Pompeii pokies brought Vesuvius to the pub floor in 2001. Aristocrat built it on the Reel Power system, so instead of paylines you buy reels, with up to 243 ways to win. Add Volcano wilds that multiply in the free games and you have one of the punchier MKVI classics.
How Pompeii pokies play
Pompeii runs on 5 reels with 3 rows. On the original machine you could play 3, 9, 27, 81 or 243 ways, each costing a different number of credits. With all 243 ways, any matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left pay, no matter which row they land on. Our Reel Power explainer breaks this down.
- Volcano (wild): appears on reels 2 and 4 only and substitutes for all symbols except the coin.
- Coin (scatter): the Roman gold coin starts the feature.
The free games feature
- Spin up 3, 4 or 5 coins for 10, 15 or 20 free games.
- During the free games, a Volcano on reel 2 makes a win ×3 and a Volcano on reel 4 makes it ×5.
- If both Volcanoes substitute in the same win, it is multiplied by ×15.
- The feature can be won again during the free games.
Symbols and pays
Pays depend on the version and bet, so check the paytable. Expect the Volcano wild, the coin scatter, a set of Roman-themed picture symbols, plus card values for low pays.
History and trivia
Pompeii arrived in 2001 on MKVI hardware as part of the 243 ways family that started with Indian Dreaming in 1999. A favourite bit of trivia from collectors: when the first three coins land, the machine announces "Veni, Vidi, Vici", while the fourth and fifth only get an orchestra hit. More about this period is on our history page.
What to expect when you play
With 243 ways, small wins come often in the base game. The free games are where Pompeii gets lively, especially if both Volcanoes line up for ×15, but many features finish modestly. Results are random and the return is set by the venue within state limits. If it stops being fun, see our play-safely page.
Where to play Pompeii free
Cashman Casino, the official Aristocrat social casino app from Product Madness, names Pompeii on its app store page as one of its popular games. It uses virtual coins only, with no cash prizes. See our Cashman Casino guide and the free Aristocrat pokies page.
Can't find it online?
Look for 243-ways Roman or volcano-themed pokies with wilds that multiply during free spins. We explain the honest situation, and which mechanics to look for, on our can you play Aristocrat pokies online page.
If it stops being fun, read our play-safely page.
