Reading a Paytable in Five Minutes
Every game publishes its own rules. Most players never open them. Five things are worth finding before the first spin.
1. The win rule
Lines, ways, clusters or pay-anywhere. This tells you what you are looking for on the screen. The differences are explained in paylines, ways and clusters.
2. Symbol values
Payouts are listed per symbol and per count. Check whether they are shown as multiples of the total bet or of the line bet. The same number means very different things in each case.
3. Special symbols
- Wild. Substitutes for other symbols. Note which ones it cannot replace.
- Scatter. Usually triggers the feature and counts anywhere.
- Multiplier. Raises the value of a win, by a rule the paytable should state.
4. The feature
How it triggers, how many spins it gives, whether it can retrigger, and what changes during it. This section deserves the most attention. See anatomy of a bonus round.
5. The limits
Look for a maximum win, often expressed as a multiple of the bet. Once reached, the round ends and nothing more is paid. Also look for the return percentage and, if given, the volatility rating.
Two details people miss
- Bet-dependent features. In some games certain features or jackpots are only available at higher stakes.
- Versions. The same title can exist in more than one return setting. The figure in the rules of the copy you are playing is the one that counts.
Why bother
Reading the rules does not improve the odds. It removes surprises, which is the difference between a game that behaved as described and one that felt like it cheated.