How to Read a Paytable: Understanding Slot Game Payouts

Slot games are by far the most popular of all the casino games. Colourful graphics combined with simple game mechanics mean lot of players will seek out slot games.

What may not be as easy to understand with the more modern video slot games found at online casinos is the slot paytable. We know it may be more fun to just click all the buttons and let fate (and Random Number Generators) decide how the reels land, but we also believe in equipping players with enough information to make the best decisions.

All the information you need to know about your chosen slot game can be found in a slot paytable. Classic slot game pay tables used to read easily, as the game itself was made of a straightforward 3×3 grid, a few symbols, and just one payline.

Nowadays, game developers are constantly competing to make the best slot game that will keep players entertained. This means creating games with special symbols, bonus games, dynamic features, and complex gameplay.

With that in mind, let’s delve deeper into slot pay tables, how to read them and why it’s important.

A Slot Paytable and What They Are

Essentially, a slot paytable is like a user manual for an online slot game. Here, you will find the most imperative details that you need to know about the game, such as paylines, winning combinations, rules, symbols, and features. Should the reels land in such a way that it forms a winning combination, then players can see how much it will pay out via the paytable.

Along with all this basic information, players will usually also find dedicated sections to the special features, such as Free Spins, Wild and Scatter symbols, and any other bonus features the slot game has. How bonus elements are triggered, what the potential wins are and how they work can also be found in these sections.

One of the many interesting features of slot games is the possible jackpots that may be awarded. There are different types of jackpots, such as fixed, progressive, or even mini-jackpots built into bonus games. A pay table will display all this information, and when it comes to progressive jackpots (the best kind), what wager amounts are needed to qualify for the jackpot will also be there.

This is why we recommend reading a paytable before you begin a slot game. Crucial information may be missed, and although it really does come down to random chance when playing slots, you can still decide on your bet size and whether buying a bonus feature is worth it if you’ve consulted the paytable.

How to Read an Online Slot Paytable

Usually, paytables are found in the game itself, although it may require you to click on a hamburger menu (named so because the three horizontal lines resemble a hamburger), or an icon representing “Information” (often shown as an italic lowercase i).

A paytable will generally consist of a few rows and columns, showing the different winning combinations of symbols. The biggest symbols will be at the top, with smaller symbols descending vertically to the bottom. As we have mentioned above, the bonus features will have dedicated screens you can click on to access the information.

There will also be columns displaying the payouts for different combinations, which is dependent on the size of the bet. It will start with one credit per line and the credit amount will increase as you read from left to right. Some slot games let players wager more than one credit, sometimes going up to five, depending on their maximum bet and maximum win, so expect that to be included in the pay table if that’s the case.

It is a given that progressive jackpots will pay out significantly higher for players betting the maximum amount, and the pay table will reflect that, although it may be in a different area, like the top right or left-hand corner.

Newer slot games have started to use a scroll-down menu instead of a more traditional pay table, but with these, all the information (including bonus information) may be displayed on one screen.

Side Note for Side Bets

If paytables seem a bit too complicated for you, or your OCD means you have to memorize them, just breathe. Online slots are excellent at informing players when they have won, how much they have won, and whether they have triggered any bonus rounds.

Some games may have complex gameplay mechanics around what triggers special symbols like Wilds and Scatters, but having a general idea of how the game works can still make for an interesting play.

Another interesting aspect of slot games is side bets. Not all slots will have them, but if they do, the pay table can assist the player in understanding what they are and how they work. And even if none of this tickles your fancy, you should be aware of the game’s RTP and volatility at the very least, which may also be found on the paytable.

A Lot of Slot…Paytable Contents

We know that paytables may differ in design and how they are displayed, and this has a lot to do with the game itself and how complex it is. Here are some parts that make up the whole of a slot paytable structure:

• Bet limits: this is what the slot’s minimum and maximum bets are, as well as what’s required to qualify for the progressive jackpot if there is one.
• Paylines: these align with symbols and icons that either form winning combinations, trigger bonus rounds, or…not (it is a game of chance, after all).
• Special symbols: Wilds and Scatters are just examples of what could be considered a special symbol, and a paytable will display exactly how they work.
• Features: free spins, multipliers, and all those wonderful things that are found in bonus rounds (or can sometimes be bought) is what features are.
• Jackpots: for players who enjoy the idea of playing with a jackpot in mind, they should always check the paytable to see what is available.