Pharaoh’s Fortune slot review

Pharaoh’s Fortune slot: a 2006 game still in UK lobbies

IGT is the Las Vegas company behind Cleopatra, Da Vinci Diamonds and Wolf Run, and since 1 July 2025 it has been owned by Apollo-managed funds and combined with Everi. Pharaoh’s Fortune dates from 2006, which makes it older than most games in a modern online lobby. Its appeal is simplicity: fixed lines, one wild, and a bonus where you shape the free spins before they start.

Older games running online in Great Britain still have to meet today's rules, from the 2.5-second minimum spin time to the ban on autoplay. We cover those further down.

How the Pharaoh’s Fortune features work

The logo wild

The Pharaoh’s Fortune logo is the wild symbol. It substitutes for every symbol except the scatter, so it can complete line wins but cannot stand in for the symbols that trigger features.

Starting the bonus

Three green Pharaoh bonus symbols on a payline start the bonus. Notice the wording: they must sit on an active payline, not just anywhere on the reels, which is different from the scatter-anywhere triggers in many newer games.

The pyramid pick

Before any free spins are played, you pick blocks from a pyramid. Each pick can add extra free spins or raise the multiplier that will apply to the round. This is a bonus round in two parts: first you set the size of the prize pot, then the spins play out. The picks look like a choice, but the outcomes behind the blocks are set by the game's maths, so there is no skill in which block you choose.

Free spins

During the free spins the reels change to a different set of symbols, and the game plays on 20 paylines instead of 15. More bonus symbols landing on the first three reels during the round award additional spins. The multiplier set in the pyramid stage applies to the round's wins.

The values hidden in the pyramid, the starting number of spins and the multiplier range are in the help screen. The developer's summary we rely on does not state them, so we don't quote figures.

Paylines in Pharaoh’s Fortune: 15 in the base game, 20 in the bonus

A 5x3 grid has 243 possible left-to-right routes. In the base game, 15 of those routes are paid lines; in free spins, the number of paid lines rises to 20. That one-third increase means each free spin has more chances to complete a combination than a base spin with the same symbols showing.

Whether you can change the number of active lines, and how the stake is spread across them, is set out in the paytable. Our slot paylines guide explains how line games compare with ways to win formats.

Pharaoh’s Fortune RTP and session costs

The RTP is quoted as 'up to 96.52%'. At that top figure the house edge is 3.48%, so £1 staked costs about 3.48p on average. The 'up to' tells you lower versions exist; casinos choose which to run, and the figure must be shown in the game info under the UK RTP information rules.

At 10p, a 300-spin session costs about £1.04 on average; at £1, the same session averages £10.44. If your casino runs a lower RTP version, the costs are higher. These are long-run averages, and a medium-volatility game can still finish any one session far from them. See our theoretical loss page for the formula.

What medium volatility means here

Medium volatility places Pharaoh’s Fortune between steady low-variance games and swingy high-variance ones. Line wins in the base game keep some money coming back, while the pyramid bonus provides the larger swings, because the spins and multiplier you build up decide how much the round can pay.

• A £20 budget at 20p covers 100 spins before any wins, enough to see how the game behaves.
• The bonus is not 'due' after a long gap; each spin is independent. Read our slot myths page.
• Our slot volatility guide explains how to match variance to your budget.

The 10,000x maximum win

The cap is 10,000 times the stake: £1,000 at 10p, £5,000 at 50p, £10,000 at £1 and £50,000 at £5, the highest stake allowed for UK players aged 25 and over. It is the most the game can pay, not a typical outcome, and its frequency is not published. For a medium volatility game, that is a reasonably generous ceiling.

Pharaoh’s Fortune online in the UK

• Maximum stakes of £5 a spin from age 25 and £2 from 18 to 24, as set out in the Gambling Commission's online slots stake limit guidance (opens in a new tab). See our slot stake limits page.
• No autoplay, turbo or slam-stop, and at least 2.5 seconds per spin, under RTS 14 (opens in a new tab).
• No celebratory sounds or animations for returns at or below your stake.
• Age verification is required before you deposit or play, including demo play.

These rules apply to every online slot regardless of release date. Our game design rules page lists the changes that took effect in 2021 and 2025.

How to play Pharaoh’s Fortune

1. Open the paytable to check symbol values, the RTP version and how the stake covers the lines.
2. Set a stake that suits your budget and stays within your UK limit.
3. Spin. Wins pay on the 15 base-game lines, with the logo wild substituting for all but the scatter.
4. Land three green Pharaoh bonus symbols on a payline to start the bonus.
5. Pick pyramid blocks to add free spins and raise the multiplier.
6. Play the free spins on 20 lines; bonus symbols on reels 1 to 3 add more spins.
7. Stop at your preset limit when the round ends.

Other Egyptian slots like Pharaoh’s Fortune

Cleopatra is IGT's other long-running Egyptian game, at a lower 95.02%. Le Pharaoh is a newer medium-volatility alternative with a higher cap, and Book of Dead suits players happy with high variance. See the full list on our Egyptian slots page or the slots hub. For an outside summary, read the casinos.com Pharaoh’s Fortune review (opens in a new tab).

Pharaoh’s Fortune slot verdict

Pharaoh’s Fortune suits players who want a straightforward line slot with a single, easy-to-follow bonus. As with any slot, the house edge means losing is the likely result over time, so set a budget you are happy to spend. Our safer gambling section explains deposit limits and time-outs.

Where to play Pharaoh’s Fortune in the UK

Our partner offers are slot offers, but the spins are for named or selected games, not Pharaoh’s Fortune, so check each lobby for the title and the RTP version it runs. New customers aged 18+ only; terms apply.

• PlayOJO: 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza at 10p each for new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) who make a first deposit of £10 or more. No wagering; winnings are paid in cash. Designated offer link only; can't be combined.
• Coral: deposit and bet £10+ on slots for 100 free spins on selected games, each worth 10p. Accept within 48 hours and use within 7 days; winnings carry no wagering. Runs 1 October 2026 to 1 February 2027; Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards are excluded.
• Ladbrokes: deposit and spend £10 or more on slots for 50 free spins a day during your first 10 days (500 maximum), 10p each on selected games. Claim before 23:59 each day; spins are valid for 7 days; no wagering. A deposit by prepaid card, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill or Moneybookers won't qualify.

Coral and Ladbrokes are both operated by LC International Limited, so one person may not be able to claim both. Our Coral slots page covers that casino's slot section.

18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.