Egyptian-themed slots are as common as sand in the Sahara, but Le Pharaoh from Hacksaw Gaming brings something genuinely fresh to the pyramid party: Smokey the raccoon in pharaoh cosplay. This isn’t your typical Egyptian slot—it’s the latest entry in Hacksaw’s beloved “Le” series, where our masked anti-hero trades his Parisian bandit getup for golden headdresses and hieroglyphic hijinks. The real magic here isn’t ancient curses but the Sticky Re-Drops mechanic that transforms winning symbols into Golden Squares, triggering cascading re-drops until the wins stop flowing. Add five distinct bonus modes including the epic Rainbow Over the Pyramids feature, and you’ve got a 15,000x max win potential wrapped in Hacksaw’s signature quirky charm.
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Key Highlights
- Egyptian-themed slot from Hacksaw Gaming (released September 26, 2024) featuring Smokey the raccoon as a disguised pharaoh—the latest character evolution in Hacksaw’s “Le” series following Le Bandit, Le King, and other adventures.
- 6-reel, 5-row grid with 19 fixed paylines offering a unique layout compared to standard 5×3 or cluster pay formats.
- Medium volatility (3/5) with 96.18% default RTP (operator-configurable variants down to 88.2% exist—always verify before playing).
- Maximum win potential of 15,000x your bet with a betting range from $0.10 to $100 per spin.
- Sticky Re-Drops core mechanic where winning symbols lock in place as Golden Squares, triggering continuous cascades until no new wins form—similar to cascading reels but with persistent symbol positions.
- Golden Riches feature triggered by Rainbow symbols during re-drops, transforming Golden Squares into Bronze, Silver, or Gold Coins worth 0.2x to 500x your bet, plus special symbols like Pot of Gold and Clovers.
- Five bonus game modes: Luck of the Pharaoh (10 free spins), Lost Treasures (multiplier hunting), Super versions of both, and the ultimate Rainbow Over the Pyramids (12 spins with guaranteed Rainbow symbols every spin—cannot be purchased).
- Four bonus buy options ranging from 3x (Bonushunt FeatureSpins with 5x higher trigger rates) to 250x (Super Bonus Choice), plus a unique 60x Rainbow FeatureSpins option guaranteeing Rainbow symbol appearances.
Theme and Visuals
Hacksaw Gaming has taken their signature cartoon aesthetic and dunked it in golden Egyptian splendor. The 6×5 grid sits against a backdrop of towering pyramids, desert dunes, and hieroglyphic-covered stone pillars bathed in warm amber light. But the real star isn’t the architecture—it’s Smokey the raccoon, now sporting a ceremonial pharaoh headdress and surveying his sandy kingdom with that characteristic mischievous grin. This is the same lovable bandit from Le Bandit and Le King, and his continued adventures give the “Le” series a delightful narrative continuity that most slot franchises lack. You can explore all of Smokey’s escapades in our slot demos section.
The symbol design commits fully to the Egyptian theme while maintaining Hacksaw’s playful edge. High-paying symbols include intricately designed scarabs with gem-encrusted wings, the Ankh symbol radiating mystical energy, the piercing Eye of Horus, golden Crook and Flail (pharaoh regalia), and an ornate hourglass counting down to treasure. Low-value symbols use card royals (10-A) stylized with hieroglyphic flourishes rather than feeling lazily inserted. When the Sticky Re-Drops activate, winning symbols glow with golden auras and lock into place as animated Golden Squares, creating a satisfying visual feedback loop. The Rainbow symbol—your key to the Golden Riches feature—erupts across the screen in a burst of prismatic light that transforms those golden positions into spinning coins. The animations strike a perfect balance between polished and energetic without crossing into visual chaos.
How to Play Le Pharaoh
Playing Le Pharaoh requires understanding how Sticky Re-Drops interact with the Golden Riches system. Here’s your complete hieroglyphic decoder:
- Launch the game and watch Smokey settle into his pharaoh throne as the Egyptian landscape materializes around the reels.
- Set your bet using the stake controls—minimum $0.10, maximum $100 per spin. The paytable adjusts dynamically to show values based on your chosen bet.
- Understand the paylines: The 6×5 grid uses 19 fixed paylines. You need at least 3 matching symbols on a payline from left to right to win (most symbols also pay for 4-of-a-kind and 6-of-a-kind).
- Hit spin or enable autoplay for continuous spins. When a winning combination lands, those symbols don’t disappear—they transform into Golden Squares and stick in place.
- Watch the Sticky Re-Drops: After the initial win, new symbols cascade down to fill empty positions. If new wins form, those symbols also become Golden Squares and stick. This process continues until no new winning combinations appear—you’re essentially getting free re-spins with every cascade.
- Trigger Golden Riches: If a Rainbow symbol lands during any Sticky Re-Drop sequence, all Golden Squares transform into coin values (Bronze: 0.2x-2x, Silver: 2x-10x, Gold: 10x-500x) or special symbols. All coin values are collected simultaneously for an instant payout.
- Collect Free Spin scatters: Landing 3, 4, or 5 FS scatter symbols simultaneously triggers the Bonus Choice menu where you select your preferred feature (more details below).
Pro Tip: The Sticky Re-Drops mechanic means your biggest base game wins often come from chains of consecutive wins rather than single high-value combinations. A modest initial win that triggers 4-5 re-drops with a Rainbow appearance can easily outpay a single premium symbol line.
Symbols and Paytable
Le Pharaoh uses a ten-symbol paytable divided between thematic Egyptian icons and stylized card royals. All values shown are for a $1 bet and assume at least 3-of-a-kind unless otherwise noted. Here’s what each symbol pays:
| Symbol | Type | 3 OAK | 4 OAK | 5 OAK | 6 OAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarab | Premium High | $0.40 | $1.00 | $2.00 | $3.00 |
| Ankh | Premium | $0.20 | $0.50 | $1.00 | $2.00 |
| Eye of Horus | Premium | $0.20 | $0.50 | $1.00 | $2.00 |
| Crook & Flail | Premium | $0.10 | $0.30 | $0.70 | $1.50 |
| Hourglass | Premium | $0.10 | $0.30 | $0.70 | $1.50 |
| Ace (A) | Royal | $0.10 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.70 |
| King (K) | Royal | $0.10 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.70 |
| Queen (Q) | Royal | $0.10 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.70 |
| Jack (J) | Royal | $0.10 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.70 |
| Ten (10) | Royal | $0.10 | $0.20 | $0.40 | $0.70 |
| Wild (W) | Special | Substitutes for all pay symbols; pays $3.00 for 6 OAK | |||
Payout Examples
- Betting $1 and landing 6 Scarab symbols awards $3 (3x multiplier)—modest but remember these can chain with re-drops.
- Six-of-a-kind Wild symbols on a $5 bet pays $15 base, but Wilds substitute for all other paying symbols to help form additional winning lines.
- All five royal card symbols (10-A) pay identically: $0.70 for six-of-a-kind on a $1 bet.
- The real value comes from consecutive wins: A $1 Ankh win triggers a re-drop that creates another $1.50 Crook & Flail win, followed by a Rainbow that converts 8 Golden Squares into Gold Coins at 50x each—suddenly you’ve collected $402 from that initial $1 trigger.
Special Symbols Explained
Wild Symbol: The golden “W” Wild substitutes for all pay symbols to help complete winning combinations. It pays 3x your bet for six-of-a-kind but primarily functions as a connector. Wilds can become Golden Squares during Sticky Re-Drops just like regular symbols.
Rainbow Symbol: This prismatic wonder only appears during Sticky Re-Drop sequences (not on initial spins). When it lands, it triggers the Golden Riches feature, transforming all Golden Squares on screen into coin values or special symbols. It’s your gateway to the slot’s biggest instant payouts.
FS Scatter Symbol: Landing 3, 4, or 5 FS scatters simultaneously activates the Bonus Choice menu. These only count when they all land on the same spin—consecutive re-drop scatters don’t accumulate toward the trigger.
Stone Tablet & Dead Symbols: These special symbols only appear in the Lost Treasures and Super Lost Treasures bonus games. Stone Tablets reveal multipliers, while Dead symbols are non-paying blockers that add challenge to the feature.
Slot Features
Sticky Re-Drops Mechanic
The Sticky Re-Drops system is Le Pharaoh’s foundation, active in both base game and bonus rounds. When you land a winning combination on any of the 19 paylines, those winning symbols don’t vanish—they lock in place with a golden glow, becoming Golden Squares. New symbols then cascade from above to fill the empty positions.
Here’s where it gets interesting: If those new symbols create additional winning combinations, they also transform into Golden Squares and lock down. The process repeats automatically—cascade after cascade—until a spin occurs where no new wins form. Each re-drop is essentially a free spin that builds on your existing locked wins, and there’s no cap on how many consecutive re-drops you can chain together.
Unlike traditional cascading reels where winning symbols disappear entirely, the Sticky Re-Drops mechanic preserves your progress. Those Golden Squares remain on the grid through the entire sequence, creating a visual accumulation of value. The longer your chain continues, the more Golden Squares fill the screen, and the more potential you have when—not if—a Rainbow symbol eventually lands.
Golden Riches Feature
Golden Riches activates when a Rainbow symbol lands during any Sticky Re-Drop sequence. That prismatic symbol doesn’t contribute to paylines—instead, it triggers an instant transformation. Every single Golden Square currently on the grid converts into one of the following:
- Bronze Coins: Worth 0.2x to 2x your bet per coin.
- Silver Coins: Worth 2x to 10x your bet per coin.
- Gold Coins: Worth 10x to 500x your bet per coin—the big money.
- Pot of Gold: A special symbol that reveals one of the coin types above with enhanced values.
- Clovers: Another special symbol that can upgrade adjacent coin values or trigger additional transformations.
All coin values are collected instantly and simultaneously. This means if you had 12 Golden Squares when the Rainbow landed, you’re getting 12 separate coin payouts in one moment. The transformation is random—you might get mostly Bronze coins with one lucky Gold coin at 500x, or a balanced mix of Silver coins. The suspense comes from watching those Golden Squares spin and reveal their values one by one.
Crucially, Golden Riches can trigger in both the base game and during free spins. Base game triggers are rare but thrilling—building up 6-8 Golden Squares through consecutive re-drops and then hitting a Rainbow can deliver instant payouts worth 50x to 200x your bet. In free spins modes, especially Rainbow Over the Pyramids where Rainbows appear every single spin, this mechanic becomes the primary win engine.
Slot Bonus Features
Bonus Buy Options
Le Pharaoh offers four distinct bonus buy mechanisms for players in jurisdictions where feature purchases are permitted:
- Bonushunt FeatureSpins (3x bet): Doesn’t trigger a bonus directly but increases your FS scatter appearance rate by 5x for the next sequence of spins. Essentially, you’re paying 3x your normal bet per spin to get bonus triggers five times faster. Good for grinding toward features without committing to expensive direct buys.
- Rainbow FeatureSpins (60x bet): A unique middle-tier option that guarantees a Rainbow symbol will appear whenever you land a winning combination during the purchased spin sequence. This doesn’t trigger free spins but significantly boosts your Golden Riches activation chance during base game play. High-risk, high-reward for players who want Rainbow action without buying full bonuses.
- Bonus Choice (100x bet): Instantly triggers the Bonus Choice menu as if you’d landed 3 FS scatters, allowing you to select either Luck of the Pharaoh or Lost Treasures. The standard bonus buy for players who want guaranteed feature access at moderate cost.
- Super Bonus Choice (250x bet): Instantly triggers the Bonus Choice menu as if you’d landed 4 FS scatters, granting access to either Super Luck of the Pharaoh or Super Lost Treasures. For 2.5x the cost of the standard buy, you get significantly amplified bonus potential.
Important Note: Rainbow Over the Pyramids cannot be purchased under any circumstances—it’s exclusively a natural trigger feature. This design choice makes the Epic Bonus genuinely special and prevents players from simply buying their way to maximum wins.
RTP and Volatility
Le Pharaoh ships with a default RTP of 96.18%, which sits comfortably above the industry-standard 96% threshold. However—and this is crucial—Hacksaw Gaming offers operator-configurable variants that dramatically alter the return-to-player percentage. Lower RTP versions exist at 94.18%, 92.18%, 90.18%, and as low as 88.18%. That’s a potential 8% difference between the best and worst versions of the same slot.
Before you deposit a single dollar, verify which RTP version your casino is offering. The 96.18% version gives you a theoretical return of $96.18 for every $100 wagered over infinite spins. The 88.18% version returns just $88.18 under the same conditions—that’s an additional $8 per $100 going to house edge. Most reputable casinos display this information in the game rules or help section, but if you can’t find it, contact customer support directly. Never assume you’re getting the best RTP.
The volatility rating sits at medium (3/5), which means Le Pharaoh balances regular small-to-medium wins with occasional larger payouts. You’re not waiting 200 spins between bonus triggers like extreme high-volatility slots, but you’re also not collecting tiny wins every third spin like low-volatility games. The medium variance manifests practically in base game hit frequency—expect roughly 1 winning spin in every 4-6 spins, with Sticky Re-Drop chains adding value to about one-third of those wins.
The 15,000x maximum win potential is substantial but achievable within the medium volatility framework. You don’t need to trigger the rarest bonus on your first attempt to see meaningful returns—wins of 50x to 200x occur regularly enough in standard Luck of the Pharaoh features to keep your bankroll alive while you chase the Epic Rainbow Over the Pyramids bonus. The volatility profile makes Le Pharaoh accessible to casual players while still offering enough explosive potential to satisfy high-rollers hunting maximum multipliers.
How to Max Win on Le Pharaoh
Base Game Max Win
Max win is achievable in the base game through Sticky Re-Drops and Golden Riches. Winning combinations stick in place while new symbols cascade from above. When Rainbow symbols land, Golden Squares reveal Coin Symbols (up to 500x), Clover multipliers (up to 20x), and other special symbols. Stack high-value coins with Clover multipliers during cascading wins, and 15,000x becomes reachable without bonus rounds.
Core Mechanics
- Sticky Re-Drops: Winning symbols lock in place with a golden aura. New symbols cascade to fill empty spaces, creating chain reactions.
- Golden Riches: Rainbow symbols activate Golden Squares, revealing Coins (up to 500x), Clovers (multipliers up to 20x), and Pots.
- Clover Multipliers: Two types of Clovers can multiply all Coin Symbols in view by up to 20x.
Bonus Choice (3-4 Scatters)
Landing 3 scatters lets you choose between Luck of the Pharaoh or Lost Treasures. With 4 scatters, you unlock Super versions of both bonuses plus more options.
Luck of the Pharaoh / Super Luck of the Pharaoh
10-12 free spins with Sticky Re-Drops and Golden Riches active. All Golden Squares remain highlighted and locked throughout the bonus. Super version (4 scatters) has 12 spins, higher-value Coins, and guaranteed Clover on every Golden Riches activation.
Lost Treasures / Super Lost Treasures
A completely different game mode with 3 refilling lives. Only special symbols appear—no regular symbols. Stone Tablets become sticky with values from 1x to 500x. Multiplying Stone Tablets carry 2x-20x multipliers. Super version has enhanced values and multipliers.
Rainbow Over The Pyramids (Where Max Wins Actually Happen)
This is the max-win factory. Triggered only by landing 5 scatters naturally:
- 12 Free Spins: Extended playtime with enhanced mechanics.
- Guaranteed Rainbows: Rainbow symbol lands on every spin, constantly activating Golden Squares.
- Maximum Coin Potential: High-value coins (up to 500x) revealed constantly.
- Clover Stacking: Multipliers up to 20x applied to all visible coins every spin.
Typical Max Win Script
- Trigger Rainbow Over The Pyramids (5 scatters naturally) or Super Lost Treasures
- Golden Squares fill the grid through Sticky Re-Drops cascades
- Rainbow symbols land every spin (guaranteed in Rainbow Over The Pyramids)
- Golden Riches reveals high-value Coins (200x, 500x)
- Clover multipliers (up to 20x) apply to all coins in view
- Multiple 500x coins × 20x multiplier = 10,000x from single activation
- Repeated activations across 12 spins push past 15,000x cap
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
- Sticky Re-Drops mechanic creates engaging base game action with frequent chain reactions—you’re not just spinning and hoping but watching cascades build toward Golden Riches triggers
- Five distinct bonus modes with genuinely different gameplay (spin-based vs. treasure-hunting) rather than cosmetic variations—actual strategic choice when selecting features
- 15,000x maximum win potential is achievable on medium volatility—you don’t need extreme patience or massive bankrolls to have realistic shots at life-changing multipliers
- Smokey the raccoon’s continued adventures add narrative charm to the “Le” series—this isn’t a soulless Egyptian reskin but a character-driven slot with personality
- Multiple bonus buy tiers (3x, 60x, 100x, 250x) accommodate different budgets and risk appetites—not just an expensive all-or-nothing purchase option
- Rainbow Over the Pyramids Epic Bonus cannot be purchased, preserving the thrill of natural triggers and preventing pay-to-win dynamics
- Golden Riches coin values scale from 0.2x to 500x per square, creating dramatic suspense when multiple Gold Coins appear during conversions
❌ Cons
- RTP variants down to 88.18% exist—an 8% spread between best and worst versions means you could be playing a significantly disadvantaged game without knowing it
- Egyptian theme is well-executed but ultimately familiar—even Smokey’s charm can’t fully escape the “another pyramid slot” perception
- Base game wins without Sticky Re-Drop chains or Rainbow triggers feel underwhelming—single payline wins rarely exceed 10x your bet
- Rainbow Over the Pyramids Epic Bonus triggers approximately 1 in 50,000 spins naturally—most players will never see it without grinding thousands of dollars through the slot
- Lost Treasures bonus mode can feel anticlimactic when Dead symbols block Stone Tablet reveals, leading to sub-50x payouts on a feature that took 200 spins to trigger
- No retrigger mechanism in free spins—once your 10 or 12 spins conclude, you’re back to base game regardless of how well the feature was performing
Conclusion
Le Pharaoh succeeds by taking an oversaturated theme—ancient Egypt—and injecting it with Hacksaw Gaming’s signature mechanical innovation and character charm. The Sticky Re-Drops system transforms what could have been a standard payline slot into an engaging cascade-building experience where every win potentially triggers a chain reaction. When Golden Squares accumulate and a Rainbow symbol finally lands, converting a dozen positions into Gold Coins worth 200x-500x each, you understand why this mechanic works. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s executed with precision and paired with enough bonus variety to sustain interest beyond the initial novelty.
This slot works best for players who appreciate medium volatility with explosive upside potential. You’re getting frequent enough action to avoid the soul-crushing dry spells of extreme high-variance games, but the 15,000x maximum win and Rainbow Over the Pyramids Epic Bonus provide genuine chase factors. The five bonus modes offer actual strategic choices rather than cosmetic variations—selecting between Luck of the Pharaoh’s consistency and Super Lost Treasures’ volatility matters. Just verify your casino is offering the 96.18% RTP version before committing, and understand that the Epic Bonus is a rare occurrence you may never naturally trigger. If you enjoyed Le Bandit or other entries in Hacksaw’s “Le” series, Smokey’s Egyptian adventure delivers more of that character-driven, mechanically sound slot design the studio does well.
FAQs
Le Pharaoh has a default RTP of 96.18%, which is above the industry standard of 96%. However, operator-configurable variants exist at 94.18%, 92.18%, 90.18%, and as low as 88.18%. Always verify which version your casino is offering by checking the game rules or help section before playing. The 8% spread between best and worst versions significantly impacts your expected returns—$96.18 vs. $88.18 per $100 wagered over the long term.
When you land a winning combination, those symbols don’t disappear—they transform into Golden Squares and lock in place. New symbols cascade down to fill empty positions. If the new symbols create additional wins, they also become Golden Squares and stick. This process repeats automatically until a spin occurs where no new wins form. Each re-drop is essentially a free spin building on your locked wins, with no limit on consecutive re-drops you can chain together.
Le Pharaoh offers a maximum win of 15,000x your bet. On a $1 spin, that’s $15,000; on a $100 spin, it’s $1,500,000. The max win is most realistically achieved during the Rainbow Over the Pyramids Epic Bonus (12 free spins with guaranteed Rainbow symbols every spin) or during Super Luck of the Pharaoh/Super Lost Treasures features with exceptional coin value luck. Medium volatility means this max win is theoretically more accessible than extreme high-volatility slots requiring perfect bonus combinations.
Rainbow Over the Pyramids triggers only when you land 5 FS scatter symbols simultaneously on the same spin. This is an extremely rare natural occurrence—approximately 1 in 50,000 base game spins. Importantly, this Epic Bonus cannot be purchased through any of the bonus buy options. It’s exclusively a natural trigger feature, which makes it genuinely special but also means most players will never experience it without extensive playtime or exceptional luck.
Le Pharaoh offers four bonus buy tiers: (1) Bonushunt FeatureSpins at 3x bet increases FS scatter appearance by 5x for subsequent spins; (2) Rainbow FeatureSpins at 60x bet guarantees Rainbow symbols appear with winning combinations; (3) Bonus Choice at 100x bet triggers the standard bonus menu (Luck of the Pharaoh or Lost Treasures); (4) Super Bonus Choice at 250x bet triggers the enhanced bonus menu (Super versions of both features). Rainbow Over the Pyramids cannot be purchased.
Luck of the Pharaoh awards 10 free spins with persistent Sticky Re-Drops, where Golden Squares accumulated across all spins can be converted by Rainbow symbols into coins. It’s more consistent with medium volatility. Lost Treasures uses a treasure-hunting mechanic where Stone Tablet symbols reveal hidden multipliers while Dead symbols act as non-paying blockers. It’s higher variance with less predictable payouts—you might win 15x or 800x depending on which tablets you reveal. Choose Luck for consistency, Lost Treasures for explosive potential.
Yes, Le Pharaoh is part of Hacksaw Gaming’s ‘Le’ series featuring Smokey the raccoon in various themed adventures. Other games in the series include Le Bandit (Parisian heist theme), Le King (Las Vegas Elvis theme), Le Viking (Nordic warrior theme), and Le Zeus (Greek mythology theme). Each slot explores different cultural settings while maintaining the series’ signature character charm and innovative mechanics. Smokey’s continued adventures create narrative continuity across the series.
Le Pharaoh is rated medium volatility (3/5), which balances regular small-to-medium wins with occasional larger payouts. Expect roughly 1 winning spin in every 4-6 base game spins, with Sticky Re-Drop chains adding value to about one-third of those wins. You’re not waiting 200+ spins between bonus triggers like extreme high-volatility slots, but you’re also not collecting tiny wins constantly. Medium volatility makes the 15,000x max win more accessible than extreme variance games while still providing enough explosive potential to satisfy players chasing big multipliers.