Slots Like Cleopatra: A Vegas Legend Even We Can’t Fully Date
Cleopatra is one of the true legends of the slot machine world, a Vegas casino-floor icon from IGT that predates the online slots industry entirely, and one whose exact history is genuinely harder to pin down than most modern releases precisely because it’s so old. If you’re looking for slots like Cleopatra, this guide compares all three real IGT games, and is upfront about the handful of facts, release dates, a couple of max-win figures, where even the specialist sources disagree, rather than pretending to a precision the record doesn’t actually support.
Where to Play Cleopatra Slots
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Reviewed by Brian TaylorPublished: August 2026
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All three Cleopatra games at a glance
All IGT, all built around the same veiled Cleopatra portrait, figures checked 5 July 2026:
| Game | Year | Grid | RTP | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra (original) | 1990s* | 5×3, 20 paylines | 95.02% | 10,000x line bet |
| Cleopatra II | 2015† | 5 reels, 20 paylines | 93-96%‡ | disputed§ |
| Cleopatra Grand | 2023 | 5×4, up to 50 paylines | 96.1% | varies by jackpot tier |
*Cleopatra’s exact original launch date is genuinely unresolved, no primary IGT source settles it, and secondary sources range from a general “1990s” to specific but conflicting dates as late as 2015 for what was likely an online relaunch. †Also reported as 2021 by one source, unresolved. ‡IGT sells Cleopatra II in multiple RTP configurations to different operators, so this range reflects genuine variation, not error. §Sources disagree between a 50,000x bet figure and a 10,000-coin jackpot framing, likely a unit mismatch rather than two real figures.
Every Cleopatra game, reviewed
1. Cleopatra (the original)
IGT’s original Cleopatra is a genuine slot machine landmark, built on a 5-reel, 3-row, 20-payline layout that predates almost every mechanic modern players take for granted. Three or more Sphinx scatters trigger 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier applied to wins, retriggerable up to a total cap of 180 spins, while the Cleopatra symbol itself is wild, substituting for everything but the scatter and doubling any win it completes. Published at 95.02% RTP, confirmed by a full mathematical breakdown from Wizard of Odds, with Medium volatility and a 10,000x line-bet max win for five wilds.
2. Cleopatra II
The sequel keeps the Egyptian theme and Sphinx-scatter structure but reworks the free spins into a pick-driven format: scatter count determines a starting allocation of 5 to 20 free spins, with a multiplier that climbs by 1x per spin and can retrigger up to a 50-spin cap. It ships in several RTP configurations depending on the operator, generally in a 93-96% range, with High volatility, a noticeably sharper ride than the original.
3. Cleopatra Grand
The newest and most structurally ambitious entry, expanding to a 5-reel, 4-row grid with up to 50 paylines during free spins (25 in the base game). A Pharaoh scatter triggers a bonus-selection screen letting you choose between a Multiplier Bonus, Free Spins with a climbing multiplier on the expanded grid, or a Lock-and-Respin feature spanning six separate jackpot tiers, a genuinely richer bonus structure than either earlier game. Published at 96.1% RTP with Medium-High volatility.
The original: quick facts
| Provider | IGT (International Game Technology) |
|---|---|
| First released | Widely cited to the 1990s as a land-based machine; exact date unresolved |
| Layout | 5 reels × 3 rows, 20 paylines |
| RTP | 95.02% |
| Volatility | Medium |
| Max win | 10,000x line bet (five Cleopatra wilds) |
| Signature feature | 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier, triggered by 3+ Sphinx scatters, retriggerable to 180 spins |
✓ Facts checked 5 July 2026
The maths: the most transparent RTP breakdown on the site
What a hundred £1 spins costs at each game’s default published RTP:
| Game | House edge | £1 × 100 spins |
|---|---|---|
| Cleopatra Grand (96.1%) | 3.90% | £3.90 |
| Cleopatra (95.02%) | 4.98% | £4.98 |
| Cleopatra II (93-96%) | 4-7% | £4.00-£7.00 |
✓ Calculated from the published RTPs, checked 5 July 2026
Cleopatra’s original RTP has been dissected down to the individual percentage-point contribution of line pays, scatters and the bonus round by independent mathematicians, which is a level of transparency few slots this old can claim. Session tools on our Responsible Gambling page.
History and legacy
Cleopatra comes from IGT, a company with roots going back to 1975 as A-1 Supply in Las Vegas, renamed Sircoma and then International Game Technology by 1981. IGT grew into one of gambling’s largest equipment manufacturers long before online slots existed, and Cleopatra became one of its signature titles on physical casino floors, a status that gives it a cultural weight most online-only franchises simply can’t match. IGT itself was acquired by GTECH in 2015 for $6.4 billion, with the combined company retaining the IGT name.
Why this family still matters
Cleopatra’s move from land-based cabinets to online play is part of what makes its history genuinely harder to document than a modern release. There’s no single clean “launch day” the way there is for a slot built for the internet from scratch. That messiness is itself part of the story: this is a machine that earned its reputation on the casino floor first, long before marketing pages and press releases were part of how slots got remembered.
Beyond the reels
IGT holds an active UK Gambling Commission licence through IGT-UK Gaming Limited as a technical and software supplier, meaning its games reach UK players through licensed casino operators rather than IGT taking bets directly. Cleopatra is currently available online through operators including PlayOJO, Genting Casino and others carrying IGT’s catalogue.
What players say
Cleopatra’s free spins with their 3x multiplier remain the draw for long-time fans, who often cite the game’s simplicity as a feature rather than a limitation. It’s a slot built for a casino floor, not a feature-heavy modern release, and plenty of players prefer that directness. Cleopatra II’s higher volatility and climbing multiplier appeal to a different crowd chasing bigger swings, while Cleopatra Grand’s multi-choice bonus structure has drawn the most positive attention of the three for genuinely expanding what the format can do.
A Vegas legend, not a single headline win
We looked for a specific, sourced big-win story to feature here and came up short, the claims circulating online for Cleopatra are generic, unattributed marketing copy rather than anything a named player, date or verifiable amount backs up, so we’re not going to publish a number we can’t stand behind. What Cleopatra has instead is something arguably rarer: genuine, decades-long staying power as one of the most recognisable slot machines ever built, a reputation earned on real casino floors long before online slots existed at all.
The best Cleopatra slot for how you like to play
| If you want… | Play | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The classic, original formula | Cleopatra | The genuine Vegas-floor legend, with the most transparent published maths |
| Higher volatility swings | Cleopatra II | A climbing multiplier and a noticeably sharper ride |
| The richest bonus structure | Cleopatra Grand | A three-way bonus choice and a 50-line expanded grid |
Other Slots Like Cleopatra, and Where They Differ
Picking a slot series is partly about what Cleopatra does well, and partly about what it doesn’t try to do. Here’s the contrast with Razor Shark, The Goonies and Sticky Bandits, worth knowing before you commit to 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier.
| Series | Choose them if… | Choose Cleopatra if… |
|---|---|---|
| Razor Shark (Push Gaming) | A high-volatility session built around Razor Reveal appeals more | IGT’s 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier is closer to what you’re after |
| The Goonies (Blueprint Gaming (Warner Bros. licence)) | You’re drawn to Blueprint Gaming’s approach, One-Eyed Willy’s wheel | You’re after IGT’s take instead, 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier |
| Sticky Bandits (Quickspin (a Playtech studio, Stockholm)) | You want high volatility and Quickspin’s take on Colossal bandit wilds | A medium-volatility session centred on 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier suits you better |
All of these are strong picks in their own right, though nothing else on this list quite replicates Cleopatra’s 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier.
Our verdict on Cleopatra
SlotsLike score: 7/10, a genuine slot machine icon whose simplicity is still the whole appeal.
| Features | 6/10 on the original, 8/10 on Cleopatra Grand’s three-way bonus pick |
|---|---|
| Win potential | 7/10, solid rather than spectacular by modern standards |
| Design | 8/10, the veiled Cleopatra portrait is one of the most recognisable images in slots |
| Playability | 8/10, Medium volatility and a simple format make the original an easy, relaxed play |
Play here if you want a genuine piece of slot machine history with straightforward, well-documented maths. Look elsewhere if you specifically want a modern, feature-dense release, only Cleopatra Grand in this family really competes on that front.
Cleopatra FAQs
Who makes Cleopatra?
IGT (International Game Technology), one of the largest slot machine manufacturers in the world, tracing back to 1975.
How many Cleopatra games are there?
Three confirmed IGT entries: the original, Cleopatra II and Cleopatra Grand. Several unrelated Cleopatra-themed slots exist from other studios and aren’t part of this franchise.
When was Cleopatra released?
Widely cited to the 1990s as a land-based machine, though the exact date is unresolved across sources, this is one of the few facts on this site we can’t pin down precisely.
What is the RTP of Cleopatra?
95.02%, independently confirmed with a full mathematical breakdown by Wizard of Odds.
Which Cleopatra has the biggest max win?
Cleopatra II is reported with the highest ceiling, though sources disagree on the exact figure, we’re not stating a false-precise number here.
What is the free spins feature?
Triggered by 3+ Sphinx scatters on the original, awarding 15 spins with a 3x multiplier, retriggerable up to 180 spins total.
Is Cleopatra the same as other Egyptian-themed slots?
No, several unrelated Cleopatra or Egypt-themed slots exist from other studios; only Cleopatra, Cleopatra II and Cleopatra Grand are genuine IGT titles.
Is Cleopatra fair?
Yes, IGT holds an active UK Gambling Commission licence as a technical supplier, and its games reach UK players through licensed operators.
Sources & Verification
Primary sources checked 9 July 2026: IGT’s own corporate site; and the UK Gambling Commission’s public register (IGT-UK Gaming Limited, account 64568).