Key Paytable Elements
- 💰 Symbol Values — What each symbol pays for 3, 4, or 5 matches
- 📏 Paylines/Ways — How winning combinations are formed
- 🎯 Special Symbols — Wilds, scatters, and bonus symbols
- 🎁 Bonus Features — Free spins, multipliers, pick games
- 📊 RTP & Volatility — Expected return and risk level
Reading Symbol Values
Paytables show payouts as multipliers of your bet or coin value. Higher-paying symbols (often themed characters) pay more but appear less frequently. Lower-paying symbols (usually card values like A, K, Q) appear more often but pay less. Understanding this hierarchy helps you know which symbols to watch for.
Understanding Paylines vs Ways to Win
Traditional slots use fixed paylines (e.g., 20 paylines). Modern slots may use "ways to win" systems — 243 ways, 1024 ways, or even Megaways with up to 117,649 ways. More ways means more frequent small wins but doesn't necessarily mean better RTP.
When comparing slots, focus on RTP and volatility rather than the number of paylines or ways. A 20-payline slot with 97% RTP mathematically returns more than a 1024-ways slot with 94% RTP over time.
Bonus Feature Rules
The paytable also explains how bonus features are triggered and how they work. Look for: the number of scatters needed (usually 3+), whether free spins come with multipliers, if there are re-trigger mechanics, and what the maximum win potential is. Games like Gates of Olympus show tumble mechanics and progressive multipliers in the paytable, while Book of Dead explains the expanding symbol feature during free spins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Written by
Sarah van der Berg
Casino & Betting Experts
Sarah specialises in slot analysis and has reviewed paytables for over 500 online slots.