Cleopatra Slot Machine

If you’re a frequent slot player, the Cleopatra slot machine is a game that needs no introduction.

IGT released the land-based version in 2005, and it’s as popular today as it was back then. The online version of Cleopatra, which is similar, was released in 2017. Virtually every major land-based and online casino offers it, including PA online casinos.

It has been such a success that IGT released two sequels to Cleopatra: Cleopatra Plus (with a “level up” feature) and Mega Jackpots Cleopatra.

If you are new or relatively new to online casino gambling and undecided about which slot game to play, you can’t go wrong with Cleopatra.

The basics of the Cleopatra slot machine

Cleopatra is an ancient Egypt-themed slot based on the last pharaoh of Egypt. Her reign has been the inspiration not only for this slot game and many others, but also for books, plays, and movies.

So, if this is a subject that intrigues you, and you’re looking for a “wild” opportunity to hit a big payday, look no further. Now may be the perfect time to take a virtual trip on the Nile and see where the adventure takes you.

The Cleopatra online slot consists of five reels, three rows, and 20 paylines. In that respect, it resembles many other modern online slots.

Cleopatra is a “medium volatility” slot with a return to player, or RTP, of 95.02%. This rate is above average for PA online slots; however, not the best you can find by any means. Most online slots have an RTP of 96% or higher, while some have an RTP of 94% or even lower.

A high RTP doesn’t guarantee you will win, nor does a below-average RTP guarantee you will lose. It is the expected payout rate over the lifespan of the game, not by session.

Wide range of bet sizes to suit any player

Cleopatra gives you the option to adjust the number of paylines you want to play. Small-stakes players can opt for fewer than 20 paylines. To begin, select the number of paylines you would like to play, which can be any number from one to 20. Then choose your line bet, which can be from 1 cent to $10.

The two numbers multiplied together equals your bet amount for each spin. In other words, the amount you bet per spin can range from 1 cent to $200.

Cleopatra slot machine symbols

As soon as you start the game, you can’t help but be drawn in by the brightly colored, intricately detailed symbols on the reels, including the captivating Cleopatra herself.

Meanwhile, a few bars of rousing soundtrack playing in the background will dispel any last-minute trepidation you have about your imminent adventure. You won’t be disappointed.

Regular symbols

Surprisingly, the symbols in this game do not include the two people most closely associated with Cleopatra: Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Instead, the five higher-paying regular symbols consist of the following:

• Scarab Beetle: An ancient Egyptian symbol of immortality with a green background.
• Lotus: Three flowers with a purple background.
• Cartouche: A gold tablet that was for Egyptian hieroglyphics with a blue background.
• Crook & Flail: Two tools crossing each other with a gold background.
• Eye of Horus: A single open eye, an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, health, and regeneration, with a red background.

The two highest-paying regular symbols are the scarab and lotus. Five of a kind across the reels pays 37.5x your stake or $7,500 on a maximum bet of $200.

The six lower paying regular symbols are the playing cards nine through ace.

Winning combinations for all but the scarab, lotus, and nine symbols occur when three or more of the same symbol line up on adjacent reels on a working payline from left to right starting with reel one.

The scarab, lotus, and the nine-card only require a minimum two-of-a-kind in adjacent reels starting with reel one to produce a payout. Of course, the payout for just two of these symbols is small, but it is better than nothing. Only the highest win on a working payline will pay out.

Wild symbol

Cleopatra, as you would expect, is the wild symbol. As such, it substitutes for all other symbols except the scatter symbol to help form winning combinations or add to existing ones.

Also, anytime the Cleopatra wild symbol contributes to a winning combination, the payout doubles. You will also hear the phrase, “twice is nice,” which is a nice touch. However, what is not so nice is that even with the double payout, some of these “wins” are so tiny they don’t even cover your bet size. Also, you may experience a long string of spins in succession that come up empty.

Cleopatra, on its own, is the highest-paying symbol in the game. You need two or more to land adjacently on a working payline, starting with reel one to produce a winning combination. It will pay you half, 10x, 100x, or 500x your bet, respectively, for two, three, four, or five Cleopatra symbols in a row. If you’re lucky enough to have five in a row land across the reels with a maximum bet of $200, you will collect $100,000.

Scatter symbol

The scatter symbol is the Sphinx. Three, four, or five of these symbols appearing simultaneously anywhere on the reels will trigger the free spins bonus round. The bonus consists of 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier (or 6x multiplier when Cleopatra contributes to a win on any of the free spins).

But that’s not all. As long as at least two scatter symbols land, you automatically win. Depending on the total number of scatter symbols landing (two, three, four, or five), you will immediately receive 2x, 5x, 20x, or 100x your stake.

Special free spins bonus feature

As mentioned above, whenever three or more Sphinx scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, you trigger the Cleopatra bonus round, where you will win 15 free spins. During the free spins, all wins except those that include Cleopatra symbols will triple. The latter will multiply your winnings six times.

You can retrigger the Cleopatra bonus if three or more Sphinx symbols appear again anytime during the free spins. You can trigger the free spins a maximum of 12 times in a row, for a total of 180 free spins.

Winning combinations during the free spins bonus round will payout, depending on the same number of paylines and the same line bet as on the spin that triggered the free spins.

Is the Cleopatra slot game worth your time?

If you decide to give the Cleopatra slot game a try, I recommend the online version over the land-based version of this slot, for the simple reason that the online version has a higher RTP.

The difference comes from the online game, but not the land-based game, paying out when just two scatter symbols land on the reels and also when two No. 9 symbols land on reels one and two.

When you compare Cleopatra to other more modern slots, the graphics and animations are acceptable but not fantastic.

Also, while the manufacturer describes this slot as having “medium volatility,” in practice, the volatility level leans more toward “medium-high.”

How I fared playing in demo mode

I played the Cleopatra online slot in demo mode twice, betting $20 per spin. Both sessions were winners.  I did not win early on, and I did not trigger the free spins bonus round — not even once.

The free spins offer the potential for huge wins, especially if you retrigger them, but I suspect it is challenging to trigger them at all.

You can also score substantial wins during the base game, but it could be a long time in coming. That’s why playing with an adequate bankroll for the betting stake you select is essential.

During one playing session, even after my first “big win” of $298, I was still about $100 down. A second more significant win of $454 put me $277 ahead, at which point I decided to call it a day.

During the other playing session, nine spins in a row came up empty, until I finally won $210 in one spin, followed soon thereafter by a single spin win of $439. I finished that session $310 ahead.

The bottom line

Cleopatra does have the potential to win big, but be prepared to withstand the possibility of losing a chunk of your playing stake in the beginning.

On the other hand, if you are ahead but see that you’re giving some of your winnings back, ending your session sooner rather than later is highly recommended. Your luck can turn quickly, and before you know it, you can give back all of your winnings and more.