Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome was released in 2014. This slot game will keep you entertained if you like free spins and wild action. Join me as I enter the battlefield and learn more about this superb online slot game, its bonus features, mechanics, and graphics.
Is Spartacus Worthwhile?
I found this slot worth playing, especially as I enjoy gladiator-themed slots that take me back in time. You'll enjoy this game if you like a slow start and frequent wild stacks on the reels. Otherwise, look at the following pros and cons to decide:
Things We Like
Two unique reel sets are available
Win up to 20 free spins plus a 20x multiplier
Things to Consider
High volatility may not be suitable for all players
How Did I Start Playing Spartacus?
There are many Roman and gladiator-themed slots, but I was asked to review an early WMS release, Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome. If you want some help getting started with playing this slot, I provide a step-by-step guide below:
Begin by registering with the best online casino that fits your preferences: I always look for a casino that offers 24/7 customer support or a user-friendly interface. I also only use casinos that have a UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) license.
Deposit using your preferred payment system: I use a payment method at casinos that I can also use for withdrawals. This way, I only have to verify once.
Open the slot game in the gaming lobby: Type the slot’s name into the search bar, as that’s the fastest way to find it.
Read the paytable information: This will help you to learn the different symbols and features so you know what will happen when you begin to play.
Choose the lowest possible bet amount: It’s always best to start playing with as small a bet as possible. In my case, I began with a £0.50 wager and later increased it to a £1 stake.
Set the auto spin function: I always decide beforehand how many spins to play. This helps me gamble more responsibly. Generally, I set auto spins to about 10 to 20 times.
A Guide to Placing Your First Bet
Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome has 100 pay lines to play with. Choose between activating 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100 of the pay lines. I always play with all 100 active, as otherwise, you’re just lowering the chances of landing a win.
This choice meant my minimum bet was £0.50, as you have to adjust the bet per two lines. After spinning the reels 15 times, I increased my £0.50 bet to £1. After 20 spins, I evaluated my play and determined whether my bankroll could comfortably support further play.
My First Moments With This Slot
There’s an interesting dynamic between the Main Reel Set and the Colossal Reel Set. The Main Reel Set is a 5-reel, 4-row grid, while the Colossal Reel Set has five reels but up to 12 rows.
The slot’s design is slightly outdated, with the reels not changing much once the free spins activate. Below, I examine the graphics and storyline more thoroughly.
Evaluating the Graphics of This Slot
The slot design is old school, with traditional, semi-realistic graphics. Also, the quality isn’t as crisp as some modern slots, with darkly lit reels and a golden navigation bar. The male and female gladiators are the highest-paying standard symbols, paying out up to 5x and 4x, respectively.
The other high-paying symbols are a realistic-looking gladiator wielding a chain mace, a lion, a helmet, and a sword and shield combo. These symbols payout between 0.10x and 2x your stake. Meanwhile, the low-paying symbols use playing cards as their symbols.
Instead of the royal card icons, the low-paying symbols are the card suites in different colours. These icons payout between 0.10x and 1x your bet. The slot logo is the wild, and the Colosseum is the scatter. The scatter only appears on reels one, three, and five of the reel sets.
No music plays while you spin. Instead, you hear the sound of gladiators fighting. When the free spins trigger, suspenseful music sounds in the background, along with fighting and the sound of the crowds cheering.
What’s the Spartacus Storyline About?
Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome explores the age-old tradition of gladiator fights in Ancient Rome. Men fighting to the death in the Colosseum. People would pay to watch the battle, placing bets on their favourite gladiators and cheering as they fought. Bloodthirsty stuff!
It was as much a spectacle and show as it was a real-life death match. The fighters had to entertain the crowd; otherwise, even if they won, they might be killed due to the crowd’s boredom.
Lions were used to kill criminals and enslave people, which shows why it’s used as one of the symbols. While this slot’s storyline is based on a macabre history of Rome, where murder and violence were regarded as sports, this slot doesn’t go into too much detail.
Instead, you see an idealised version of gladiators, of men and women who fight for glory and the crowd’s admiration.
Testing the Spartacus Bonus Features
The wild in this game can substitute any symbol except the scatter. If you like bonuses that deal with wilds, then you’ll love the wild transfer mechanic. This feature triggers when the wild symbols fill an entire reel on the Main Reel Set.
The Colossal Reel Set will automatically have wilds filling the corresponding reel. This feature increases your chances of landing wins. All of the bonus features are described in the Paytable.
Does Spartacus Offer a Free Spins Bonus?
If three, four, or five scatters land, then you receive eight, 12, or 20 free spins, and your bet amount win is multiplied 2x, 5x, or 20x. The free spins bonus took a while to trigger while I played, and any wild that landed on the Main Reel Set will automatically extend to fill the reel. I had one significant win during the free spins, while the rest of the time, the wins were low.
My Final Insights on the Spartacus Slot
This slot’s RTP is 95.94%. This is considered to be average for a slot game of this type. It also has high volatility, which means wins are slow to land, though they tend to be more significant when they do.
You place your bet by deciding on the bet/two-lined amount and how many paylines are active. It took me about 10 to 20 spins to land a significant win.
The bet/two lines start at £0.01 and go up to £5 in the demo game. However, for real money play on UKGC sites, the maximum bet you’ll be able to place is £5 for adults aged 25 and over and £2 for adults under 25. The minimum possible bet, with 20 paylines active, is £0.10.
My Top Tips for Playing Spartacus
Here are several tips which can help you manage your bankroll:
New players should start by betting small: I find it better to start off with small bets to help get a feel for how the game works.
Keep a close eye on your bankroll: Always consider what your bankroll can cover carefully for safer gambling. Don’t make bets that use your entire bankroll within 30 or fewer spins.
Reduce your stake after the free spins land: Once you have landed the free spins feature and it pays out, there’s little chance of it landing again soon. This is the best time to lower your bet amount and minimise your losses.
Do you want to be playing high volatility slots?: High volatility means you can expect to play for a while and not win too much. As such, you often need a bigger bankroll or to make smaller bets to account for the extended playing time.
FAQs About Spartacus: Gladiator of Rome
Here are some common player questions.
This slot isn’t one often used for free spins bonuses. You’ll likely be able to use free spins on it if they aren’t limited to a specific slot.
The most you can win in a single play is £250,000. If you win that amount, the round will automatically be over.
This slot is a WMS title, which is a brand under Light & Wonder.
No trick will help you win while playing this game, as slot results are entirely random. You can use expert tips like the ones above to manage your bankroll, but that’s about all you can do.
No, this game doesn’t have a mobile download. You can play it at online casinos, which are available through a mobile app or your browser.
Fact-checked by Julia Attard
Senior Author & Online Casino Expert