The payout you receive after winning on online slots is determined by two things: your stake and the paytable. This table contains all the information you need about the payouts for the slot you are playing. It shows the value of the different symbols, and often also includes information about Wilds, Scatters and special features. This guide explains how a paytable works and how to read it.
What is a paytable?
The paytable provides an overview of the possible winning combinations in an online slot. For each symbol, it shows how much you win when you combine a certain number of matching symbols in the required way.
A paytable usually includes lower-paying symbols as well as special symbols that can pay more. For example, a combination of three identical low-paying symbols may offer a smaller payout, while three, four or five of another symbol may result in a higher payout.
The exact layout varies from one game to another. Some slots use fixed paylines, while in other games you can win by landing a group of adjacent matching symbols.
How do you read a paytable?
Next to a symbol you will often see a multiplier. This multiplier indicates how many times your stake is paid when you get a particular combination of that symbol.
A simple example is a slot with five reels and traditional paylines. It could show:
- 3 symbols: 5x the stake
- 4 symbols: 20x the stake
- 5 symbols: 100x the stake
With a €1 stake, a combination of three symbols would therefore pay €5. Four matching symbols would be worth €20 and five matching symbols €100.
The paytable tells you how much a combination is worth, but not always where the symbols need to appear. For that, you also need to look at the slot’s winning mechanism.
How do paylines relate to the paytable?
In slots with paylines, a particular combination usually needs to appear on an active payline to produce a payout. The paytable shows how much a winning combination is worth, while the game itself determines which positions form a payline.
For example, a slot may have twenty fixed paylines. If three matching symbols appear on one of these paylines, this may result in a payout according to the paytable. Symbols that appear next to each other but do not form part of a valid payline do not produce a payout.
Where can you find the paytable?
Almost every online slot in an online casino has a paytable that can be accessed directly through the information section. This is usually opened using a question mark, information icon or settings symbol.
When you click on it, a window appears showing the different symbols and the relevant information. Depending on the game, you may also find details about paylines, bonus features, Wilds, Scatters and other game features.
It is a good idea to check this information before you start playing. This way, you know which combinations are possible and do not have to wonder during the game why a particular combination does or does not result in a payout.
Does the paytable determine the maximum you can win?
The paytable shows how much individual symbol combinations can pay, but it does not always show the full maximum win potential of a slot.
For example, a slot may have a maximum win that results from a combination of several features. This could include a bonus round in which multipliers are applied or a Wild that occupies multiple positions. The maximum win can therefore be higher than the highest standard payout shown for an individual symbol in the paytable.
If you want to know how much a slot can pay at most, look for the information about the maximum win. This is generally listed separately.
Why aren’t all symbols worth the same?
To create a balance between different types of payouts, symbols do not all have the same value. Balancing how often certain combinations occur with how much they pay prevents the payouts from being consistently high.
The value of each symbol is programmed into the mathematical model of the slot. The most common symbols generally have the lowest values. These are often the symbols featuring card icons from 9 to A. Higher-paying symbols appear less frequently and therefore have a higher value. These are often the more distinctive-looking symbols whose design matches the theme of the slot.
How is the paytable calculated?
The person responsible for calculating the mathematics behind a game first determines which characteristics the game should have. These include the RTP (return-to-player percentage), win frequency, volatility and maximum win. The paytable then needs to match these parameters. The mathematics is designed so that the size of the payouts corresponds to the probability of winning them.
The result of each spin, however, is always random and is determined by random number generators. It is therefore important to view playing a slot primarily as entertainment, where any potential payout is a fun added bonus.
Frequently asked questions
Is the paytable the same as the game rules?
Not exactly. The paytable mainly shows which symbols and combinations result in a payout and how much they pay. The full game rules may also contain information about the stake, paylines, bonus features and other conditions.
Can you see the probability of a particular combination in the paytable?
No. The paytable tells you how much a combination pays, but not how often that combination occurs. Information about the statistical characteristics of a slot can be found in the other game information.
Can a higher stake change the payout of a symbol?
For many slots, increasing your stake does not change the value of a winning combination. However, the amount you receive from a win will be higher when you stake more.
Why should I check the paytable before playing?
This allows you to see which combinations result in a win and what features the different symbols have. You therefore get a clear picture of how the slot pays out before you start playing.
