Pragmatic Play is the studio you have already played whether you noticed or not. Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza and the Big Bass series are its titles, and they turn up in almost every lobby aimed at this market, usually near the top.
Its signature is the tumbling reel with a multiplier, and its most commercially significant feature is the bonus buy, which is the one part of a Pragmatic game that some operators switch off and some regulators ban outright. Last checked 25 September 2026.
What the studio is
| Pragmatic Play | |
|---|---|
| Base | Malta |
| Ownership | Independent. Not part of Evolution or Playtech |
| Verticals | Pokies, live casino, bingo, virtual sports |
| Best known titles | Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza |
| Signature mechanic | Tumbling reels with a running multiplier |
Being independent is worth noting on this list, because three of the eight studios here belong to Evolution and one to Playtech. The ownership map is on casino software providers.
How the tumbling multiplier actually works
Winning symbols are removed, new ones drop in, and the process repeats while wins keep landing. Multipliers collected during the sequence apply at the end of it.
The effect is that most spins end quickly with nothing, and occasionally a chain builds into a very large result. That is high volatility described in mechanical terms rather than as a rating, and it is why these games feel dramatic. The long run return is unchanged by the drama.
Two things follow. Expect long stretches with no meaningful return, and treat the maximum win figure as an extreme rather than a target. A 5,000x maximum win is a number almost nobody sees.
The bonus buy, which is the part worth understanding
A bonus buy lets you pay a multiple of your stake, commonly around 100 times, to enter the feature round immediately instead of waiting for it.
- It does not improve your expected return. The price is set so the feature’s expected value roughly matches what you paid, sometimes at a slightly different return to player than base play. The figure is in the game information screen.
- It massively accelerates spend. A 100x buy at NZ$0.20 a spin is NZ$20 per press. Twenty presses is NZ$400 in a few minutes.
- Operators can disable it, and several markets prohibit it. Whether it appears is the casino’s decision, not the studio’s.
- Bonus funds usually cannot be used for it. Buying a feature with a welcome bonus is commonly a terms breach that voids the bonus, so check before pressing.
That last point catches people. If you are playing through a wagering requirement, read whether feature buys are excluded. At one operator whose terms we read, live dealer games were excluded from wagering entirely and the exclusion was not on the promotion page. See casino bonuses.
The same game, two returns
Pragmatic titles are commonly shipped in several return to player configurations and the operator chooses which to run. Two casinos can offer the same named game at meaningfully different returns with identical artwork.
The figure that applies to you is in that casino’s own game information screen, reached from a menu inside the game. Check it there rather than on any comparison page, including this one.
What the studio does not decide
| Question | Answered by |
|---|---|
| Which RTP configuration is live | The operator |
| Whether the bonus buy is available | The operator |
| The bet range | The operator, within the studio’s limits |
| Whether you get paid | The operator. See fast withdrawal casinos |
Free spins offers and Pragmatic games
Because these titles are so widely stocked, they are the usual target of free spin promotions. That means the spin value question applies directly: a count is not a value. One operator publishes $0.20 per spin, which makes 100 spins NZ$20 of play. Most do not publish it at all.
The method for valuing any spins offer is on free spins.
If gambling is not staying fun
Tumbling mechanics and feature buys are designed to compress time: more decisions, faster, with bigger swings. That is the product working as intended and it is also what makes spend hard to track. No game is ever due, and chasing a loss is not a way to recover it.
Use the deposit and loss limits in your account, take a time out, or use self exclusion at every operator you hold an account with. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from Gambling Helpline Aotearoa on 0800 654 655 or by free text to 8006. Dedicated lines: Māori 0800 654 656, Pasifika 0800 654 657, debt 0800 654 658, youth 0800 654 659. You must be 18 or over to gamble.
Questions we get asked
What is Pragmatic Play best known for?
Gates of Olympus, Sweet Bonanza and the Big Bass series, and for tumbling reels with a running multiplier.
Is Pragmatic Play owned by Evolution?
No. It is independent. NetEnt, Red Tiger and Big Time Gaming belong to Evolution, and Quickspin belongs to Playtech.
Is a bonus buy good value?
It does not improve your expected return. The price is set against the feature’s value, and it accelerates spend dramatically: a 100x buy at NZ$0.20 is NZ$20 per press.
Why can I not buy the bonus at some casinos?
Operators can disable it, and some markets prohibit it. It is a casino setting rather than a studio one.
Can I use bonus funds to buy a feature?
Usually not. It is commonly a terms breach that voids the bonus. Check the wagering terms before pressing.
Is the RTP the same at every casino?
Not necessarily. Several configurations are shipped and the operator chooses. Read the figure in the game information screen at that casino.
Are these games high volatility?
The flagship titles are. Expect long runs with nothing and occasional large results, with the same long run return either way.
Sources
- Pragmatic Play and operator sites read 25 September 2026
- Recorded bonus terms review, September 2026, as described in our review method
- Department of Internal Affairs, Online Casino Gambling
- Gambling Helpline Aotearoa
About the author: Matt Donaldson
Editor and casino reviewer, Christchurch
I check the player journey, including the terms, games, support and account controls. A payment result appears as first-hand evidence only when it is in the recorded test.
Each category score is based on what was observed. If a feature was not checked, it is marked Not tested.
Read Matt's profileClear reviews for New Zealand readers, built from recorded observations and updated when the source or market status changes.
- Evidence before adjectives — each claim is tied to an action, source, date, device, amount or operator reply recorded during the review.
- Four categories kept separate — Player Safety & Trust, Games & Usability, Bonuses & Terms, and Banking & Withdrawals are assessed on their own evidence.
- Honest scores — whole points from 1 to 5 only. When a category was not checked directly, it is marked Not tested.
- New Zealand status checked — access, transitional permission, an application and an issued DIA licence are described as different things.
- Updates stay visible — time-sensitive terms and regulatory claims are checked again, and confirmed errors are corrected.
