Gates of Olympus 1000 is Pragmatic Play’s upgraded version of its hugely popular Zeus slot. It keeps the original’s tumbling wins and multiplier orbs, but raises the biggest multiplier to 1,000x and the maximum win to 15,000 times your bet. Here’s how the game works, what the numbers really mean, and where South Africans can play it at a licensed bookmaker.
On this page
Gates of Olympus 1000 at a glance
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
| Released | December 2023 |
| Grid | 6 reels × 5 rows |
| How wins pay | 8 or more matching symbols anywhere on the grid |
| RTP | 96.50% (standard version; check the game info at your bookmaker) |
| Volatility | Very high |
| Maximum win | 15,000x your bet |
| Multiplier orbs | 2x to 1,000x |
| Free spins | 15, triggered by 4 or more scatters |
| Free spins frequency | About 1 in 448 spins (provider figure) |
| Minimum bet at Play.co.za | shown in the game’s bet settings |
Our verdict
Gates of Olympus 1000 is an exciting, fast game with a genuinely huge top prize, but it’s built for patience and a solid budget. Most spins lose, big wins are rare, and the free spins can take hundreds of spins to arrive. If you enjoy high-risk, high-reward slots and set a strict budget, it’s one of the most popular games for good reason. If you want steady small wins, a lower-volatility slot will suit you better.
How Gates of Olympus 1000 works
Wins pay anywhere
There are no paylines. You win when 8 or more of the same symbol land anywhere on the 6×5 grid. The more matching symbols, the bigger the payout. Crowns, hourglasses, rings and chalices pay the most; the coloured gems pay less.
Tumbling wins
After a win, the winning symbols disappear and new symbols fall from above to fill the gaps. If the new symbols create another win, it pays too, and the tumbles continue until no new wins form. One paid spin can produce several wins in a row.
Multiplier orbs from 2x to 1,000x
Zeus can drop multiplier orbs onto the grid, worth anywhere from 2x to 1,000x. In the base game, all the orbs that land during a tumble sequence are added together, and the total multiplies the win from that sequence. Orbs only count if the sequence includes a win. The 1,000x orb is the headline feature of this version, but it’s very rare.
Free spins with a growing multiplier
Land 4, 5 or 6 scatter symbols (Zeus’s temple) and you win 15 free spins, plus an instant scatter payout of 3x, 5x or 100x your bet. During free spins, every multiplier orb that lands in a winning spin is added to a total multiplier that keeps growing for the rest of the round. This is where most big wins happen. Landing 3 or more scatters during free spins adds 5 more spins.
Ante bet
The optional ante bet raises your stake by 25% and adds more scatter symbols to the reels, making free spins more likely. It doesn’t change the game’s RTP: you’re paying 25% more per spin for a better chance at the feature, not a better return.
Bonus buy
Where it’s offered, you can buy the free spins round straight away for 100 times your bet. At a R5 bet, that’s R500 for one round, which may pay back less than it costs. Treat it as a very expensive, very high-risk option, and skip it if you’re on a budget.
RTP and volatility, explained simply
RTP (return to player) is 96.50%. That means that over millions of spins, the game pays back an average of R96.50 for every R100 bet. It’s a long-term average across all players, not what you’ll get back in a session. In any single session, you could lose your whole budget or win far more.
Pragmatic Play also makes lower-RTP versions of some games, and bookmakers choose which version to run. Open the game’s info or paytable screen to see the RTP of the version you’re playing.
Very high volatility means wins are less frequent but can be much bigger. Expect long runs of losing spins broken up by occasional larger wins. The maximum 15,000x win is extremely rare: the provider puts it at roughly 1 in 700,000 spins.
Our experience
[Describe your own session: the stake you used, how many spins you played, whether you triggered free spins and how long it took, your biggest win, and how the game felt on mobile. Add one or two screenshots.]
Where to play Gates of Olympus 1000 in South Africa
You can play Gates of Olympus 1000 at Play.co.za, a bookmaker licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (licence 10172287-015). Only play at bookmakers licensed in South Africa. Offshore online casinos aren’t licensed here, and you’d have no local regulator to turn to if something went wrong.
New to Play.co.za? See our Play.co.za promo code page for the current sign-up offer on Gates of Olympus 1000.
Slot-style games at South African bookmakers are offered under a bookmaker licence, and their legal position is currently disputed. See our guide to what’s legal.
SA Casino Rank reader offer: 30 free spins on Gates of Olympus 1000, no wagering.
Sign up at Play.co.za through our link and choose 30 free spins worth R1 each on Gates of Olympus 1000 as your sign-up prize, with no wagering on winnings. New players only, 18+. Terms apply, including wagering on any winnings.
Cash Challenge: in September 2026, Play.co.za ran a Cash Challenge on this game: land a 650x win with a bet of at least R50 to win an instant R50,000 reward, with two prizes available. Challenges change often, so check what’s currently running. Read more in our Play.co.za high roller guide.
Tips for playing Gates of Olympus 1000
No strategy can beat a slot: every spin is random, and the RTP stays the same whatever you do. What you can control is how you play:
- Set a budget first. Very high volatility means your balance can swing a lot. Decide in advance how much you’re happy to lose.
- Size your bet for the long wait. Free spins average about 1 in 448 spins. A smaller bet gives you more spins from the same budget.
- Check the RTP version in the game info before you play.
- Be careful with the ante bet and bonus buy. Both raise your cost per spin without improving your long-term return.
- Don’t chase losses or a big multiplier. A 1,000x orb is never “due”.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Huge 15,000x maximum win | Very high volatility: long losing streaks are normal |
| Multipliers up to 1,000x | Free spins can take hundreds of spins to trigger |
| Growing multiplier in free spins | Bonus buy is expensive |
| Simple to learn, fast to play | Lower-RTP versions exist at some sites |
| Works well on mobile | Legal status of slots at SA bookmakers is disputed |
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions South African players ask most about Gates of Olympus 1000. Tap a question to see the answer.
Game facts from Pragmatic Play’s published game information. Updated September 2026. 18+ only. Slots are games of chance: only play with money you can afford to lose. For free help, call the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation on 0800 006 008 or read our responsible gambling guide.