Every pokie has a rule for which symbols count as a win. Older games use fixed paylines: set patterns across the reels that pay when matching symbols land on them. Many newer games use "ways", where matching symbols on neighbouring reels pay wherever they sit, or cluster pays, where touching groups of symbols pay. None of these systems is more generous by itself. They change how often you see a win and how big a typical win is, not the game's RTP.
A payline is a path across the reels, usually starting on the leftmost reel. A classic 5-reel, 3-row game might have 10, 20, 25 or 50 lines: straight rows, V shapes, zig-zags and so on. You win when three or more matching symbols land on the same line, starting from reel one. If a spin lands wins on several lines, they are added together, and on each line only the highest win is paid.
Ways games drop the lines. Matching symbols pay if they land anywhere on neighbouring reels, counting from the left. On a 5-reel, 3-row grid there are 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 243 possible paths, which is why you see "243 ways". A 5-reel, 4-row grid gives 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 1,024 ways.
When the same symbol lands more than once on a reel, each copy counts as a separate way. Example: two matching symbols on reel 1, one on reel 2 and three on reel 3 is 2 × 1 × 3 = 6 ways, and the game pays the three-of-a-kind win six times over. That is why ways games can pay a surprising amount from symbols that look scattered.
Megaways is a ways system licensed by Big Time Gaming in which the number of symbols on each reel changes every spin. On the usual six reels with up to seven symbols each, the count can reach 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways. The number shown above the reels is the ways for that spin only. Our Megaways guide explains the reels, cascades and features in detail.
Cluster games usually use a bigger grid, such as 6 × 6 or 7 × 7, and have no lines at all. A win is a group of matching symbols that touch each other horizontally or vertically, often five or more. Winning symbols are usually removed and new ones fall into the gaps, which can create another cluster on the same spin. The paytable lists how much each cluster size pays.
Some games pay when enough of the same symbol lands anywhere on the screen, for example eight or more, with no need to touch or line up. These games also tend to use cascades and multipliers. Check the paytable for the minimum count, because it differs between games.
No. The RTP is set by the studio for the whole game, and the number of lines or ways is just one part of how that return is shared out. Thousands of ways usually means more frequent small wins that are often smaller than your bet. Fewer lines usually means fewer wins of bigger size. Either way, the long-term return is what the RTP says. Our RTP and volatility guide covers how that plays out over a session.
A win smaller than your stake is still a loss for that spin. A game that shows a win on almost every spin can still drain a balance steadily, so look at the amount, not just the win animation.
A fixed path across the reels, usually starting on the leftmost reel. Three or more matching symbols on the same line pay, and wins on different lines are added together.
On a 5-reel, 3-row game, matching symbols pay if they land anywhere on neighbouring reels from the left. There are 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 243 possible paths, so there are no fixed lines.
It changes every spin. On the usual six reels with up to seven symbols each, the maximum is 117,649 ways.
A win made by a group of matching symbols that touch each other horizontally or vertically, often five or more, instead of symbols on a line.
No. The long-term return is set by the game's RTP. More lines or ways usually means more frequent but smaller wins, many of them smaller than your bet.
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