Gladiator is a 5x3 video slot celebrating the same-named hit movie from 2000. Playtech created the slot in 2008, and even though it is almost a decade and a half old, Gladiator aged fairly well, considering that many US players still enjoy playing it online.
If you want to give Gladiator a shot, check out some of the best bonuses and no deposit bonuses at US online casinos that you can use to play the game:
Oops. No rooms were found..
The text below will tell you all you need to know about the Gladiator slot, from its layout and graphics to betting limits, bonus rounds, progressive jackpot, and other details. We'll also show you where to play Gladiator online.
Slot Data
| Slot name | Gladiator |
| Software | Playtech |
| Release date | 2008 |
| Theme | Ancient Rome |
| RTP | 91.46% |
| Volatility | High |
| Paylines | 25 (adjustable) |
| Reels | 5 |
| Min bet ($) | $0.01 |
| Max bet ($) | $25 |
| Max win | Progressive jackpot |
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Adjustable paylines | Visually outdated |
| Two bonus rounds | Small maximum bet |
| Progressive jackpot | Low RTP |
| Original movie scenes | |
| Low minimum bet |
Introduction
Gladiator won five Oscars and was nominated for a fair few more, making it one of the most successful movies of its time. In 2008, Playtech decided to pay tribute to this legendary motion picture by creating a video slot of the same name that features some of the characters and objects from the film.
Even though there have been several revolutions in the video slot industry since the Gladiator slot game came out, this title miraculously holds its ground and is still present in US online casinos. In short, Gladiator is a five reel slot with three rows, 25 adjustable paylines and a progressive jackpot. It features two bonus games, including a free spins bonus (Coliseum Bonus) and a prize-picking round (Gladiator Bonus).
While all of this is nothing strange for today's standards, Gladiator was considered feature-packed for its time, which might explain why the game is still somewhat popular today.
Gladiator Theme
Gladiator is directly themed on the 2000 motion picture. All the high-paying symbols are actual photographs of characters taken from the movie. Interestingly enough, the only character missing from the game is Maximus (played by Russell Crowe), although you can see a silhouette of him behind the reels and during the wild win animation (his spiked helmet is the game's wild symbol).
Most other main characters are there, including Commodus, Lucilla, Gracchus, Juba, and Proximo.
Gladiator Graphics and Sound
The creators did a great job considering visuals. Each of the high-paying symbols has a differently colored background, making it easy to distinguish between them during the fast-paced gameplay. Iron spikes separate the reels, which is a nice touch, and the control panel is stylized, so it looks as if it's from Roman times.
The reels spin fluently, while the animations look good for their time. Still, it's quite noticeable that the game is a bit dated, but considering what the developers had to work with back then, the Gladiator slot looks its best. If you're not a sucker for modern graphics, you'll definitely appreciate it.
As for sound, there isn't much to say. You'll hear a few basic sound bits when you spin the reels and win, but that's it because the game doesn't have any music.
How to Play Gladiator
Before we teach you how the Gladiator slot game actually works, we must show you where to find it. Older slot games like these are getting more difficult to play online, but we've researched and filtered out a few great online casinos that still feature the Gladiator slot machine.
Simply select one of these sites, create an account there, and make a deposit. Once you do all that, find the Gladiator slot in their library, and you can start playing.
Once the game loads, you can jump right in and press the spin button, although you should first decide on your wager. Use the +/- button to adjust the number of active paylines, which can be anywhere between 1 and 25. Alternatively, you can set the number of active paylines by clicking on the numbers left and right of the reels. Then, use the +/- button next to it to set your line bet, which can go from 0.01 to 1. The line bet is multiplied by the number of paylines to determine your total stake for the current spin.
After you do all that, simply hit the spin button and enjoy. Unfortunately, some versions of the Gladiator slot do not have an autoplay feature like many other slot games, so you must press the spin button manually after every round.
All other information about the game, including exact payouts, payline structure, and more, can be found in the info panel in the bottom left.
Gladiator Features and Gameplay
The Gladiator slot machine has five reels and three rows intersected by up to 25 paylines. You can click on the numbers next to the reels to set the number of paylines, showing you the actual lines, each one in a different color.
The game is pretty volatile. Most times, your wins will be larger than your stake, but be prepared for semi-long losing streaks as well.
There are 13 symbols featured in the Gladiator slot. Like in most slot games, the card marks 9, 10, J, Q, K, and A are low-paying symbols. Picture symbols pay more, with Proximo, Juba, and Gracchus being in the mid-tier. Lucilla and Commodus pay the most. The Coliseum is the scatter, while Maximus' helmet represents the wild, appearing only on reels 2, 3, and 4 and replacing all other symbols in a win except the scatter. The wild also unlocks one of the bonus games, but we'll discuss that later.
Gladiator is considered one of the best penny slots online, as the bets start at $0.01 if you play with a single payline and the minimum line bet. The maximum bet is $25, which may not bother low-risk players, but can make high-rollers look the other way. The RTP is also on the low side, being at an underwhelming 91.46% (most modern best online slots offer an RTP of around 96%). However, one of the reasons why the RTP is so low might be that the game offers a progressive jackpot, another of its outstanding features.
Other features of the Gladiator slot appear only in some versions of the game, like the autoplay, turbo mode, and max bet button.
Gladiator Bonuses and Free Spins
Gladiator slot's bonus rounds are quite interesting and ground-breaking for their time. There are two bonus games, each tied to scatter and wild symbols.
Once you get three or more scatters to appear you'll enter the free spins feature, also called the Coliseum Bonus. The feature starts with a picking game, where you get to pick stones from each of the four rows. Each row has a different prize type, and you start from the bottom one:
- The first row (bottom) contains the number of free spins
- The second row contains multipliers that will be associated with free spin wins
- The third row turns one of the regular symbols into an extra scatter symbol
- The fourth row turns one of the regular symbols into an extra wild symbol
- Scatters pay themselves according to the pay table, but they are not affected by the multiplier
You cannot retrigger the bonus game, but getting scatters still results in a payout. However, there is a way to get extra free spins — every time Commodus lands on the middle reel, you'll get three extra free spins, with no limit as to how many times this can happen.
The Gladiator Bonus is awarded once wild symbols appear on reels 2, 3, and 4, either in the main game or during the free spins. If three wilds land during the free spins round, you'll unlock the Gladiator Jackpot Bonus and return to the free spins once it's over.
You don't need to do anything during this feature, as the game itself picks nine random helmets with varying prizes. Gold helmets have the highest value, followed by silver and bronze. All prizes are then added up to give you a total win, completed with a real scene from the movie.
You'll win the game's progressive jackpot if you land all nine gold helmets. Many people have won the progressive jackpot on the Gladiator slot, with some of the luckiest winners taking home over a few million bucks.
Where Can I Play Gladiator?
Oops. No rooms were found..
Conclusion
The Gladiator slot came out a decade and a half ago, but numerous online casinos still feature it, and thousands of players consider it a worthwhile title. There are plenty of reasons for Gladiator's lingering popularity, including dynamic gameplay with two bonus games, adjustable paylines, and a progressive jackpot.
The not-so-great things about the Gladiator slot are its low RTP and low maximum stake. The visuals appear dated, but we can't be too mad at that, considering the game's release date.
In any case, we consider the Gladiator slot machine a title well worth your time and money, so feel free to create an account on a recommended online casino from our list and start playing. Best of luck!
Other Popular Slots
The Gladiator slot is great, but it's just one in the ocean of amazing slot games you should try out. If you're fond of the Gladiator slot, chances are you like Playtech titles and don't mind outdated visuals. In that sense, Tiger Claw or Buffalo Blitz are other ideal games for you.
If you enjoyed Gladiator's low minimum stake, you surely want to check out some of the best penny slots online. Some other games that withstood the test of time and are still played by many players include Starburst, Gonzo's Quest, and Dead or Alive. Meanwhile, if you enjoy slots based on movies and TV shows, we suggest you try the NetEnt slot Narcos.
Gladiator Slot FAQs
When was the Gladiator slot released?
The first edition of the Gladiator slot machine came out in 2008.
Does the Gladiator slot have a progressive jackpot?
Yes, you can win the progressive jackpot in Playtech's Gladiator. Once three wild symbols (helmets) land on reels 2, 3, and 4, you'll unlock the Gladiator Bonus. If all nine helmets you draw turn out to be gold (as opposed to silver and bronze helmets), you'll win the progressive jackpot.
What is the RTP of the Gladiator slot?
Gladiator's RTP is 91.46%, which is way below the industry average. However, the game makes it up for its low RTP by having a potentially massive progressive jackpot.
Where can I play the Gladiator slot game online?
You can find Playtech's Gladiator on many US casino sites, but we recommend you choose an online casino from our top list.
Can I find a free Gladiator slot machine?
Yes, you can play the Gladiator slot for free. Most sites have a free demo version of the game that you can try out without making an account.
Does the Gladiator slot game have free spins?
Yes, the game awards free spins through the Coliseum Bonus feature. The free spins also come with multipliers, extra scatters, and extra wilds.
