Themed symbols make different slot machines more immersive, distinct, and easy on the eyes — but what do all those symbols mean? That’s where a paytable comes in: translating the many symbols into their payouts.
Paytables are an important element in learning the rules of a new slot machine. It’s always a good idea for players to get up to speed on how to read a slot paytable because it contains useful information about a slot machine’s nuances and odds.
What Are Paytables in Online Slots?
A paytable explains what amount of money each symbol on the slot’s reels pays out. Certain symbols net players more money than others. In addition to that, lining up more of a given symbol proportionally increases a player’s winnings, which is also explained in the paytable. Very importantly, the RTP and volatility of a slot machine are sometimes also listed in the paytable.
In-person slot machines will have a physical paytable printed somewhere visible to players, often on the machine itself or posted nearby. Since in-person machines are relatively straightforward, these paytables simply list the payouts for each symbol.
Video slots and online slot games tend to be much more complicated than in-person machines, with shifting symbols, bonus rounds, extra paylines, and more. Because of this, paytables for virtual slots will also be much more in-depth. Since these machines are digital, the paytable will also be digital, accessible with the click of a button somewhere on screen.
Reading a Paytable
With a basic explanation of a slot paytable done, here’s how to read one. Although a slot will use its paytable to explain specific mechanics, players can expect to see a few key details on any paytable:
- Symbol payouts: How much money is won when a number of symbols line up. Each symbol will have its own slot symbol values.
- Paylines: Which spots should symbols land on to be considered “lined up.”
- Bonus mechanics: How do special symbols like wilds work, or how to trigger a bonus round with extra spins.
- Volatility: This refers to the frequency of wins. Low volatility slots win often but pay low, while high volatility slots win rarely but pay big.
- Return to player (RTP): This is the expected payout to the total pool of players of a particular slot over an extended period of time. The lower the RTP, the higher the house edge, which means players should try to get as close as possible to a 100% RTP.
- Bet limits: Minimum and maximum bet per spin.
How To Use a Paytable To Improve Your Strategy
The most reliable slot strategies focus on minimizing losses. Paytables let a player determine which symbols offer the best return and help them judge the usefulness of bonus mechanics.
Keep the following strategy tips in mind and use the paytable to its full potential:
- Check the paytable first: Players should learn all the ins and outs of a slot machine before placing their first wager, no matter how enticing a slot might look.
- Max out the paylines: Extra paylines can make lining up symbols extra easy. Certain titles, like Megaways slots, offer thousands of paylines for even more opportunities.
- Slot budget management: Proper slot budget management can prevent players from overspending when chasing a win. Players should use a paytable to find slots with minimum and maximum bets that suit their budget.
