Gates of Olympus Review

Gates of Olympus at a Glance

Developer

Pragmatic Play

Release date

February 2021

Grid

6 reels × 5 rows

How wins are formed

Pay anywhere: 8 or more matching symbols

Main mechanic

Tumbling reels

RTP

96.50% (95.51% and 94.50% versions also exist)

Volatility

Very high (5 out of 5 on the developer's scale)

Maximum win

5,000x the stake

Free spins

4+ scatters award 15 free spins

Multipliers

Orbs worth 2x to 500x, in the base game and free spins

Extra options

Ante bet; bonus buy where permitted

Figures are based on information published for the game. Always check the information screen of the version you are playing, because the RTP and available options can differ between casinos and regions.

How Gates of Olympus Works

The game is set at the gates of Mount Olympus, with Zeus standing beside the grid and hurling lightning onto the reels. Each spin fills a six-by-five grid with 30 symbols.

Pay-Anywhere Wins

There are no paylines. Eight or more of the same symbol anywhere on the grid form a win, and larger groups pay more. The symbols do not need to touch or line up. This system is often called "scatter pays". See Scatter Symbols Explained.

Tumbling Reels

Winning symbols disappear after each win, and new symbols drop in to fill the gaps. If they form a new win, it is paid and the tumble continues. One paid spin can therefore produce a chain of wins. See Cascading Reels Explained.

Symbols

• Gemstones in different colours are the lower-paying symbols.
• Mythological treasures, such as a crown, an hourglass, a ring and a chalice, are the higher-paying symbols.
• Zeus is the scatter. Four or more trigger free spins and also pay a prize.
• Multiplier orbs land randomly and carry a value from 2x to 500x.

The game's paytable lists the exact value of each symbol for different group sizes.

Bonus Features

Multiplier Orbs

Multiplier orbs can land on any spin, in both the base game and free spins, with values from 2x to 500x. In the base game, when a tumble sequence ends, the values of all orbs on the screen are added together and applied to the total win of that sequence. If the sequence produced no win, the orbs pay nothing.

See Slot Multipliers Explained for more on how multipliers combine.

Free Spins

Landing four or more Zeus scatters triggers 15 free spins. Landing three scatters during the round adds five more spins.

During free spins, every multiplier orb that lands on a winning sequence is added to a total multiplier. That total does not reset between tumbles or spins, so it can grow throughout the round and apply to every later win. This is where the game's biggest wins come from.

Published statistics suggest free spins trigger roughly once every 450 spins on average, so long gaps between features are normal.

Ante Bet

The ante bet raises the cost of each spin by 25% and roughly doubles the chance of triggering free spins naturally. It does not make the game more generous, and the bonus buy option is not available while the ante bet is active.

Bonus Buy

In some markets, players can pay 100 times their stake to go straight into free spins. The option is not offered in every region, including the UK. Buying the bonus puts a large amount on a single outcome. Read Slot Buy Features Explained before considering it.

RTP and Volatility

The standard RTP is 96.50%, but Pragmatic Play also offers versions at 95.51% and 94.50%, and each casino chooses which to use. The version you are playing is shown in the game's information screen. See Pokies RTP Explained.

Gates of Olympus is rated at the highest point of the developer's volatility scale. In practice:

• Many spins return little or nothing
• Small tumble wins are often worth less than the stake
• A large part of the game's return depends on free spins and big multiplier totals
• Results over a session can vary enormously

See Slot Volatility Explained and RTP vs Actual Slot Results.

Maximum Win

The maximum win is 5,000 times the stake. Published statistics put the chance of reaching it at roughly 1 in 718,000 spins, so it should never be treated as a realistic goal. If the maximum win is reached during free spins, the round ends.

Gameplay, Design and Mobile Play

The game has a polished, cinematic look, with Zeus animated beside the grid and dramatic sound effects when multipliers land. The pay-anywhere system is easy to follow, and the game runs smoothly on mobile devices. A free-play demo is widely available, so you can watch how multiplier orbs and free spins work before deciding whether to play. See Demo Slots Explained.

Pros and Cons

Who Might Like Gates of Olympus?

Gates of Olympus may appeal to players who enjoy big multiplier moments and are comfortable with long quiet spells between them. Players who prefer steady, frequent returns or lower risk are likely to find it frustrating. As with every pokie, results are random and the house edge applies to every spin.

Similar Games

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Playing Responsibly

Very high volatility means a budget can disappear quickly while waiting for a feature. Set a budget and a time limit before you start, and stop when you reach them. Our guides on setting gambling limits and recognising gambling harm explain practical steps, and Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.

In Australia, it is illegal for companies to offer online casino games, including online pokies, to people in Australia under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001.