1000x ORBS
Gates of Olympus 1000 Review
Gates of Olympus 1000 is not a new game so much as a recalibration of one: released three years after the original, it keeps the identical 6×5 pay-anywhere tumble grid and Greek mythology theme, then doubles the orb multiplier cap to 1000x and triples the max win to 15,000x. If you already know how the original plays, you already know 90% of how this one plays — the difference is entirely in scale.
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.50% Published (94.50% / 95.51% operator variants also exist) |
| Volatility | High — 5 out of 5 |
| Grid | 6 reels × 5 rows, pay-anywhere (cluster of 8+), Scatter Pays mechanic |
| Max win | 15,000x stake Published — 3x the original's ceiling |
| Orb multiplier cap | 1000x (original: 500x) |
| Theme | Greek mythology — Zeus, Olympus, gold |
| Released | 14 December 2023 |
What's Actually Different From the Original
Strip away the marketing and the comparison comes down to one mechanical change: the multiplier orbs that Zeus drops onto the grid now carry values up to 1000x instead of 500x. Everything else — the 6×5 pay-anywhere grid, the tumble/cascade resolution, the Scatter-triggered free spins, the visual theme — is the same game. Pragmatic Play didn't rebuild the engine. They recalibrated the ceiling, which is why anyone who already knows the original can sit down with this version and skip the rules screen entirely.
That's also the honest limit of what "1000" means as a name: it refers to the orb cap, not a guaranteed win size or a meaningfully new experience. If you were hoping for a substantially different game rather than a higher number on a familiar one, this isn't that. Worth knowing before you play.
The 1000x Orb Multiplier, Explained
The orb mechanic works exactly as it does in the original: on any spin, Zeus can drop one or more golden orbs carrying random multiplier values onto the grid, and multiple orbs landing together have their values summed before being applied to a win on that spin. The only change is the ceiling on any individual orb's value, now 1000x instead of 500x. In free spins, orb values still accumulate across the round into a running multiplier rather than resetting each spin, which is the mechanical reason the 15,000x max win is realistically reachable only through a strong free spins session, not a single lucky base-game tumble.
Reaching the 15,000x Ceiling: How Realistic Is It?
Pragmatic Play doesn't publish a specific hit-probability for the 15,000x max win the way it does for the original's 5,000x cap. The underlying logic is the same family of distribution though: maximum volatility paired with a wide multiplier range means most sessions land nowhere near the ceiling. That's by design — a low-probability outsized win balanced against a large number of smaller or non-winning spins is what 96.50% RTP at maximum volatility actually looks like. Treat 15,000x as the theoretical top of the range, not a session target.
RTP and Volatility Compared to the Original
Both games share the same published default RTP (96.50%) and the same maximum 5-out-of-5 volatility rating, and both are licensed to operators in the same 95.51%/94.50% lower-RTP variants. In short, your long-run expected return doesn't change much by choosing one over the other — what changes is the shape of the possible outcomes. A wider multiplier ceiling with the same RTP means the distribution stretches further at the top end while compensating somewhere else in the curve, so the typical spin feels similar between the two, but the rare big win can land considerably higher in the 1000.
How to Play Gates of Olympus 1000
- If you haven't played the original, try it first — it's more widely tested and the faster way to learn the tumble mechanic without the distraction of a bigger number on the marketing.
- Set a stake and session budget before switching from demo to real-money play.
- Check the live RTP configuration in the game's info panel at your chosen operator — 96.50%, 95.51% or 94.50% depending on the casino.
- Prioritise reaching free spins over chasing base-game wins, since the accumulating orb multiplier is where the 1000x ceiling on individual orbs actually compounds into a large total win.
- Don't stake based on the 15,000x headline number — size your bet relative to your actual session bankroll, not the theoretical maximum.
Who Should Choose 1000 Over the Original
This is the right pick if you've already played the original Gates of Olympus, understood and enjoyed the tumble-and-orb mechanic, and specifically want more headroom at the top of the pay table without learning a new game from scratch. It's also a reasonable choice if you're comparing the whole Gates family and want the middle ground: a bigger ceiling than the original without the concentrated, tiered payout structure of Super Scatter (reviewed separately).
It's not the right starting point if you've never played anything in the Gates family — the original is more thoroughly documented, more widely reviewed, and mechanically identical at the core, so there's no real downside to learning on that version first.
Pros
- Triple the max win of the original (15,000x vs 5,000x) for players who've outgrown the original's ceiling
- Identical, familiar mechanic — zero relearning curve if you know the original
- Same 96.50% published RTP as the original, so no return trade-off for the higher ceiling
- Accumulating free-spins multiplier makes the top-end payout structure genuinely reachable, not just theoretical
Cons
- Mechanically near-identical to the original — not a meaningfully "new" game experience
- Same maximum volatility rating means the same long dry-spell risk as the original
- Lower-RTP operator variants (94.50%) exist here too and aren't always disclosed upfront
- Super Scatter's 50,000x still outranks this game's ceiling if maximum win size is your only priority
Where to Play Gates of Olympus 1000
Gates of Olympus 1000 is available at licensed operators carrying Pragmatic Play's newer catalogue. Use Play Now to reach a licensed operator, try the demo first if you're new to this specific variant, and confirm the live RTP figure in the in-game info panel before depositing. Only play with operators licensed in your country and only if you meet the legal gambling age in your jurisdiction — see Responsible Gambling for support tools.
The Other Two Games in the Gates of Olympus Family
Gates of Olympus
The original — start here if you've never played this family before.
Gates of Olympus Super Scatter
Goes further still — 50,000x max win via tiered Super Scatter payouts.
Gates of Olympus 1000 FAQ
What's different between Gates of Olympus and Gates of Olympus 1000?
The core tumble mechanic, grid and theme are identical. Gates of Olympus 1000 raises the orb multiplier cap from 500x to 1000x and the max win from 5,000x to 15,000x — three times the original's ceiling.
When was Gates of Olympus 1000 released?
14 December 2023, roughly three years after the original Gates of Olympus launched in January 2021.
Is the RTP higher on Gates of Olympus 1000?
No — the published default RTP is the same 96.50% as the original, with matching 95.51% and 94.50% operator variants. The higher ceiling comes from bigger multiplier values, not a better return-to-player figure.
Is Gates of Olympus 1000 more volatile than the original?
Both carry the maximum 5-out-of-5 volatility rating. The wider multiplier range stretches the top of the outcome distribution further, but doesn't change how often you win in a typical session.
Should I play the original or Gates of Olympus 1000?
If you've never played the family, start with the original — it's the most tested and reviewed version. If you already know the mechanic and specifically want a higher ceiling, this version gives you that without anything new to learn.
Does Gates of Olympus 1000 have a bonus buy option?
Availability varies by operator and jurisdiction, since bonus buy features are restricted or unavailable in several regulated markets including parts of the UK. Check the game's in-client menu at your chosen licensed casino.
Do I need to have played the original before trying 1000?
Not strictly, but it helps. Because the core mechanic is identical, players arriving from the original tend to adapt instantly, while complete newcomers to the family may find the original's more widely documented reviews and guides easier to learn from first.