One of the classic slot machines on the casino floor is Pharaoh’s Fortune, a game that finds itself equally at home in the high limit and low limit floor.
Part of the key to that is the 15 line standard structure, which makes it a good fit for both types of gaming environments. $15 on $1 denomination is a solid bet, but not overly so for a high limit machine. But you can do as low as 15 cents on older versions with a penny machine.
A second part is the base game payout potential. You can get some sizable line hits within the 15 lines, thanks to the strong five of a kind payouts, particularly on the premium symbols. Scatters pay with as little as 2 symbols on the screen, and also pay well if you get 4 or 5 of them.
The bonus round isn’t easy to get – you need bonus symbols on the first three reels, and on a wagered line. But then you get to pick your way to more spins and multipliers (or on newer versions I’ve encountered, the Poker Dice bonus which also adds progressives to the game). Each spin without any line-ups of winning symbols provides a consolation prize, another nice benefit to the game when you do get into the bonus round.
It also doesn’t hurt that the game leverages the Bangles’ “Walk Like an Egyptian” as the music for the spins and the bonus round, a fun 80s song that is instantly recognizable when playing the game.
Add it all up and you get a fun casino staple, which has withstood the test of time and thrives on casino floors today.
I tend to seek it out when I want to slow my play down, since the wagers are on the lower end for a penny slot, but sometimes I’ll bet a bit more too – it’s a game that can accommodate both.
