Gates of Olympus 1000: Review, RTP 96.5%, max win 15,000x

Pragmatic Play hit it out of the park on December 14, 2023, with Gates of Olympus 1000, a high-octane version of their original hit. After spending €620 over sessions spread across three weeks (8,200 spins on the clock), we can confirm: this Pragmatic Play slot is a real game-changer with its multiplier orbs (often called "bombs" by players) that can reach up to x1000.

We love it. But we also hate it. This online slot is just like every other Pragmatic Play title: you'll hate it and love it in the exact same evening.

Technical sheet for Gates of Olympus 1000

For those who don't want to read the entire technical sheet for Gates of Olympus 1000, here is a condensed summary.

Rules of Gates of Olympus 1000 in 60 seconds

• 6×5 • Pay anywhere (8+ identical symbols)
• Unlimited Tumbles • chain reaction cascades
• Orbs x2→x1000 (base game & bonus)
• 15 Free Spins • global multiplier (bonus only)
• Ante Bet: +25% → bonus chances x2
• Bonus Buy 100x (depending on jurisdiction)

✅ What we loved / ❌ What’s a struggle

After three weeks of playing and having fun (or getting crushed) on this casino game, here is our verdict.

How to win on Gates of Olympus 1000? Connection mechanics

This online slot operates on a pay anywhere (8+) basis: you don't need precise alignments. As soon as 8 or more identical symbols appear on the grid, you win.

Simple on paper. Brutal in practice, especially if an orb appears in the base game and chain reactions start connecting.

Key mechanics explained

We noticed that there are 4 different mechanics on Gates of Olympus 1000.

Multiplier Orbs: Important Clarification

We find that the real difference between Gates of Olympus and Gates of Olympus 1000 lies in the orbs. In both the base game and bonus rounds, the values range from x2 all the way up to x1000.

And we can tell you (having seen it ourselves), the x1000 orb is STUNNING, looking like a diamond.

In both the base game and bonuses, several orbs can land during a single spin. For them to take effect, a connection must occur; otherwise, they are useless. The number of times x100, x250, or x500 orbs landed without connecting during a bonus… we’re still crying about it.

Why? Quite simply, because in the bonus round, the values of the orbs ACCUMULATE until the end of the bonus. And as soon as we hit that x500 on the first spin that didn't connect… well, you get the idea.

Symbols & Payouts (€1 bet)

The game features three payout tiers: 8-9 symbols / 10-11 symbols / 12+ symbols. Here are the exact values for a starting bet of €1:

Premium Symbols

Non-Premium symbols (Gems)

Field note: During our thousands of spins, we noticed that non-premium symbols connect much more often than the premium ones.

Zeus Scatter: the Free Spins trigger

There are two ways to get the free spins:

• Classic Spin: This is the option we use the most, requiring at least 4 scatters

• Bonus Buy (100x the bet)

During our 8,200 test spins, we never once hit 6 scatters. The 4-scatter trigger represents 95% of the bonuses we obtained.

Volatility & Bankroll Management

After three weeks of testing Gates of Olympus 1000, we can confirm that bankroll management is paramount. Here is our advice based on your balance:

We won't hide it from you: when you wait 400 spins to see a bonus, you feel like throwing your screen out the window. It happened. We survived.

Our pro tip: Don't play on a Friday night after a bad day; your bankroll will just end up being a punching bag.

Gates of Olympus 1000 vs Original vs Xmas: Which one to choose?

We tested all three: 3 weeks on each version, with a total budget of €1,840.

Our observation: The same RTP (96.5%) across all three slots, but the distribution of wins differs. Gates of Olympus 1000 offers more "dry spells" compensated by explosive hits. The original remains more accessible for beginners.

Honestly, if this is your first volatile slot machine, start with something softer. Gates of Olympus 1000 is for those who like to sweat a little.

Gates of Olympus 1000 on mobile

Tested for 18h30 spread over 12 mobile sessions (iPhone 13 + Pixel 7).

Optimal short sessions: 5 to 10 minutes (commuting). Stable on 4G with constant 60 FPS. On a small screen, betting errors are more frequent: we prefer PC for long sessions. The animation of Zeus raising his arm is more impressive on a large screen.

The limits of Gates of Olympus 1000 (in our opinion)

Well, you might have thought that Gates of Olympus 1000 is a perfect slot. No, far from it, and here are a few points that dampened our experience.

Those 412 spins without a bonus? We almost called it quits that night. Seriously. Player Profile: Gates of Olympus 1000 is best suited for players experienced with high-volatility slots. If this is your first time, start with the original version. Be sure to set both time AND deposit limits on CrazyBet (Responsible Gaming section).

Our tips for playing this slot

Tested Ante Bet strategy: 500 spins with / 500 spins without, over 3 cycles. Result: bonus frequency doubled (consistent with official promise), average wins per bonus remained identical. We tested it, we validated it. But we also burned through the budget. Consider yourself warned.

To wrap up our 8,200-spin test, here is our final take on whether this "1000" version lives up to the hype.

Is Gates of Olympus 1000 really worth it?

Who is this game for?

Our final verdict on Gates of Olympus 1000

Direct verdict: Yes, but not for everyone.

Gates of Olympus 1000 is all or nothing. Real 15,000x potential, x1000 orbs that exist (we saw one), but brutal very high volatility.

We recommend if: Budget 200-300x the bet, experience on volatile slots, you accept 100+ empty spins.

We advise against if: First contact with high variance, budget <100€, you want regular wins.

Our advice: Test the original first. If that works, move up to the 1000. Minimum budget: 200-300€ for 1€ bets.