Slot Machine Paytable Explained

Pay-table is a term that describes the section of a slot dedicated to providing necessary information about the itinerary offered by a slot machine.

Unlike in the past, when slot machines were straightforward and didn’t come with much fuss, slots have now progressed with the help of technology, hence the need for pay tables to explain what goes on in the slot.

Pay-tables explain everything a player needs to know about the slot machine; the jackpot and how to get one, bonus features and how to trigger them, Pay-lines, RTP, and the significance of each symbol.

Location of the Pay-table in a Slot

The pay-table is usually placed in the main panel of slot games. The first generation of slot machines had the pay-table placed directly on the machine, often in spaces surrounding the reels.

The new types of slot machines feature the pay-table in the central panel of the slot and are clearly labelled for easy identification. It is also displayed with an icon with a link that redirects players to a page with all the needed information.

Contents of a Pay-table

A pay-table is crucial, especially when playing a new game. Understanding the information contained in the pay-table will significantly improve the chances of winning and make for a less confusing gaming experience.

A pay-table may feature extensive or limited information depending on how complex the slot machine is to operate.

For slots with multiple pay-lines and bigger prizes offered up for grabs, the pay tables tend to be lengthier, with several pages detailing important information. Slots that offer limited paylines and limited prizes tend to have shorter pay tables and are usually limited to a page.

However, regardless of the number of paylines or prizes available, here is some of the common information contained in payable:

Betting requirements

Betting conditions must be satisfied to qualify for bonuses, free spin or jackpots in most online slots. One of such conditions is the requirement to deposit a certain amount of money before a slot game can be played or a spin activated.

Many Slots go further to have a minimum bet which is the lowest amount a player can place as a wager. Another type of betting condition is the bonus bet requirement.

Paylines

A pay-line is a pattern on the reel, which can be straight or zigzag, where symbols align to give the player a winning combination.

Unlike the traditional standard slots with just one horizontal pay-line where symbols could match, contemporary slots, especially online slots, have created multiple varieties of payline patterns in slot games.

The multiple variations available are why it’s imperative to read through the payable to know what to expect and not just assume a slot will have the traditional horizontal payline when it might be something like “Ways to Win”.

Symbol values

The pay-table explains in detail the monetary value of each symbol and its significance in the reel.

Older versions of slot machines had spades, bells, diamonds, horseshoes, cherries, lemons, Aces, Jacks, Kings etc. However, recent slot machines have gone beyond the basic fruits and card symbols.

There are all types of symbols, some in reference to historical sites, prominent historical figures,  movies, and themes.

Special symbols

Out of the multitude of symbols in a reel, some are more significant and symbolic than the rest. In every slot game, there are always several symbols that make the game exciting and unpredictable.

Some of these symbols are the wild symbol, scatter symbol, bonus symbol, or multiplier.

Game Features

Besides the special symbols, slot games also have other features that improve a game and players’ interests.

Slot Machine Games have auto-spin, which automatically spins the lever or wheel every round. A free spin also gives additional spins without having to place a bet. This free spin is usually given when a player signs up to a website or lands a bonus after triggering scatter symbols in the reel.

Jackpot details

Jackpots are the main prize and the main reason for playing a game in the first place.

There are different types of jackpots; progressive, non-progressive, local and wide area. To land a jackpot depends entirely on luck. A jackpot could come from a bonus round or regular spins on the reel.

Wins and Payouts

To land a win, a number of identical symbols must align perfectly on the pay line in the reel.