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Pharaoh’s Fortune is a classic IGT slot that takes the familiar ancient-Egypt setting and flips it into something playful and surprisingly distinctive. Instead of the usual solemn tomb-raiding mood, the game leans into a party-in-the-pyramid vibe, complete with a tongue-in-cheek presentation that feels closer to a Vegas crowd-pleaser than a modern cinematic epic. That tone matters because Pharaoh’s Fortune is, mechanically, a fairly traditional 5 reel slot at heart. The reason it has endured is not because it tries to do everything, but because it does a few things extremely well, especially its bonus design.
At a glance, Pharaoh’s Fortune is straightforward: a fixed set of paylines, standard line wins, and three headline special symbol types (Wild, Scatter, and Bonus). Where it steps beyond “standard” is in how it treats its Free Spins Bonus. This is one of those older-school bonus structures that still feels generous by today’s standards because it combines three ideas that slot players consistently respond to: an interactive pre-bonus pick, a meaningful multiplier, and a guarantee that every free spin returns something. Even when the base game is quiet, the knowledge that the bonus can become a long, escalating run (and can even retrigger repeatedly) is what keeps the experience engaging.
It is also a slot where the “small print” is actually important. Pharaoh’s Fortune has multiple payback configurations depending on the operator and jurisdiction, and the bonus rules include some unusual details, like how scatters are paid differently in free spins, how the bonus can retrigger to very high theoretical limits, and how a five-wild win is handled relative to the bonus multiplier. If you care about accuracy and expectations, Pharaoh’s Fortune is best understood as a familiar base game attached to a feature-rich bonus engine.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | IGT |
| Game type | Video slot |
| Reel layout | 5 reels, 3 rows |
| Paylines | 15 fixed paylines (base game), 20 paylines (Free Spins Bonus) |
| Win direction | Left to right on active paylines |
| Bonus trigger | 3 Bonus symbols on consecutive reels on a payline (reels 1 to 3 only) |
| Free spins starting award | 3 free spins with a 1x multiplier before the pick phase finalizes the bonus state |
| Bonus pick feature | Choose from 30 panels to add free spins and multiplier, then start the bonus |
| Bonus maximum setup | Up to 25 free spins with up to a 6x multiplier (via picks plus initial award) |
| Bonus retrigger | 3 Bonus scatter symbols anywhere (reels 1 to 3 only), adds free spins equal to the initial free spins amount |
| Retrigger cap | Up to 999 free spins per bonus (theoretical cap) |
| Guaranteed win mechanic | Every free spin pays something, with a stated minimum return tied to multiplier and coin value |
| Wild rules | Wild substitutes for all symbols except Bonus and Scatter |
| Scatter rules | 2 or more scatters anywhere pay a scatter win; free spins use a different scatter symbol and pay treatment |
| RTP and configurations | Multiple theoretical payback configurations exist, including a stated range and operator-specific settings |
Theme, visuals, and sound
Pharaoh’s Fortune is Egyptian-themed, but it does not chase realism. The symbols feel like stylized wall-art and “tomb iconography,” and the overall vibe is upbeat rather than mysterious. It’s designed to be readable at a glance, which is important in a 15-line format because you want to quickly see what hit, where it hit, and whether anything special was involved.
What many players remember most is the soundtrack choice. The game’s audio identity is deliberately attention-grabbing, and it reinforces the “party” framing rather than the usual desert winds and chanting. This does two things. First, it gives the game a personality that separates it from hundreds of other Egypt slots. Second, it makes wins, triggers, and bonus transitions feel like events, even when the underlying mechanics are traditional.
If you are used to modern, ultra-polished 3D slots, Pharaoh’s Fortune can look dated. But that “older cabinet classic” feel is also part of its charm. It’s not trying to overwhelm you with constant layered mechanics. Instead, it focuses your attention on the bonus and the tension of lining up Bonus symbols on the first three reels.
Base game gameplay
In the base game, Pharaoh’s Fortune runs on 15 fixed paylines. You cannot turn lines on or off, so your stake is effectively controlled through coin configuration and total bet settings rather than line selection. Wins are paid when matching symbols appear on an active payline on consecutive reels starting from the far-left reel. Only the highest win on each payline is paid, and wins across different paylines are added together.
This is the “classic” payline structure that many players still prefer because it’s easy to follow. You spin, you see a line highlight, and you immediately understand what created the payout.
From a pacing perspective, the base game’s job is to do three things:
- Provide enough line wins to keep you engaged.
- Let scatters land often enough to create occasional extra payouts that are independent of paylines.
- Build anticipation for the Free Spins Bonus, which is where the game’s identity truly comes alive.
Special symbols and how they work
The Wild symbol
The Wild is a substitute symbol that can replace most standard symbols to complete payline wins. It does not substitute for the Bonus or Scatter symbols. In practical play, this means wilds do what you expect: they help salvage near-misses and strengthen line hits, especially on the earlier reels where they can contribute to more paylines.
One important nuance is how the game treats a five-wild line win during the Free Spins Bonus. Pharaoh’s Fortune includes a rule where that specific outcome is multiplied by coin value but is not multiplied by the bonus multiplier. This is unusual enough that it’s worth knowing ahead of time because it slightly changes how you interpret “multiplier applies to everything” expectations in the bonus.
Scatter symbols
Pharaoh’s Fortune awards scatter wins for landing scatters anywhere on the reels, and the more scatters you land, the higher the scatter payout. Scatter wins are independent from line wins and are added to your total payout for the spin.
The game also distinguishes between scatters in the base game and scatters in the Free Spins Bonus. In free spins, the scatter symbol is different and uses a different paytable treatment, and scatter wins in the bonus are multiplied in a specific way (separate from the usual “total bet” multiplication you may expect in the base game). The key point is that scatters are not just cosmetic in this game. They are a meaningful secondary payout channel with slightly different behavior depending on mode.
Bonus symbols
Bonus symbols are what you are truly hunting. In many modern slots, the bonus trigger is “3 scatters anywhere.” Pharaoh’s Fortune does it differently: it triggers when three Bonus symbols appear on consecutive reels on a payline, and these Bonus symbols only appear on reels 1, 2, and 3.
That design choice has a big impact on feel. It creates a very specific kind of tension where reels 1 and 2 can tease you, and reel 3 becomes the “make or break” moment. Because it’s payline-based, positioning matters, and you can have spins where you see enough Bonus symbols on the reels but not arranged correctly to trigger. This is one of the reasons the bonus feels like an achievement when it lands, even though the base game is otherwise traditional.
The Free Spins Bonus
The Free Spins Bonus is Pharaoh’s Fortune’s signature feature, and it’s built as a sequence of escalating steps rather than a simple “here are 10 spins” award.
Step 1: Trigger and initial award
When you trigger the bonus, you are awarded an initial set of free spins and a starting multiplier. The stated starting point is 3 free spins with a 1x multiplier, and the bonus reels are described as “richer” than the base game reels, meaning the symbol distribution is adjusted to make the bonus more active and more rewarding than standard base spins.
Step 2: The pick phase
Before the free spins begin, you enter a pick feature where you choose from 30 panels. These picks can award additional free spins, increase the bonus multiplier, or start the bonus. Each pick that does not start the bonus awards an additional pick, which creates that classic “keep picking until you finally hit START” rhythm that many players love.
This structure is more impactful than it might sound. It means the bonus has personality and variation. Two players can trigger the bonus at the same stake and walk away with very different feature lengths and multiplier levels based on how the picks unfold.
Step 3: Expanded paylines in the bonus
During the Free Spins Bonus, the game adds 5 additional paylines to the base game’s 15, creating a total of 20 paylines in the bonus. This is a meaningful change because it increases how many possible line patterns can pay on each spin, which complements the bonus’s “guaranteed win” design.
Step 4: Guaranteed win on every free spin
Pharaoh’s Fortune is notable because every free spin is a guaranteed win. Even if the reel stop would have resulted in “no line win” in a normal slot, the bonus ensures a payout. The stated minimum is tied directly to your bonus multiplier and the triggering coin value, which means the multiplier is not just a “nice to have,” it actively raises the floor of the bonus.
This mechanic is why the bonus often feels satisfying even when it’s not producing huge hits. You are rarely watching a sequence of empty spins. The game is designed so the bonus always returns something, and the better your pick outcome, the better that baseline return becomes.
Step 5: Retriggers and long bonus potential
The Free Spins Bonus can retrigger when three Bonus scatter symbols appear anywhere on the reels, again limited to reels 1, 2, and 3. When it retriggers, it awards additional free spins equal to the initial number of free spins you had at the start of the free spins feature.
This creates a “self-feeding” quality. A strong bonus that begins with a larger free spin count can retrigger into more substantial additions, while a smaller initial bonus retriggers into smaller increments. The game also includes a very high theoretical cap on the number of free spins per bonus. In real play, you should treat this as a technical ceiling rather than something you will commonly approach, but it does signal that Pharaoh’s Fortune is built to allow long-running features when luck cooperates.
RTP, variance, and what a session feels like
Pharaoh’s Fortune exists in multiple configurations, and its theoretical payback can vary by operator. Some documented versions present a broad theoretical range depending on configuration, and individual operator deployments can list a specific long-term expected payback for that implementation.
In terms of how it feels, Pharaoh’s Fortune is commonly described as a medium-volatility slot. That matches the overall structure: the base game is steady and familiar, while the bonus can create bursts of stronger value through increased paylines, a potentially large multiplier, and a long run of guaranteed-paying spins.
The bonus structure also shapes variance in a specific way. Many high-volatility slots rely on rare feature triggers and massive potential inside the feature. Pharaoh’s Fortune, by contrast, tries to make the bonus consistently rewarding through guaranteed wins, then adds upside through multiplier growth and retriggers. That means the experience is often more “reliably fun” than “wildly explosive,” even though the game can still produce large top-end outcomes when the right symbol combinations align at the right multiplier.
Practical play approach and bankroll planning
Pharaoh’s Fortune is not a slot where complicated strategy changes the math. The outcomes are random and independent. But you can still approach it in a way that matches the slot’s structure.
Keep your stake stable if you are feature-hunting
Because the bonus is the centerpiece, it’s usually better to pick a comfortable stake and give yourself enough spins to realistically see a bonus trigger. Chasing with sudden bet jumps can increase risk quickly, especially because the trigger requires a specific payline alignment on reels 1 to 3, which can lead to psychologically powerful near-misses.
Understand the difference between “bonus length” and “bonus value”
The pick phase can give you more free spins, a higher multiplier, or both. A longer bonus at a modest multiplier can feel less profitable than a shorter bonus at a strong multiplier. If you are watching your feature unfold, pay attention to multiplier progress, not just spin count.
Treat retriggers as upside, not expectation
Retriggers can happen and can extend the bonus significantly, but they are not guaranteed. If you budget as though retriggers are “due,” you can end up overextending your bankroll. The healthiest mindset is to treat retriggers as a pleasant surprise and set limits based on what happens without them.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Classic 15-payline play that is easy to understand and quick to read.
- A bonus that still feels special thanks to the pick phase, multiplier potential, and expanded paylines.
- Guaranteed-paying free spins, which makes bonus rounds feel consistently engaging.
- Retrigger potential that can turn a normal bonus into a long, memorable feature run.
- Strong audio identity that makes the game feel distinct in a crowded theme category.
Weaknesses
- Base game can feel simple compared to modern feature-heavy slots.
- Bonus trigger is payline-based on reels 1 to 3, which can create frequent teases and frustration if you are unlucky.
- Visual presentation may feel dated if you prefer modern cinematic graphics.
- RTP varies by configuration, so different casinos can deliver meaningfully different long-term value.
Final verdict
Pharaoh’s Fortune is a reminder of why some IGT classics stick around. It does not rely on endless mechanics or complicated rule stacks. Instead, it builds a familiar base and then delivers a genuinely standout bonus that blends player interaction, stronger reel composition, extra paylines, meaningful multiplier growth, and a guaranteed payout structure that keeps free spins exciting from start to finish.
If you enjoy traditional payline slots and want a bonus round that feels like an event rather than a routine add-on, Pharaoh’s Fortune remains one of the better examples of that style. Just make sure you understand which RTP configuration you are playing, and approach the game with a stake that lets you comfortably chase the feature without being pushed around by near-misses.
FAQs
What is Pharaoh’s Fortune by IGT?
Pharaoh’s Fortune is a 5 reel, 3 row video slot from IGT built on fixed paylines and classic line wins. Its standout feature is a Free Spins Bonus with a pick phase, a bonus multiplier, and guaranteed-paying free spins.
How many paylines does Pharaoh’s Fortune have?
In the base game it uses 15 fixed paylines. During the Free Spins Bonus, the game expands to 20 paylines.
Is Pharaoh’s Fortune a payline slot or a ways-to-win slot?
It’s a payline slot. Wins are evaluated left to right along fixed payline patterns rather than through ways-to-win counting.
How do line wins work in Pharaoh’s Fortune?
Line wins typically require matching symbols on consecutive reels starting from reel 1 on an active payline. Only the highest win on each payline is paid, and multiple paylines can pay on the same spin.
What is the Wild symbol and what does it do?
The Wild substitutes for most regular symbols to help complete winning paylines. It generally does not substitute for Bonus or Scatter symbols.
Can the Wild symbol pay on its own?
Yes, the Wild can also act as a paying symbol when it forms a winning combination on a payline. Wild-heavy line hits can therefore be valuable even without substitutions.
What are Scatter symbols in Pharaoh’s Fortune?
Scatters are special symbols that pay anywhere on the reels and do not need to be on a payline to award a scatter win. The more scatters you land, the higher the scatter payout.
Do scatter wins stack with line wins?
Yes, scatter wins are typically added to any payline wins from the same spin. This means a single spin can pay both ways at once.
Are scatters different during the Free Spins Bonus?
Yes, many versions use a different scatter symbol or treat scatters differently in free spins. Scatter wins in the bonus may follow a specific paytable and multiplication rule distinct from the base game.
What are Bonus symbols used for?
Bonus symbols are used to trigger the Free Spins Bonus. They are not primarily about payline value; their main role is feature entry and feature retriggers.
How do you trigger the Free Spins Bonus?
The Free Spins Bonus triggers when 3 Bonus symbols appear on consecutive reels on a payline, typically limited to reels 1, 2, and 3. Because it is payline-based, their exact positions matter.
Do Bonus symbols appear on all reels?
In most versions, Bonus symbols are restricted to the first three reels. This is why the trigger feels like a “reel 3 moment,” where the third reel often decides whether you enter the feature.
What happens immediately after the bonus triggers?
The game awards an initial free spin package and then moves into a pick feature. The pick feature determines how many extra spins and what multiplier you will carry into the main free spins round.
What is the Pick Feature in Pharaoh’s Fortune?
The Pick Feature is an interactive selection round where you pick from a set of panels (often shown as 30 choices). Picks can reveal additional free spins, multiplier upgrades, or the “start bonus” result.
How does the pick sequence end?
The pick sequence continues until you reveal a result that starts the Free Spins Bonus. In many versions, picks that award spins or multipliers also award an extra pick, so the selection round can build value before it ends.
How many free spins can you start with?
The total starting free spins can vary by how your picks land. In commonly described rulesets, the bonus can build up to a higher free spins total before it begins, depending on what you reveal during the pick phase.
What is the bonus multiplier and how high can it go?
The bonus multiplier increases the value of line wins during free spins. Many versions allow the multiplier to build as high as 6x through the pick phase.
Do all wins get multiplied in free spins?
Most line wins in the Free Spins Bonus are multiplied by the bonus multiplier. However, some rulesets include exceptions, such as a five-wild payline win being paid differently than standard multiplied line wins.
What is the “five Wilds” exception some versions mention?
Some versions state that a payline win consisting of five Wild symbols is multiplied by coin value but not multiplied by the Free Spins Bonus multiplier. This is unusual, so checking your in-game rules is the best way to confirm.
What does it mean that every free spin is a guaranteed win?
It means each free spin will return some payout, even if the reel stop would normally be non-paying. The guaranteed win floor is typically tied to your coin value and the bonus multiplier, so a higher multiplier raises the minimum outcome per spin.
Does the Free Spins Bonus use different reels?
Yes, the bonus reels are commonly described as “richer,” meaning symbol distribution is adjusted to make wins more frequent or valuable compared to base play. This supports the guaranteed win mechanic and overall bonus feel.
How do you retrigger free spins?
In many versions, free spins retrigger when 3 Bonus scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, typically still restricted to reels 1 to 3. When retriggered, the game adds extra free spins based on your initial bonus spin amount.
How many free spins do you get on a retrigger?
A retrigger commonly awards additional spins equal to the initial free spin amount you started the bonus with. That means a stronger initial bonus can retrigger into more spins than a minimal initial bonus.
Is there a cap on how many free spins you can win?
Some rulesets mention a very high theoretical maximum, commonly up to 999 free spins in a single bonus. This is an upper safety cap and is rarely relevant in normal play, but it exists in the rules.
Does Pharaoh’s Fortune have a progressive jackpot?
Pharaoh’s Fortune is generally not presented as a progressive jackpot slot. Its main appeal is the free spins structure with multipliers and retrigger potential rather than a networked jackpot pool.
What is the RTP of Pharaoh’s Fortune?
The RTP can vary by configuration depending on the operator and jurisdiction. The most reliable RTP is whatever is specified in the rules for your casino’s specific version or shown in the game info panel.
Is Pharaoh’s Fortune a high volatility slot?
It’s commonly described as medium volatility. The base game is relatively steady, while the bonus can create stronger bursts through multipliers, added paylines, and long sequences of guaranteed-paying spins.
What are the biggest wins usually driven by?
Large wins typically come from the Free Spins Bonus when you build a high multiplier and/or a large free spin count. Because paylines expand to 20 in the bonus, there are more routes for premium symbol hits to land.
Does changing bet size change your odds of triggering the bonus?
In most slot designs, bet size changes payout amounts, not symbol probabilities. Your stake mainly affects the size of line wins and bonus wins, not how often you trigger them.
Is Pharaoh’s Fortune beginner-friendly?
Yes, it is relatively beginner-friendly because it uses a classic payline format and clearly labeled special symbols. The main thing to learn is the payline-based bonus trigger on reels 1 to 3 and the pick feature that builds the bonus before it starts.
Is Pharaoh’s Fortune mobile-friendly?
Online and app-based versions are generally mobile-friendly, though the original cabinet design is older. The interface is usually simple to follow on a phone since it’s a 5×3 grid with fixed paylines.
What should you check before playing for real money?
Check your version’s RTP configuration, confirm the Free Spins Bonus rules, and review any exceptions such as how five Wilds are paid in the bonus. If your operator provides an in-game help file, that is the best place to validate these details for your specific build.
UK iGaming Writer - With 10+ years in tech, crypto, igaming, and finance, Ali has written across many platforms covering crypto, tech, and gambling news, reviews, and guides. He specialises in content on igaming, sports betting, and crypto trends in emerging markets. Outside of work, Ali enjoys cricket and travelling.
