Editorial note: this is an independent, general guide for information only. Game availability, features and RTP can vary between operators and game versions, so always check the in-game information panel before you spin. Slots are games of chance — nothing here is a prediction of results, and no strategy changes the odds.
Novomatic & Greentube: studio guide
Novomatic is European gambling’s old aristocracy — the Austrian giant founded by Johann Graf in 1980, whose arcade cabinets ruled the continent’s gaming halls for decades and whose digital arm, Greentube, brought that empire online. Book of Ra alone changed slot history; the catalogue around it is living heritage. The catalogue’s endurance is its own argument: games designed for 1990s gaming halls still hold lobby positions against modern blockbusters, because the ten-line expanding-symbol formula Novomatic perfected turns out to be one of slot design’s permanent ideas rather than a period piece.
Where Novomatic came from
Novomatic built its fortune in physical machines — the gaming halls of Austria, Germany and beyond — long before the internet, which is why its online catalogue feels like nowhere else’s: these are arcade cabinets faithfully translated, spartan presentation and all. Greentube, acquired and built out as the group’s interactive division, carries the classics to UK lobbies largely unchanged.
House style and famous games
The trinity needs no introduction: Book of Ra, whose expanding-symbol free games founded the entire book genre; Sizzling Hot, the definitive featureless fruit machine; Lucky Lady’s Charm with its tripled free games. Around them sit Lord of the Ocean, Dolphin’s Pearl, Columbus and the Magic-edition remixes — ten-line architecture, card gambles, and maths tuned in an era before volatility marketing existed.
RTP practice and what to check
The arcade heritage shows in the figures: most classics publish around 95% to 95.7%, below the modern norm — a legacy of land-based economics — with operator versions varying further. The in-game information panel shows the live number; on Novomatic titles, knowing the era’s maths is part of choosing them with eyes open.
Frequently asked questions
What is Novomatic’s most famous game?
Book of Ra — the Egyptian original whose expanding-symbol free games created the book-slot genre that Book of Dead later perfected.
What is Greentube?
Novomatic’s digital division — the arm that brings the group’s arcade catalogue to online casinos.
Why do Novomatic slots have lower RTP?
Most classics publish around 95–95.7%, reflecting their land-based arcade origins — always check the in-game panel.
How old is Novomatic?
Founded in 1980 by Johann Graf — making it one of the oldest names still dominant in European gambling.
Related guides
Sizzling Hot Deluxe slot review
Lucky Lady’s Charm Deluxe review
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, never a way to make money. Please play responsibly and only with money you can afford to lose. If gambling is affecting you or someone you know, free, confidential support is available 24/7 from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, run by GamCare. You can also visit BeGambleAware (begambleaware.org) or self-exclude from UK-licensed online operators through GAMSTOP (gamstop.co.uk).