Only an inexperienced visitor might think that slots are all pretty much the same: in reality, you can see the master’s touch when a specific game has been developed by an experienced team with a clear understanding of what users need. Pragmatic Play has been rightly considered one of the most knowledgeable developers for many years: these guys have released several universally recognized hits that remain popular even with the emergence of new competitors. One of the most interesting representatives of the provider’s portfolio (and at the same time the entire BetLabel online casino lobby) is the Gates of Olympus video slot.
Gates of Olympus
What is Gates of Olympus and why is the game popular?
Some players perceive Gates of Olympus as a standard slot, but it would be more accurate to say that it is a benchmark: this game set a standard at the time that many other developers still follow today. In fact, it is not even one game, but at least four, as Pragmatic Play periodically updates the interface design in an effort to bring a breath of fresh air. As for the first title that started the whole franchise, it was released in February 2021, meaning it has been exciting players for over five years now. We would not be far from the truth if we said that this slot remains the undisputed leader in the popular ancient Greek theme.
The main idea
If we disregard the Ancient Greek theme and focus on the gameplay, Gates of Olympus is a slightly reworked version of an even older hit from Pragmatic Play, the still popular Sweet Bonanza slot. It has the same six reels with the same five rows of symbols, but there are no winning combinations — symbols pay anywhere on the screen if there are at least eight of the same kind. Scatters pay even if there are only four of them, and landing such a combination of symbols also means a bonus round of 10 free spins, and in the bonus round itself, 3 scatters on the screen at the same time add another 5 free spins.
The bonus round is especially good with multipliers: each one means a multiplication of the winnings up to 500x. Free spins can not only be won randomly, but also purchased for real money, and there is also an Ante bet: by paying a quarter of the cost, you double your chances of getting scatters. The Gates of Olympus also offers an additional advantage with its tumbling feature: the collected combination immediately disappears, and new symbols appear in its place, giving you another potential win without an additional spin.
Difference from classic slots
For some, Gates of Olympus itself is a classic slot: after all, it has been a universally recognized hit for more than five years, and has many lesser-known followers. But overall, the differences from what was considered a classic before are as follows:
- the use of specific “thematic” symbols and a rather intricate combination of graphics and sound accompaniment to create a mood;
- payouts for identical symbols regardless of where they appear on the screen;
- The drop function potentially allows you to collect multiple winnings from a single bet.
- There is a bonus round, which can not only be earned, but also purchased with real money.
At one time, Gates of Olympus was considered representative of a new generation of slots—perhaps not the first (remember Sweet Bonanza), but certainly one of the most notable.
Potential for big wins thanks to multipliers and random bonuses
The creators of Gates of Olympus have provided numerous options for potentially increasing the customer’s profit from the game:
- The maximum combination is 12 identical symbols on the screen, but you can discard more than one combination at a time.
- After each payout, the empty spaces are filled with new symbols – you can collect another combination even without another spin.
- Scatters award 10 free spins if there are at least four on the screen, and in the bonus round itself, a combination of three or more scatters adds another 5 free spins.
- In the bonus round, you can count on multipliers that increase the user’s winnings up to 500x.
The provider promises the chance to win up to 5,000 times your bet amount; obviously, you would need to be very lucky to achieve this, but users will be pleased to know that the opportunity exists.
How Gates of Olympus works — rules and mechanics
You can actually play this game for free and without registration: to get started, simply find Gates of Olympus in the Slots section on the website or in the BetLabel mobile app. By hovering your cursor over the game and clicking Play for Free, you can try out this slot without risking your own bankroll; However, in this mode, you can only win virtually. If you want to win real money, log in and bet your own money.
On the start screen, you will see basic information about the game: that it has high volatility and that symbols are paid anywhere on the screen. By clicking on the spin icon, you can go directly to the game process. You can read the detailed rules and explore the settings in the lower left corner. The bonus purchase and ante bet buttons are also located on the left. At the bottom right are the controls for starting the spin and setting the auto-start mode.
Bonuses and special features
Even without bonuses from the establishment, the Gates of Olympus slot offers a bonus round: a minimum of 10 free spins if you can get four or more scatters. In the bonus round itself, the maximum value is represented by multipliers of up to 500x, but even without them, don’t underestimate the possibility of free spins with the prospect of real winnings. If you want the scatters to appear twice as often, use the Ante bet: it is only a quarter more expensive. Users who understand the importance of multipliers can even simply pay for the bonus round – its cost is 100x your current bet.
In addition, Gates of Olympus is a regular participant in BetLabel promotions and special offers. Even if you receive free spins for another slot instead of bonus money, you can wager your winnings using any slot machine in the casino section, which means you can also use Pragmatic Play’s famous creation.
Advantages and disadvantages of Gates of Olympus
Five years in the trends of all gambling establishments is a great achievement, and here’s how Gates of Olympus manages to keep its audience:
- colorful graphics and high-quality sound;
- payouts for identical symbols anywhere on the screen;
- a built-in bonus round that can be either won or purchased with money;
- multipliers in the bonus round, increasing winnings up to 500x;
- Comfortable adaptation of the slot for portable devices with small screens;
- falling feature for multiple wins from a single spin;
- Winnings of up to 5000x your bet amount.
Gates of Olympus is one of those slot machines that is practically impossible to find fault with. In this situation, we can only point out the one drawback that is inherent in all slots without exception: the user relies solely on luck and cannot increase their chances of winning once the reels are spinning.