Every time we enter a new slot, besides the excitement, there are a number of elements that we should take into consideration before playing. Important matters such as the type of prizes it offers, the reels, the RTP or how many pay lines the slot has to offer can make a slot machine determine its success or failure. There’s a thin balance that transmits a sense of transparency to the players and keeps them coming for more. At the end of the day, the number of paylines it offers will largely impact on the chances we have of winning a prize. Usually, that information is found in the review or basic information of the slot offered by the casino, so it is extremely convenient to be aware of how each payline works to expect the best out of your game, always understand the paylines meaning.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to find sites that offer great paylines nowadays, that you can access anytime from any phone or tablet. The only requirement is to have internet access which almost everyone has these days, and they accept the most popular payment methods.
While paylines are very easy to understand, every expert knows there are techniques to master in any discipline out there, so in this article we will provide all the basic guidelines so you can understand in depth how you can push your game to the next level.
So, what are paylines?
To put it in a few words, paylines are the different lines that will grant you a prize when a combination of symbols determined by the game developer appear on the screen or reel. For example, if in a 5-reel slot we need to line up at least 3 cherries but they must appear on the same payline. If the 3 cherries appear but they are on different pay lines you, unfortunately, will not win. This is a very important element, as paylines are different from slot machine to slot machine.
Beyond the economic prizes
Paylines also serve as activators for the bonuses of each slot machine such as the free spins or the step to move towards a superior game or even mini games that are characteristic of the slots, adding an extra layer of fun to an old time favourite. Can’t complain here!
Also keep in mind that the lower and upper games do not necessarily have the same pay lines, you may find yourself with more paylines in one game than in the other. It’s just a matter of balancing your playing style and strategy, which makes the games more than just putting coins and pulling levers (or its digital version of it).
How many pay lines are there in the slot machines?
There are a lot of options, that’s for sure. We can find between 1 and 243 pay lines which is a vast number without a doubt. It is clear that the more paylines there are, the easier it will be to find a prize, although it is also true that generally when prizes are greater the chances of winning them lower. In any case, the slot itself instruct us of the number of paylines in each game. Usually, the 5-reel slots offer more pay lines than the classic 3-reel ones.
So how it works is the paylines go from left to right, horizontally, although there are also some cases in which we find them vertically. Line 1 is the centre reel line, and from there you may find as many variations and combinations of paylines as the slot developer wants. There are slots in which a number appears next to the reels. Each number of triggers a payline, so you only have to stand above the figure to know the layout of each line, which can include several levels of the reel.
If you think about the opportunities, you can plan ahead on where to invest your coins to shape your playing style.
How to activate paylines
Depending on how big is the bet, more or fewer paylines will be activated, but when we are going to play on a slot with 243 pay lines it will usually require you to meet a minimum number of coins bet on each spin to qualify for all those succulent paylines.
As a general rule, this figure ranges between 25 and 50 coins per spin. Before starting to play you need to adjust the number of coins to play and their value. Some slots actually feature a button to activate or deactivate paylines.
Keep in mind that in slots with many paylines, such as 243 lines, the prizes are won on a regular basis, there is not a great volatility and the most eager players will get prizes frequently though in smaller amounts. They can be a good option to take advantage of a slot bonus, since it is easy to get a reward, although it is clear that everything depends on your player profile and your objective.
Conclusion
Fortunately, as old as slots are they keep improving and as the game offers keep getting bigger so do prizes to attract players.
Play lines add an additional layer to an old but among the most favorite games. Now that you know how they work and how to understand developer’s instructions on how to get them better, it gets easier for you to take advantage of this extra boost.
There are many different game types for different players. Those who are in for a real challenge can go for the biggest prize with a huge amount of paylines. But there are more conservative players that want to stick with something simpler and humbler.
Fortunately, slot offers are so vast that there are options for everyone. These are very inviting games, easy to understand, and now that you know the inside of paylines you can, definitely, plan your strategies even better. Winning is around the corner waiting for you to take a chance!
