The Anime Sister of Gates of Olympus — And Maybe Better
Starlight Princess launched in June 2021 and quickly became one of the most-streamed slots globally. Mechanically, it's an exact copy of Gates of Olympus: same 6x5 grid, same Pay Anywhere, same multipliers up to x500. But the aesthetics are entirely different — anime princess instead of Zeus, pastel colours instead of marble, gentle music instead of thunder.
Here's the interesting part: many players swear Starlight Princess "pays softer." Mathematically, that's not true — identical RTP (96.50%), identical volatility. But it subjectively feels a bit kinder. Maybe it's the atmosphere.
The core mechanic: the princess throws glowing multiplier orbs (x2 to x500) during cascades. They stack and apply to all wins. In base game, they reset. In the bonus, they accumulate throughout the round.
Max win is x5,000 — more modest than Sweet Bonanza, but arguably more achievable. Try the free demo above.
Why People Love It — And Why Some Don't
Pros
- Arguably the best-looking Pragmatic slot
- Multipliers up to x500, stacking in bonus
- Proven Gates of Olympus mechanics
- Ante Bet doubles scatter frequency
- The atmosphere stays relaxing even during losses
Cons
- x5,000 cap feels modest vs competitors
- 5/5 volatility means harsh drawdowns
- Many casinos run 94.00% RTP version
- Mechanically identical to Gates — you're paying for visuals
Pay Anywhere: 8 Symbols, Position Doesn't Matter
6x5 grid, bets from $0.20 to $125 (up to $156 with Ante Bet). No paylines. Land 8+ identical symbols anywhere on screen — top-left, bottom-right, scattered everywhere — it's all valid.
Paytable
High-value magical items, low-value gemstones. Payouts for 8 to 12+ symbols:
- Crown: 2x–50x — the premium symbol
- Heart: 1.5x–25x
- Hourglass: 1x–20x
- Star: 0.5x–15x
- Red Gem: 0.4x–10x
- Purple Gem: 0.35x–8x
- Green Gem: 0.3x–5x
- Blue Gem: 0.25x–4x — lowest payer
Scatter is the princess star. 4+ = bonus. No Wild symbols exist.
Tumble + Multiplier Stacking
After every win, symbols vanish and new ones fall. The princess can throw a multiplier orb at any point. All multipliers during a cascade chain stack and apply to the final win. In base game they reset; in bonus they accumulate for the entire round.
How Princess Multipliers Actually Work
The Multiplier Orbs
During cascades, the princess randomly throws glowing orbs with multiplier values: x2, x3, x4, x5, x6, x8, x10, x15, x20, x25, x50, x100, x250, x500. The multiplier applies to all wins in that spin.
Critical difference: in base game, multipliers last one spin. In free spins, they stack for the entire round. From my demo: spin 3 gave x25, spin 7 gave x100, spin 12 gave x50. By spin 12, the combined multiplier was x175. A crown cascade at that point was enormous.
Free Spins
4+ Scatters trigger 15 free spins. More Scatters = starting multiplier bonus:
- 4 Scatters → 15 spins (no bonus multipliers)
- 5 Scatters → 15 spins + starting multiplier
- 6 Scatters → 15 spins + enhanced multipliers
3+ Scatters during the bonus retrigger +5 more spins. No cap — the bonus can run for ages.
Ante Bet: Strongly Recommended
+25% per spin = double the Scatter frequency. Without it, bonuses might not appear for 300+ spins. With it, roughly every 150-200. At 5/5 volatility, this matters enormously.
Bonus Buy
100x your bet — guaranteed free spins. Long-term RTP is close to the overall rate. But any individual purchase is a lottery: could return x15 or x3,000.
96.50% — But Verify Your Casino's Version
Starlight Princess has solid 96.50% RTP — standard for Pragmatic hits. But casinos frequently run reduced versions. Three options exist:
How to Check RTP Before Playing
- Open the game at your chosen casino
- Click the "i" (info) or "☰" (menu) button
- Find the "Game Rules" or "Theoretical Return" section
- Make sure RTP is 96.50%
94.00% means losing an extra €25 per €1,000 wagered compared to the full version. Switch casinos.
Volatility is 5/5 — same as Gates of Olympus. Base game trickles small wins; big payouts come exclusively through multiplier stacking in the bonus. With Ante Bet, bonuses land every 150-200 spins. Between bonuses, expect 250+ dry spins. Budget at least 300 bets per session.
Gates vs Princess: My 400-Spin Side-by-Side Test
I ran 200 spins on each with Ante Bet in demo mode. The results were surprising.
Starlight Princess: 3 Bonuses in 200 Spins
Bonuses hit at spins 54, 123, and 178. Results: x45 (empty, no big multipliers), x620 (one x100 + crown cascade), x180. Total: +345 bets profit.
Gates of Olympus: 2 Bonuses in 200 Spins
Bonuses at spins 89 and 187. Results: x95, x410. Total: +5 bets profit. Less lucky, but on a short sample that means nothing.
The Real Difference?
Mathematically — none. Same RTP, same multipliers, same cap. The choice is purely aesthetic. Like anime? Princess. Prefer mythology? Gates. There's genuinely no third factor.
When to Switch to the 1000 Version
If x5,000 feels too low — SP 1000 pushes the cap to x15,000 with multipliers up to x1,000. But volatility is even higher, and you'll need a bigger bankroll (400+ bets minimum).
Calculate Your x5,000 Potential
Enter your bet to see the ceiling:
Princess vs Gates vs Bonanza — Head to Head
Starlight Princess gets compared to Gates and Bonanza constantly. Honest table:
| Slot | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Bonus | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starlight Princess
|
96.50% | x5,000 | 100x | Princess multipliers x500 | |
Gates of Olympus
|
96.50% | x5,000 | 100x | Zeus multipliers x500 | |
Starlight Princess 1000
|
96.50% | x15,000 | 100x / 500x | 3x higher max win | |
Sweet Bonanza
|
96.51% | x21,100 | 100x | Bomb multipliers x100 |
My Take
Princess and Gates are mathematical twins — your choice is purely visual. If x5,000 feels limiting, Princess 1000 pushes it to x15,000. Sweet Bonanza plays differently (bombs instead of orbs), has medium-high volatility, and x21,100 ceiling. Personally, I play Princess more than Gates — the anime aesthetic makes long sessions more pleasant.
Like Princess? Try These
Slots with the same Pay Anywhere + multiplier mechanics:
Starlight Princess 1000
RTP: 96.50%
Gates of Olympus
RTP: 96.50%
Sweet Bonanza
RTP: 96.51%
Sugar Rush
RTP: 96.50%Starlight Princess — Common Questions
Is it really the same slot as Gates of Olympus?
Mathematically, yes. Same RTP (96.50%), same multipliers (up to x500), same cap (x5,000), same volatility (5/5). The only difference is visual: anime princess instead of Zeus. Choose based on which aesthetic you prefer.
Does the x500 multiplier actually appear?
Yes, but extremely rarely. In 400 demo spins, my highest was x100. The x500 multiplier is a 1-in-10,000+ spin event. Most big wins come from x20-x100 stacking.
Should I upgrade to the 1000 version?
If x5,000 feels too low, yes. SP 1000 has x15,000 cap and multipliers up to x1,000. But volatility is even harsher and you need 400+ bets minimum.
How do I check my casino's RTP?
Open the slot → "i" or menu button → "Game Rules" → look for "Theoretical Return." Should say 96.50%. If it says 94.00% — find a different casino.
How many bets should I budget per session?
300 minimum with Ante Bet. Without it, 400. At 5/5 volatility, dry spells of 250+ spins with zero bonuses are normal.
Does the bonus buy pay for itself?
Long-term, yes — the buy RTP is close to the overall rate. But roughly 40% of individual purchases won't return the 100x cost. The other 60% can deliver x1,000+.
Player Reviews
Switched from Gates of Olympus to this about six months ago and never looked back. Mechanically? Identical, I know. But the vibe is completely different — the pastel colours and the princess character make long sessions feel way less stressful. Last week had a gorgeous bonus round: x100 multiplier on spin 4, then x50 on spin 8, then a retrigger that added 5 more spins with a x25 on top. Crown cascade hit at x175 combined = CA$1,750 on a $1 bet. My only criticism: the x5,000 cap feels dated now. I've been eyeing the 1000 version but honestly, the original hits good bonuses more often. Also PLEASE check your RTP — my first casino was running 94% and I didn't even know for weeks.