Slots 101: How to Read Slot Paytables

Why Paytables Are Important in Slots

The holy grail of information when you're playing any slot machine, online or land-based, is the slot's paytable. 

If you've ever wondered how many symbols you've got to match up, or what the hell that weird-looking wild symbol means, chances are, it'll be in the slot's paytable. 

Without them, we'd have no idea what anything in the newest slots means, especially with the amount of bonus features shoehorned in nowadays. 

But sometimes, reading one is almost like trying to learn hieroglyphics. 

That's where this guide on how to read a slot's paytable comes in. 

Think of it like a Google Translate, but for all the complex jargon you'll find in an online slot. 

What is a Slot Paytable? 

Basically, a paytable is an in-built user manual found with every single slot.

It lays out all the most important gameplay information you need, such as the game's rules, symbols, winning combinations, paylines, RTP, volatility, and details on any bonus features. 

It should also show how much each winning combination pays out if it's triggered, usually as a table format.

If the slot has flashy bonus features, it'll also walk you through how special symbols work to unlock any bonus rounds, how to trigger free spins, and how bonus buys fit into the mix.

Fruit Party 2 Pay Table

How To Find a Slot Paytable

Easy. All you have to do is hit the information (‘i') icon on-screen. Sometimes it's a menu button or paytable tab. 

This will load up a pop-up window that displays the entire slot paytable in all its glory.

Most slots will have a slider or arrows at the bottom of the screen, letting you quickly change pages as needed.

What to Look For in a Paytable

Now you know what a paytable is and how to open it, here’s the real question: what’s worth paying attention to?

1. Slot Symbol Values

This is an obvious one, but still important. 

You'll want to know which symbols are high-paying and which ones are low-paying. 

For a quick reference point, most thematic symbols based around the slot's theme or name are ones that'll pay more.

Meanwhile, the bog-standard card values, like ones numbered 1-10 and card royals (A, J, K, and Q), are typically low pay symbols.

2. Paylines

Another big one is slot paylines, which refers to how winning combinations work. 

Old-school slots kept things simple with fixed paylines across the reels.

Landing three or more matching symbols left-to-right would bag you a win easily.

Then Megaways slots came along and switched things up, offering up to 117,649 different ways to win with every spin, thanks to their dynamically changing reels. 

Cluster pays slots, like Jammin' Jars 2, are also a different ballgame entirely, where groups of five or more adjacent matching symbols are required for a win. 

The paytable tells you which format the slot uses. That’s vital, because a Megaways slot plays totally differently to a 20-payline classic.

Rainbow Riches Road to Even More Riches Offers Players 20 Fixed Paylines

3. Special Symbols (Wilds and Scatters)

Now, we've already gone over the symbols in the base game, but what about other symbols: wilds and scatters? 

The latter are your golden ticket straight to the bonus game. Land enough of them and you should be straight into free spins and bonus features.

Wild symbols are a different breed altogether. They don't usually have a value of their own, but they substitute for other symbols to complete winning lines.

There's so many different types now available: sticky, stacked, xNudge, expanding… You name it, there's probably a wild for it. 

Check the pay table to see which wilds your slot uses, because they can completely change the gameplay.

4. Bonus Rounds

Here’s where slots go from “spin and pray” to “hang on, what’s actually happening on my screen?”.

Let's be honest, bonus rounds and features are exactly why we're playing the slot in the first place, and the details are all spelled out in black and white in the paytable. 

This section is where you'll find: 

• How To Trigger Bonuses: Usually by landing 3+ scatters. Some games let you “buy” straight into them (for a hefty price).
• What The Bonus Actually Does: Free spins, multipliers, respins, pick-‘n’-click games, or whatever Frankenstein mechanic the devs have cooked up.
• Any Twists: Like retriggers, bonus levels, or modifiers that only appear in the free spins.

Without the slot paytable, you'd have no idea why the slot's screen has changed and started firing multipliers all over the place. 

Land 3 or More Scatters to Trigger the Free Spins Bonus Round

5. Further Details (RTP, Volatility, etc)

The slot paytable isn't just pretty pictures of symbols and tables. It's exactly where you'll find all the nerdy stuff that makes the slot actually tick:

• RTP (Return-to-Player): The theoretical percentage a slot pays back over the long run. If it's 96%, that means for every £100 spun, the game returns £96 on average. Some slot developers will provide multiple RTP configurations to their partner casinos, so it's always best to compare and check. 
• Volatility Level: Basically the game’s mood swings. Low-volatility slots drip-feed small wins often, while high-volatility slots are stingier but can offer life-changing payouts when they finally decide to.
• Max Win: The jackpot figure plastered across every slot advert. Usually something like 10,000x your bet. Spoiler alert: you probably won’t hit it, but hey, it’s fun to dream.
• Rules: Running down how the game works and if there's a bonus buy feature available.

The truth is, most players never check this stuff. They dive straight in and wonder why their balance is giving them whiplash.

Reading these details first in the paytable at least mean you know what you're signing up for. You should also aim for slots that are 95% RTP or higher for the best possible returns.

The Bottom Line

Now, no one's saying you need to study, revise, and memorise every line of a paytable like it's your A Levels.

But skimming through paytables for the basics, like the symbol values, paylines, special symbols, and bonus features, saves you from going in blind. 

It’s always good to be properly informed to make the right decisions, and now you’re informed as to how to, well, get even more informed when playing slots.

At the end of the day, slots are meant to be fun. The paytable just makes sure you know what kind of fun (and potential frustration) you’re signing up for.