Why Should You Read The Pay Table On Your Slot Machine?

January 12, 2023
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Slot machines are designed to give players a chance to win big prizes. The payout percentage is determined by the number of coins or tokens that are paid out per spin.

This means that the higher the coin value, the lower the payout percentage.

Why Should You Read The Pay Table On Your Slot Machine?

You might want to check out the pay table before playing. There are some important things to consider such as the maximum bet amount, minimum bet amount, jackpot, bonus rounds, free spins, etc.

A Guide To Reading Pay Tables On Slot Machines

The pay table is one of those things that most people don’t think about until they’re playing slots. They see the machine, and they know they want to play.

But there’s a lot more to it than just pressing buttons. You’ve got to understand the rules, and you’ve got to be able to figure out how many coins you’ll need to bet in order to make sure you hit the jackpot.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the basic terms used in slot games, including the pay table, and show you how to use it. We’ll start off with the basics, and work our way up to the more complicated aspects of slot game design.

Where Can You Find Pay Tables On Slot Machines?

When you look at a slot machine, there are usually two icons near the spin button and bet size controls (see also “Why Do Some Slot Machines Have Handles?“). One looks like a question mark, while the other is shaped like a hamburger.

These icons allow players to access the game’s pay table.

The pay table is where you see how much money you win per coin played. You can use it to calculate your expected payout percentage.

For example, if you play $1 coins, and you hit a jackpot, you will receive $10,000. If you place a $5 wager, you will receive $500.

So, you can figure out what your expected return is by dividing the amount won by the amount wagered. 

You can also use the pay table to determine whether you want to continue playing. For instance, if you are getting less than 50% returns, you probably don’t want to keep playing. 

However, if you are getting over 75%, you know you are winning enough to make it worth your while.

Slot Machines Pay Table Examples

Why Should You Read The Pay Table On Your Slot Machine? (1)

A pay table is a list of what each symbol pays. For example, a three-reel slot machine might have symbols like 7, 10, Jackpot, etc., and payouts of $0.01, $1, $10, $100, etc.

A five-reel slot machine might have 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, and Jackpot symbols, and payouts of 0.05, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00, 5.00, and Jackpot.

The pay table is used to determine how much money the player wins based on how many times he/she hits winning combinations.

So, let’s say you hit a jackpot symbol on the third spin of a three-reel slot machine (see also “What Is The 5 Spin Slot Method?“). You win $5.00. If you hit it again on the fourth spin, you win $2.00. On the fifth spin, you win $1.00.

Values And Symbols

The symbols on a slot machine are what make it unique. Some slots feature fruits, others animals, some sports teams, and so forth. But there are certain symbols that are used over and over again.

These are called “symbols.” There are hundreds of different types of symbols, and most slot machines use one type or another.

Here are some examples of common symbols:

Fruit symbols – Apples, oranges, lemons, cherries, bananas, grapes, etc.

Wild cards – Aces, eights, nines, tens, jacks, queens, kings, etc.

Bonus symbols – Free spins, bonus rounds, multipliers, scatter wins, etc.

Card symbols – Three of a kind, four of a kind, straight flush, full house, etc.

Number symbols – Sevens, eights, nine, tens, jacks/jokers, etc.

Special symbols – Scatter wins, free spins, bonus rounds, etc.

Paylines

The number of pay lines determines how much money players can win. There are usually five pay lines on most online slots. Some games offer three, seven, or nine pay lines.

Players must choose whether to play one, three, five, or nine pay lines. Each pay line multiplies the amount won per spin by the number of coins used. 

For example, if a player chooses to use three pay lines, he or she wins 3 x 25 75 times the original wager.

A pay table lists the odds of winning for every combination of symbols on the reels. This includes the maximum payout for each symbol, the total number of combinations possible, and the percentage of those combinations that lead to winning combinations.

For example, if a game offers 10 different symbols, it could have four different types of wild symbols. 

A typical slot machine might have a scatter symbol, a multiplier symbol, a bonus symbol, and a free spins symbol.

These symbols could be represented by the following icons:

Scatter Symbol – Any symbol except for the Bonus symbol.

Multiplier Symbol – Any symbol except the Free Spins symbol.

Bonus Symbol – Any symbol except a Wild symbol.

Free Spins Symbol – Any symbol except another Free Spins symbol. A bonus symbol is required to trigger the free spins round.

Bonus Rounds And Features

Slot machine features are becoming increasingly complex. In fact, many casinos now offer multiple types of features.

Some games even come with a number of different bonus rounds. But what exactly do you mean by a feature? What does it look like? And how does it work?

In general, a feature is a special round where players receive extra chances to win prizes. This could be anything from a mystery pick game to a free spins round.

Sometimes, these features are triggered automatically during gameplay; sometimes, they require a player to perform certain actions. For example, players might have to press a button or spin a wheel to trigger a free spin’s round.

The most common type of feature is the mystery pick game. Here, players choose one out of several symbols, usually three or four. If the symbol chosen matches the reel combination, the player wins a prize.

Final Thoughts

There’s no doubt about it, playing casino games has never been easier. You don’t need to leave home to enjoy all the excitement of real-life gambling.

The best part is that there are so many great games available at any given moment. So why not give them a try?

Richie Thames

Hi, my name is Richie Thames and I have been a software developer for 12 years. I have worked on some of the most popular online slot machine games, including ones you still see in online casinos today. While there is no simple trick to win the jackpot, there is power in learning about your game before playing. With several decades of experience under my belt, I created this website in the hopes of helping newbies on their journey. Please, enjoy my website, and I hope you learn something valuable about the art of gambling. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next jackpot winner?

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