Slot Machine Paytables Guideline

Old slots or slots that went in history known as classics, were pretty self-explanatory and straightforward to understand. They used to have a few reels, and a few paylines, with the paytable displayed on the screen next to the playing area, so that you know exactly how many symbols can land to deliver a win and the amount of that win.

Wild and Scatters were rare in these slots, as were bonus games, so the entire gameplay used to revolve around simple winning combo formations.

On the other hand, modern slots we’re playing today are loaded with features, different number of paylines and reels, loads of Bonus rounds, Wilds, Scatters, and so many other special symbols, and a different set of rules regarding the gameplay.

Displaying all of these pieces of information on the screen next to the grid would get crowded, and that’s why modern slots offer an entire paytable section you could and should explore before you start playing a specific slot. And that’s why today, we’ll be exploring the paytable in modern slots.

What Is a Paytable?

Load any modern slot right now, and you will see that it has an “i”, “?”, three-bar or three-dot button. All slots do. Pressing this button, you’re taken to the paytable, a pop-up window informing you on everything you ever needed to know about the slot.

Visiting the paytable is essential, no matter the game you’re playing, as this way, you’ll know what winning combos to cheer for to land or how the bonus triggers, for maximum enjoyment. In the paytable, you’ll learn about the following things:

Regular symbols and their values

In the paytable, the first thing you’ll see when the pop-up appears, are the low-paying regular symbols. These are usually playing card Royals, but you might come across slots with different themes that offer theme-suited low pays. Then, you’ll see the high-paying or character symbols, usually giving better payouts.

Now, not only will these symbols be presented in the paytable, but so will the payouts they give out related to the combos you manage to form with them. Since usually 3 matching symbols are needed for a win to be achieved, their values for 3, 4 and 5-of-a-kind combos are displayed here, for each symbol.

Special symbols

Wilds and Scatters are displayed usually next, and in the paytable, you’ll learn their special powers. Here you’ll learn whether the Wild substitutes for symbols in the formation of winning combos, whether it gives a payout for matching combos on its own, or neither and plays an entirely different role.

Here you’ll see how many Scatters are needed to trigger a bonus and whether the Scatter has some other function in the slot. But, you’ll also learn about any other special symbols, like Multipliers or Mystery Symbols, for instance, how they look like and what their role in the slot is.

Bonus rounds triggers

In the paytable, you’ll also learn about the rules regarding the gameplay. More precisely, how to trigger the bonus rounds. Free Spins are usually offered, but Respins, too, and so many other innovative and unique bonus rounds you could trigger. While in most cases bonus rounds are triggered with a certain number of Scatters landing on the reels, it is in the paytable where you’ll learn the exact way to do it, and whether any other symbol is needed to activate the bonus.

Maximum payout

While not all slots will, most slots will display exactly how much they can deliver in terms of payouts, and you’ll find that piece of information right here in the paytable. It is usually displayed along the RTP on one of the last pages of the paytable, so it is important to get through all the pages to know what to expect from the slot exactly.

RTP

Just like the maximum payout, the RTP (Return to Player) percentage is displayed on one of the last pages of the paytable. The RTP is the percentage of money invested in the slot that you get back should you win it all back; the rest stays in the slot as the house edge. So, it is paramount that you know whether a slot pays 95.00% or 97.00%, for instance, and whether you’ll be losing $5 or $3 playing the slot for a $100 bet.

Volatility

The volatility level can tell you a lot about the slot that you’re about to play, meaning whether it pays out often (low), comme ci-comme ca (medium) or rarely (high), and the volatility info is always found in the paytable.

Number of paylines and/or reels

Even though slots in the past used to offer the paylines along with the paytable in the exterior, you can learn about the number of paylines offered in a modern slot by visiting the paytable. This piece of information is usually on the very last page.

You can see the patterns drawn by the developer, along with an explanation of how the paylines give a payout. Again, the more reason for you to always visit the paytable first, prior to starting spinning the reels.

Any offered progressives and how they work

If you’re playing a slot that offers a progressive jackpot, you’d need to learn what you need to do to hit that jackpot prize.

Where can you find the info on that? In the paytable, of course! If you wish to become a millionaire playing a progressive jackpot, you’d need to check out how the network works, whether it is a shared or an in-house one, etc., to know your odds at winning it.