Pragmatic Play: Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza & RTP

Who is Pragmatic Play?

If you have spent any time browsing online slots, you have almost certainly come across Pragmatic Play. Over the last decade the studio has grown from a relatively unknown supplier into one of the most recognisable names in the industry, powering game lobbies at hundreds of international casinos that accept Luxembourg players.

From newcomer to household name

Pragmatic Play built its reputation on volume and consistency, releasing new titles at a steady pace and covering just about every genre a player could want — from simple classic slots to high-volatility feature-packed games. What really cemented its status, however, were two breakout hits: Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza. These two titles became genuine cultural touchstones in the slots world, endlessly clipped and shared, and they remain among the most-played games at almost any casino that carries the provider’s catalogue.

More than just slots

Today Pragmatic Play is a multi-product supplier. Alongside its huge slot library it operates a growing live casino division, virtual sports, bingo and a range of game shows. This breadth is part of why the brand appears so frequently — a single integration gives a casino access to an entire ecosystem of content rather than a handful of games. You can explore the full lineup on our dedicated Pragmatic Play hub.

The signature slots: Gates of Olympus & Sweet Bonanza

The two games that most players associate with Pragmatic Play share a very specific design philosophy, and understanding it helps explain their appeal.

Gates of Olympus

Gates of Olympus is a Greek-mythology-themed slot built around a “pay anywhere” or scatter-pays engine rather than traditional fixed paylines. Instead of matching symbols along set lines, you win when enough matching symbols appear anywhere on the grid. Winning symbols then disappear and new ones tumble down to fill the gaps, potentially creating chain reactions from a single spin.

The game is best known for its high volatility — a term meaning wins arrive less frequently but can be much larger when they do. Multiplier symbols that can stack together during the tumble mechanic are the headline feature, and they are the reason the game developed such a strong following. It is important to be realistic here: high-volatility games can go through long dry spells, so they demand careful bankroll management.

Sweet Bonanza

Sweet Bonanza uses a very similar underlying system — a scatter-pays, tumbling-reels grid dressed up in a colourful candy-and-fruit theme. It also features multiplier symbols during the free spins round and shares the same “big potential, high variance” character as its stablemate.

Because the two games play so similarly, players who enjoy one tend to gravitate towards the other. Both have also spawned follow-up versions and variants over the years, extending the franchises well beyond the original releases.

A quick comparison

Feature	Gates of Olympus	Sweet Bonanza
Theme	Greek mythology	Candy / fruit
Win system	Scatter pays (pay anywhere)	Scatter pays (pay anywhere)
Reel mechanic	Tumbling reels	Tumbling reels
Volatility	High	High
Signature feature	Stacking multipliers	Multipliers in free spins

Understanding RTP and volatility

Two numbers matter more than almost anything else when you choose a slot: RTP and volatility. Getting to grips with them will make you a far more informed player.

What RTP actually means

RTP, or Return to Player, is the theoretical percentage of all wagered money a slot is designed to pay back over a very long period. A 96% RTP means that, across millions of spins, the game returns €96 for every €100 staked on average — with the remaining €4 representing the house edge.

Crucially, RTP is a long-run statistical figure, not a promise about any single session. You can lose your entire balance on a “high RTP” game or hit a big win on a lower one. It simply describes the mathematical tendency over enormous sample sizes.

The RTP detail most players miss

One thing that is genuinely important with Pragmatic Play — and with many modern suppliers — is that the same game can ship with different RTP settings. Operators are sometimes able to choose from several configured RTP versions of a title, meaning the exact figure you get can vary from one casino to another.

Because of this, we deliberately avoid quoting a single fixed RTP number for any game: the honest answer is “check the specific casino.” Reputable casinos display each game’s active RTP in the info or paytable screen, and it is always worth looking before you play. If a casino hides this information, treat that as a red flag.

Volatility in plain terms

Volatility (also called variance) describes the shape of the wins, not the total. Low-volatility slots pay small amounts often; high-volatility slots pay rarely but potentially big. Pragmatic Play’s flagship titles sit firmly at the high end, which is a large part of their appeal — and their risk. Match the volatility to your budget and your temperament, not to what looks exciting in a video clip.

Pragmatic Play live casino and game shows

Slots may be the studio’s calling card, but its live-dealer product has expanded rapidly and is now a serious part of the offering.

The live tables

Pragmatic Play Live streams the full spread of classic casino tables from professional studios. You will find roulette in several formats, multiple blackjack tables, and baccarat for players who prefer the simpler card game. The presentation is polished, with real dealers, real equipment and multi-camera streams designed to feel like a genuine casino floor.

Game shows and entertainment formats

The provider has also leaned into the game shows category — the big-wheel and studio-based entertainment titles that blur the line between casino and TV gameshow. This is one of the fastest-growing segments in online gambling, and it is an area where Pragmatic Play competes directly with specialists like Evolution, the studio widely regarded as the market leader in live content.

How it stacks up against rivals

It is worth setting Pragmatic Play in context alongside other big names you will meet in casino lobbies:

Studio	Best known for
Pragmatic Play	High-volatility slots + growing live casino
Evolution	Market-leading live casino & game shows
NetEnt	Iconic slots and long-running classics
Play’n GO	Prolific, feature-rich slot catalogue

No single studio is “best” — a strong casino typically carries several of them, giving you variety across online slots, live tables and even jackpot slots.

Playing Pragmatic Play from Luxembourg

Online gambling in Luxembourg is a state monopoly operated by the Loterie Nationale. In practice, this means most Luxembourg players who want to access Pragmatic Play’s full catalogue do so at internationally licensed operators that accept players from the country. Understanding those licences is essential.

The four licensing frameworks you will encounter

Not all licences offer the same level of oversight or player protection. These are the four you are most likely to see:

Licence	Strictness	Player protection
Malta Gaming Authority (MGA)	High	Strong — clear rules, audits, dispute channels
Curaçao	Moderate	Reformed framework, more variable in practice
Anjouan	Lower	More permissive, lighter oversight
Kahnawake	Lower	More permissive, lighter oversight

The MGA is generally considered the gold standard among these, with the most rigorous requirements around fairness, fund segregation and responsible gambling. Curaçao is the most common licence you will encounter and has been undergoing reform, though enforcement can vary. Anjouan and Kahnawake are more permissive frameworks that are increasingly used but offer comparatively lighter player protection. As a rule of thumb, the stricter the licence, the more recourse you have if something goes wrong.

Bonuses: sports vs casino

Any offers shown to Luxembourg players will be displayed in euros (€). It is important to distinguish between a sports welcome bonus and a casino offer — they are separate products with different terms, and casino bonuses are the relevant ones for Pragmatic Play games. Casino promotions typically carry wagering requirements, game weightings and maximum-bet rules that determine how much a bonus is really worth. Always read the terms in full; you can learn more on our casino bonus guide.

Play responsibly

Slots like Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza are designed as entertainment, not as a way to make money. Their high volatility means losing streaks are normal and expected, and no strategy changes the underlying maths.

Keep it fun and in control

Set a budget before you play, never chase losses, and treat any money spent as the cost of entertainment. Gambling is strictly for players aged 18 and over. If your play stops feeling fun — or if you are worried about your habits or someone else’s — free, confidential help and self-assessment tools are available at BeGambleAware.org. Most reputable casinos also offer deposit limits, reality checks, time-outs and self-exclusion; use them.