Gambling attracts many people. The question arises: “Why?”. The thing is that the tendency to compete is inherent in us through millions of years of evolution. This is something that is characteristic not only of humans, but of a biological species. Any living creature on our planet constantly competes with other representatives of its species, and not only for territory, resources and “a place under the sun”. We like to compete, compete and win. This is our nature. That is why gambling exists, because to one degree or another, each of us has a tendency to gamble.
Today it doesn't have to be a competition with other people. Many people prefer technology - slot machines. Are you one of those who has always been interested in, How do paylines work? in slots? That's what we propose to talk about in this article.
What are paylines in slots?
Most people, when playing, do not try to calculate anything much, because they are sure that everything depends only on luck, so all that remains is to hope for its mercy. Of course, this is not entirely true. This is not random on 100%, as most people think. There is a certain algorithm and its own rules. Generally speaking, there is paylines. What is it? These are specific paths on the reels, along which winning combinations are formed. In other words, this is a specific path on the reels, on which you need to collect the necessary symbols to win. They determine how the player receives payments.
Previously, slots only had one horizontal payline. Today, this is not always the case, or rather, not at all. In most cases, video slots can have hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of winning combinations. What caused this expansion? Firstly, it was done to make the game more interesting. Secondly, to increase its complexity.
And what are they like, these same win lines in slots? There are several varieties:
- Horizontal – classic lines that run across the reels from left to right or in both directions.
- Diagonal – run at an angle, forming winning combinations from top to bottom or vice versa.
- Zigzag and broken – winning symbols can be arranged in complex patterns that connect different reels.
How does it all work?
Those who have played at least once know the process well. During each spin of the reel, a certain combination of symbols appears on the screen. If they form a winning sequence, then the player is lucky and receives a win. By the way, there is a certain variability in terms of the type of lines. Sometimes the player himself has the opportunity to choose how many lines to activate. It also happens that there is no such choice. What does it depend on? There are two options: fixed paylines - this is when their number is set by the developer, and they are all active in each spin, and variable - in their case, the player can choose how many lines to activate.
For example, if we are talking about fixed ones and it is stipulated that the machine has 30 paylines, then the player cannot reduce their number, even if he really wants to.
Otherwise, with the same number (30 pieces), only 10 or 15 can be activated, which will reduce the total bet, but also reduce the probability of winning. In short, the player has the right to decide.
This is what it is all about. the difference between fixed and variable paylines.
How do paylines affect winnings in slots?
Everything is quite simple here, because the more lines, the more chances of winning. This is due to the fact that the number of active paylines directly affects the frequency of winnings. Should the player prefer those slots where there are as many of them as possible, you ask? Not quite! It is worth remembering that the more paylines are activated, the higher the bet per spin. That is why there are many options. The balance is maintained, and each player can choose what best suits his preferences. Somewhere the chances of winning are higher, but the risks are also greater. And somewhere there are fewer chances, but you can enjoy the game longer and not worry about every loss.
AND Which slots have the most paylines?? As mentioned above, classic slot machines usually had 1–5 paylines. This was quite enough at one time, but nothing stands still and everything changes. This area is no exception. Today, video slots offer from ten to a hundred. At the same time, some modern slot machines have unique mechanics that allow you to get even more winning combinations.
Slots with 243 or more paylines
It was about them that was mentioned at the end of the previous section. Agree, two hundred and forty-three is much more than a hundred. Here, the whole peculiarity lies in the mechanism. The nuance is that instead of classic paylines, winning combinations are formed when identical symbols appear on adjacent reels, regardless of their exact location. This significantly increases the chances of winning. In addition, 243 is not the maximum number. There are even more advanced options, such as 1024 ways to win, 3125 ways to win and even 117,649 Megaways.
What does "Megaways" mean in slots?
This is a unique technology that appeared not so long ago, but is already actively used all over the world. The patent for it belongs to the famous company Big Time Gaming. What does it give? It allows you to dynamically change the number of symbols on the reels in each spin.
For example, if you look at a classic reel, you will see a certain fixed number of symbols. Usually it is three or five. In Megaways, this parameter changes randomly, which creates up to 117,649 possible winning combinations.
AND How is the payline win calculated?? Essentially, it depends on three factors: the number of symbols in the combination, their value, and the total bet per spin.
Let's summarize
So, it is safe to say that paylines are the foundation of every modern slot machine. Their number and technological features directly affect the probability of winning and the choice of game strategy. In other words, this must be taken into account before starting the game.
