arrive within your budget. It does not change the RTP, but it reduces the chance that the session ends before the feature does.
Novomatic games and casino bonuses
Bonus terms treat classic slots like any other slot unless they say otherwise, so check the game list in the terms first. Then do the arithmetic. With a 100 euro deposit, a 100 euro bonus and 30x wagering on deposit plus bonus, you must stake 6,000 euro before withdrawing. On a 95.10% game, the expected cost of that play is about 294 euro, nearly three times the bonus. On a 96.5% slot from another studio it would be about 210 euro. Lower-RTP classics are a poor fit for heavy wagering, however familiar they are.
The gamble feature is usually excluded or disabled during bonus play, and some casinos void bonus winnings if it is used. If the terms mention “double-up” or “gamble” features, read that clause before you press the button.
How we checked these figures
Every figure in our tables comes from Greentube’s own games catalogue or game sheets, or from Novomatic’s current game pages, read on 8 October 2026. The catalogue is dated the first quarter of 2018; we use it because it is the most complete public source Greentube publishes for these classics, and Novomatic’s current pages confirm the same volatility ratings for the two games they list. Where Greentube publishes a different version, such as the Buy Bonus sheet, we show it separately. We did not use casino lobbies or review sites for any number. If you find a current Greentube sheet that differs from our figures, tell us and we will correct the page as set out in our editorial policy.
Where to play Novomatic games
We only show a casino list on studio pages when the casino’s own site or lobby shows that studio. We could not verify Novomatic or Greentube games at any of our partner casinos on 8 October 2026, so this page has no list. Greentube supplies many licensed operators in regulated markets, including UK-licensed casinos and German-licensed slot sites. Play at a casino licensed in your country and check the licence on the regulator’s register; our safe casinos guide shows how.
Novomatic compared with other studios
Novomatic’s closest comparison is IGT, the other giant of land-based slot machines that moved its classics online. For book-style games, Play’n GO is the usual rival with Book of Dead. Our gaming software hub compares the main studios, the slots guide explains RTP and volatility, and our piece on why slots are so popular looks at the appeal of simple games like Sizzling Hot.
UK players
Only operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission may offer gambling to people in Great Britain (Gambling Act 2005), and GAMSTOP self-exclusion only covers UKGC-licensed sites. Greentube’s games are available at UK-licensed casinos, where the Commission’s game design rules apply: since 31 October 2021, no autoplay, no turbo or slam-stop features, and at least 2.5 seconds per game cycle. Check any casino on the Commission’s public register before you sign up.
Play safely
18+ only, or older where the local legal age is higher. Fast, simple games like Sizzling Hot make it easy to spin more than you planned. Set a deposit limit, use reality checks, and stop when the budget is spent. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133 (GamCare) and BeGambleAware.org. Our responsible gambling guide lists self-exclusion schemes by country.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Novomatic?
Novomatic AG is a privately held Austrian company founded in 1980 by Johann F. Graf and based in Gumpoldskirchen, Lower Austria. It is not listed on a stock exchange. Its online games are supplied by Greentube, the Vienna-based digital arm that joined the Novomatic group in 2010.
What is the RTP of Book of Ra deluxe?
Greentube’s games catalogue lists Book of Ra deluxe at 95.10% RTP with volatility of 5 stars, a 29% hit frequency and a default maximum win of 5,010 times the bet. Other versions exist: Greentube’s sheet for Book of Ra Deluxe with Buy Bonus gives 94.26%. Check the game rules at your casino.
Is Greentube the same as Novomatic?
Greentube is part of the Novomatic group and develops and supplies Novomatic’s online and social casino games. Greentube GmbH holds a UK Gambling Commission remote gambling software licence (account 41020) and a Malta Gaming Authority licence, MGA/CRP/120/2006.
Why do so many Novomatic slots have about 95% RTP?
Novomatic’s best-known games come from its land-based Novoline cabinets, where returns are set to suit arcade and casino operators, and the online versions keep similar maths. In Greentube’s catalogue, Book of Ra deluxe, Lord of the Ocean and Faust all list 95.10%, Lucky Lady’s Charm deluxe and Dolphin’s Pearl deluxe 95.13%, and Sizzling Hot deluxe 95.66%.
Is the Novomatic gamble feature worth using?
The gamble feature lets you risk a win on guessing the colour of the next card, doubling it or losing it. It adds variance rather than value, and a single wrong guess takes the whole win. If you are playing to a budget, banking wins and skipping the gamble keeps your balance steadier.
Which Novomatic slot has the highest RTP?
In Greentube’s games catalogue, Sizzling Hot deluxe and Hot Cubes share the top figure of the classics, 95.66%, with Sizzling Gems close behind at 95.65%. At the other end, Jolly Fruits lists 92.00% and Pharaoh’s Tomb 92.02%.
Are Lord of the Ocean and Book of Ra the same game?
They have different themes and symbols but the same maths in Greentube’s catalogue: 95.10% RTP, 5-star volatility, 29% hit frequency and a 5,010x default maximum win. Faust shares the same figures. In practice they play the same way, so choose by theme.
Can I play Novomatic slots in the UK?
Yes, at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission that carry Greentube’s games. Greentube holds a UK licence as a software supplier, and Novomatic AG is also licensed by the Commission (account 45352). Check the casino’s own licence on the Commission’s register before you sign up.
Sources
- Greentube: games catalogue Q1 2018 (RTP, volatility, hit frequency, max win)
- Greentube: about us and licence footer (UKGC 41020, MGA/CRP/120/2006)
- Novomatic: about Novomatic (UKGC account 45352)
- Novomatic: Book of Ra deluxe game page (volatility 5)
- Novomatic: Sizzling Hot deluxe game page (volatility 3)
- Greentube: Book of Ra Deluxe [Buy Bonus] game sheet (94.26%)
- GGL: FAQs for players (deposit limit, maximum stake)
- GGL: player protection measures of the GlüStV 2021
- UK Gambling Commission: online games design consultation response (from 31 October 2021)