Slots Paylines
Slot machines remain the number one online casino game due to how easy they are to play, how great they look, and the entertainment they can provide. However, we often overlook what makes them work. While most of you will recognize that a lot of work goes into the aesthetic aspects of an online slot, many of you will not realize that just as much work (if not more) goes into the math models behind them.
So, the question remains: how do slot machines work? With the rise of technology and the increasing popularity of both physical and online casinos, numerous casino games, including slot machines, have undergone substantial advancements, with paylines being the most prominent.
What are Slot Paylines?
As you know, the whole point of playing slot machines is to spin in wins. This is usually done by lining up matching icons along one of a slot's paylines. In the early days of fruit machines, you had three reels and a single payline. If you could line up 3 matching cherry, bars, or bells symbols across the middle line, you would receive a payout.
Modern online slots have dramatically changed over the years, and although you can still play classic slots with 1, 3, or 5 slot machine paylines, you now have so much more choice. Video slots can offer 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100, or even more slots paylines. Ways-to-Win slots offer at least 243 paylines, while Megaways slots can offer 117,649 or more.
A slot payline refers to a sequence of symbols on the reels that result in a winning combination. These paylines can be straight or zig-zagged, and the paytable of a specific slot machine lists its winning patterns.
The slot paylines are crucial to the outcome of the game. Once the identical symbols land on the payline, the player wins an instant prize. The classic slot machines typically have a single horizontal payline that runs from left to right. However, modern slot machines offer numerous slot machine paylines, with varying prizes and different patterns, to make the game more exciting. These include vertical paylines, diagonal, zigzag, and others. Despite the variation in shapes, there are two primary types of slot paylines.
Fixed Paylines Slots
A fixed payline slot is probably the easiest type of payline slot machine game to play, as you do not have to worry about choosing coin sizes or which paylines you want to bet on. Your wager covers all paylines in one go. How you wager on each payline is easy to work out too. For instance, if you're playing a 10-fixed payline video slot and want to spin at $1, it essentially means your wagering $0.10 per payline. Just divide your wager by the number of paylines to establish your bet per line.
There are thousands of fixed payline slots available, and many of these offer exciting gameplay and lucrative bonuses such as free spins, expanding wilds, respins, and more.
Variable Paylines Slots
On the other hand, variable paylines provide more flexibility when it comes to wagering. Players can choose to bet on the paylines of their choice, and they don't have to activate all paylines. This feature allows players to adjust their bets according to their bankroll. However, betting on fewer paylines may lower the chances of winning, and players may miss out on jackpots if the winning combination falls on an inactive payline.
How do Slot Paylines Work?
The emergence of online slots has brought about a significant transformation from classic slot machines to a wide array of games with varying themes, designs, and features. With increased competition, game developers are now striving to create unique adventures and entertainment experiences through innovative graphics and rich designs.
The concept behind paylines is actually quite straightforward. Where the reels and, thus, the symbols stop determines whether you have won or lost. The RNG (random number generator) that powers the slot is what decides whether your latest spin is a winning one or a losing one. That RNG spins through millions of different outcomes and stops on the one cycled through at the very moment you hit the spin button.
The reels will stop, and the symbols will display. If you land a winning combination on one or more paylines, you will receive a payout.
Payline Orientation
The orientation of slot paylines is now more flexible and diverse. Players can now access multiple paylines, ranging from a few to even thousands, with varying directions beyond the traditional left-to-right orientation. Most slots usually required you to form winning symbol combinations across a payline starting from the leftmost reel.
However, some games now have paylines that move upwards or downwards, while others come in diagonal formats. Pays Both Ways slots even let you create winning combinations from right to left and left to right. Before you play slots, it is advisable to check the payline orientation beforehand so that you know what to expect.
Coins and Bet levels
Understanding the coins wagered per payline and their respective values is crucial if you want to make the most of your bankroll in slots. Each active payline requires a bet, and you can choose the number of coins per payline and their value before spinning the reels.
For instance, if you bet a single coin on each payline in a 25-payline slot with a coin value of $0.05, the cost of a spin would be 25*$0.05 = $1.25. However, if you wager two coins on each payline, the total bet would be 25*2*$0.05 = $2.50. Additionally, having multiple coins per line affects the payout ratio for a winning combination. For example, an x3 combination that pays 10 coins when playing with one coin would pay 20 coins if playing with two coins per line.
The coin value can be easily adjusted by using a meter with pre-set minimum and maximum values. It is important to keep in mind that the more paylines you activate and the higher the coin value, the greater the cost per spin will be. Therefore, it is essential to manage your bankroll effectively and make informed decisions regarding your bets.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols serve as placeholders that complete a winning combination. They can take any form and shape to match other characters on the payline, increasing your chances of winning. Different types of wild symbols exist, including sticky wilds, stacked wilds, and expanding wilds, each with unique features and benefits.
Scatter Symbols
Scatter symbols are bonus symbols that can appear anywhere on the reels of slot games. Unlike wild symbols, they do not require placement on an active payline to activate features. Depending on the game, they may trigger free spins or other bonus features. They may even payout depending on the slot game. For instance, if the scatter symbols have a 40x multiplier value, a $5 bet will yield a handsome $200 payout.
Bonus Symbols
Bonus symbols also activate bonus games that offer huge payouts, and they may require specific placements on the payline or anywhere on the reels. The terms and conditions of bonus symbols vary across different slots.
Different Slots Paylines
Mechanical slot machines with a single payline still exist, and some players prefer them over newer options due to their simplicity. However, video slots with multiple paylines are becoming more popular due to the variety of surprises and bonuses they offer. Below, we give you a brief overview of the different types of payline online slots there are.
RTP - The Return of a Slot Machine
When choosing a slot machine, the payline numbers should be considered, but it's important to note that how many paylines an online slot has will not necessarily equal higher winning chances. The Return-To-Player (RTP) percentage is what ultimately determines your chances of winning, regardless of the number of paylines. Always check the RTP of a game in the paytable to know your odds. When betting on multiple paylines, develop a winning strategy to avoid depleting your bankroll. Perhaps consider sticking to the minimum bet or reducing how many pay lines you want to cover. Definitely avoid placing the maximum bet unless you have the bankroll to spin a good number of times.
No Paylines Slots
Innovation knows no bounds when it comes to slots, and some offshore gaming operators are reinventing classic and modern slot machines with slots that have no paylines. Instead, you create winning combinations by landing symbols anywhere in view or in clusters. One such type of slot is known as a Cluster Pays slot, and below, you will find some examples.
1-Payline Slot Machines
Single-line slots, also known as one-liners or classic slot games, are ideal for those who prefer simpler games. They offer a quick and easy way to play without the confusion of multiple paylines. On a single payline game, all you need to do is land winning combinations across that payline to win a payout. Just land the same symbol multiple times on that betting line, and you earn a win.
Check out some popular single-line games:
- 88 Frenzy Fortune (Betsoft)
- Queen's Day Tilt (Play'n Go)
- Seven 7s (Microgaming)
- Tree of Riches (Pragmatic Play)
3-Payline Slot machines
If single payline slots do not appeal, you can start looking at multi payline slots instead. Some slot machine games, like those listed below, will offer 3 paylines. While that is not a crazy amount compared to other modern slots, that does give you a bit more variety when spinning the reels.
With more than one payline, you have a few more opportunities to land winning combinations. That is not to say you have more chance of winning, by the way. The number of paylines a slot has does not increase your chances of winning, it just gives you more ways to find your winnings.
Recommended slots with 3 pay lines:
- Aztec Gems (Pragmatic Play)
- Golden Cryptex (Red Tiger Gaming)
- Food Feast (Evoplay)
- Fortress Charge (Microgaming)
10-Payline Slot Machines
Another option on top of playing slots with only one payline or several is to go for a 10 payline slot game. There are many of these, including modern slots that feature lots of bonus features such as bonus rounds, free spins, multipliers, and more. Normally you need to land a set number of scatter symbols in the base game to trigger the main bonus features. On this slot, a winning spin happens whenever you line multiple symbols of the same type on an active payline. Essentially, they work the same as the others we have spoken about, just that you have 10 paylines rather than a small number.
Check out the multi payline slots that give you 10 ways to win on each spin of the reels:
20-Payline Slot Machines
Why stop at 10 paylines when you can just keep going? How about 20 paylines? Whether fixed-paylines or variable, you will find a ton of slot games with 20 paylines. If you go with a variable slot that lets you choose how many of the paylines you want to bet on, just make sure you have set up your spin the way you want it. The last thing you want to see is a winning combination landing on a payline you didn't bet on. Our recommendation is to have as many active paylines as possible. Just lower how much you bet per line if you're worried about your casino balance.
Top 20 payline slot recommendations:
50-Payline Slot Machines
Although you can find some slots with as many paylines as 100 or more, you will find that 50 is about as high as most standard paylines go. As with other multi line slot machines, the idea is to line up a pattern on the reels across active paylines. You can see how much the slot symbols will pay when you land them during the base game via the pay table of each slot game you play. The biggest payouts will come when you land a winning combination that stretches from the leftmost reel or the way to the rightmost reel. That usually requires 5 or 6 matching symbols either in a straight line or across one of the other paylines.
Our 50-payline slot recommendations:
Alternatives to Paylines Slots
Not all slots use the payline mechanic, and in fact, you will find many titles that use different reel mechanics. For instance, you've probably heard of Megaways video slots that have become increasingly popular over the years.
- Ways-to-Win Slots: Many modern slots use the ways-to-win mechanic. These look similar and even play similar to standard pay line slots. However, in reality, they have done away with paylines. Instead, you win just by landing matching symbols in any position on consecutive reels. There is no winning line they have to stick to. One symbol could land in position 1 on the first reel and the next in position 5 on the second reel. Your bet covers all ways-to-win, so you do not have to worry about active paylines and all that jazz.
- Megaways Slot Machines: The Megaways mechanic works by giving a random number of symbols on each reel. This allows many titles to offer as many as 117,649 ways to win. Each spin is different and will produce a different number of winning possibilities. This is because each reel can have between 2 and 7 symbols, with the latter obviously creating more win lines. Get 7 symbols on each reel, and you stand a serious chance of landing a winning combination or two.
- Cluster Pays Slots: Another unique reel mechanic is cluster pays. These play like mobile puzzle games in the sense that you need to land clusters of symbols. There are no paylines at all. This reel mechanic often comes paired with a cascading symbols feature. That removes winning symbols to let others fall into place, giving you a chance to land even more combinations.
