Cleopatra Pros & Cons
Cleopatra delivers classic Aristocrat action with a proven track record. The choice-based free spins and stacked symbols create a good variety, but the RTP and max win won't impress everyone.
- Wild doubles all base game wins
- Free spins with 3x multiplier
- 10,000x max win possible
- Medium volatility = balanced play
- 32% hit frequency keeps it moving
- 95.02% RTP below average
- No bonus buy option
- Graphics look dated
- Only one bonus feature
- £100 max bet limits action
Cleopatra Slot Review: IGT's Egyptian Classic Still Hits
Cleopatra's been around since 2005 and casinos still can't get rid of it. Why? The free spins feature with 3x multipliers actually pays, and people love the simple setup. We tested this at SlotsGamblers and yeah, the 95.02% RTP sucks compared to modern slots, but the medium volatility keeps you alive long enough to hit the bonus.
It's 5 reels, 20 paylines, ancient Egypt theme. Cleopatra wild doubles your wins, and 3+ Sphinx scatters trigger 15 free spins where everything pays triple. No complex mechanics, no cascading reels, just spin and win. That's why beginners still play it.
The max win is 10,000x your bet. Not massive compared to newer slots pushing 50,000x+, but £1 bets could pay £10k if you nail the bonus. Betting runs £0.20 to £100, so it's decent for casual players and mid-rollers. High-rollers? Nah, look elsewhere.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | IGT (International Game Technology) |
| Release Date | 2005 |
| Reels x Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines | 20 (fixed) |
| RTP | 95.02% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Min Bet | £0.20 |
| Max Bet | £100 |
| Max Win | 10,000x stake |
| Hit Frequency | ~32% |
| Default Bet Range | £0.20 - £100 |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes (HTML5) |
Symbols & Payouts
9 regular symbols plus wild. Egyptian artifacts, scarabs, hieroglyphic cards. Wild doubles line wins, scatter triggers bonus.
👑 Cleopatra Wild - Special
The queen herself. Five wilds pay 10,000x your line bet but that's incredibly rare. What matters is wilds double any win they complete, so a 5x payout becomes 10x. Shows up on all reels, subs for everything except scatter. Every wild landing feels valuable because of the doubling.
🏛️ Sphinx Scatter - Special
Golden Sphinx triggers free spins. Three anywhere activate the bonus. Five Sphinxes pay 100x total bet, four pay 20x, three pay 5x. These scatter wins hit before free spins start, so you're already up. Appears on all reels but getting 3+ takes patience.
💎 Eye of Horus - High Value
Top standard symbol. Five pay 750x line bet, four pay 100x, three pay 25x. Gold and blue eye design. You'll see this regularly. Landing five during free spins with the 3x multiplier pays nice.
Scarab Beetle - High Value
Green and gold beetle pays 400x for five, 50x for four, 15x for three. Detailed design with jeweled accents. Appears more often than Eye of Horus, so consistent medium wins.
📜 Lotus Flower - Medium Value
Blue lotus pays 250x for five, 40x for four, 10x for three. Purple and blue colors pop. Middle-tier symbol that keeps balance steady between premium hits.
🔱 Crook & Flail - Medium Value
Crossed gold symbols pay 125x for five, 25x for four, 5x for three. Smaller than premium icons but fit the theme. Frequent small wins.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
Purple Ace with Egyptian styling pays 125x for five, 25x for four, 5x for three. Shows up constantly. Lots of small Ace wins padding your balance.
🃏 King (K) - Low Value
Blue King pays 100x for five, 20x for four, 5x for three. Frequent appearances, small payouts. Keeps the game moving.
🃏 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Green Queen pays 100x for five, 20x for four, 5x for three. Another filler symbol. Appears all the time but doesn't excite unless you land five during free spins.
🃏 Jack (J) - Low Value
Red Jack is lowest paying at 100x for five, 20x for four, 5x for three. Most frequent symbol. Fills the screen often without paying much. Still adds up during free spins with 3x multiplier.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cleopatra Wild
|
1,000x | 100x | Doubles wins, substitutes all except scatter | |
|
Sphinx Scatter
|
20x total bet | 5x total bet | Triggers free spins, any position | |
|
Eye of Horus
|
100x | 25x | Premium symbol | |
|
Scarab Beetle
|
50x | 15x | High value | |
|
Lotus Flower
|
40x | 10x | Medium value | |
|
Crook & Flail
|
25x | 5x | Medium value | |
|
Ace (A)
|
25x | 5x | Card symbol | |
|
King (K)
|
20x | 5x | Card symbol | |
|
Queen (Q)
|
20x | 5x | Card symbol | |
|
Jack (J)
|
20x | 5x | Card symbol |
Bonus Features
One feature - free spins with 3x multiplier. Simple but it works.
| Feature | Trigger | Description | Max Win | Frequency | Re- trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Spins
|
15 free spins, 3x multiplier | 10,000x stake | Medium (1 in 100-150 spins) | Yes |
RTP & Volatility
95.02% RTP is below average. Medium volatility balances small wins with occasional bigger hits. 10,000x max win is decent.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
£0.20 |
|
Max Bet
|
£100 |
|
Max Win (£1 bet)
|
£10,000 |
|
Max Win (£100 bet)
|
£1,000,000 |
|
RTP
|
|
|
Volatility
|
Medium |
Mobile
Works perfectly. HTML5 runs smooth on iPhone, Android, tablets. We tested both iOS and Android - zero issues.
Screen adjusts for portrait or landscape. Big buttons, easy to tap. Graphics scale down without looking pixelated. Battery drain is minimal.
Tips:
Here are some practical tips from our testing:
Bankroll
Keep 100x your bet size minimum. At £1 spins, that's £100. Medium volatility won't destroy you instantly, but dry spells happen.
Bet Sizing
Start at £0.20-£0.50 until you trigger free spins once. Feature hits roughly 1 in 100-150 spins. Budget for that. SlotsGamblers recommends sticking to £0.50-£1 bets for best balance.
Focus On Bonus
Base game just treads water. Real money happens during free spins with that 3x multiplier. Chase those scatters.
Retriggers Win Big
15 spins often isn't enough. Getting 30-45 total spins is where 200x+ wins become realistic.
Watch For Stacked Wilds
Stacked Cleopatra wilds fill multiple positions and complete several paylines. One stacked wild reel can turn dead spins into 20x-50x winners.
Similar Games
If you like Cleopatra, check out these alternatives:
Cleopatra Plus
IGT sequel with level-up mechanics. Same theme, more features.
Cleopatra Mega Jackpots
Adds progressive jackpots. Higher max win, lower base RTP.
Book of Dead (Play'n GO)
Egyptian theme, expanding symbols, 96.21% RTP, higher volatility.
Legacy of Egypt (Play'n GO)
Newer Egyptian slot, pyramid feature, 96.50% RTP, better visuals.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How often do free spins trigger?
Every 100-150 spins based on our testing. Medium variance means you won't wait forever, but don't expect bonuses constantly.
Does the wild really double wins?
Yeah, any win the wild completes pays 2x. During free spins it doubles first, then 3x multiplier applies - 6x total on wild lines.
Can you retrigger free spins multiple times?
Yep. 3+ scatters during bonus add another 15 spins. We've chained up to 60 total when retriggers keep hitting.
Why is the RTP only 95.02%?
IGT hasn't updated it since 2005. Game's old and they won't change the math now. You're giving back extra 1% compared to modern slots.
What's the biggest realistic win during free spins?
Most rounds pay 20x-100x. Sometimes you'll hit 200x-500x with good retriggers and stacked premiums. 10,000x max requires insane luck.
Is this better than Book of Dead?
Nah, Book of Dead has better RTP (96.21%), modern graphics, higher max win. Cleopatra's simpler and more relaxing, but Book of Dead is objectively stronger.
Do stacked symbols appear often?
Yeah, you'll see stacked wilds and premiums fairly regularly. When they hit, you can trigger multiple paylines at once for decent wins.
Should beginners start here?
Cleopatra's easier to learn - one feature, simple mechanics. Modern slots have bonus buys, cascades, complex systems that confuse newbies. Start simple here.