A Deep Dive Into Slots Pay tables
Getting paid is right up there among the joys in life; your favorite meal, a smile from your crush, a
national holiday, and getting that sweet, sweet cash. So it stands that paytables should also be a
joy, right? Wrong! Unless you’re a big fan of math then paytables can be a pretty boring
experience. But it’s worth it to learn how to study paytables if you’re serious about playing slots
and actually getting a win. Ready?
Great. So you’ve decided to start playing online slots in South Africa. You’ve got your game titles
ready, and provider chosen. Understand how paytables work. Or do you?
What is a paytable?
A paytable is that boring-looking fixed screen that you might accidentally wander across when
you are looking at settings or accidentally pressing a button when you’re playing a slot game.
These paytables will show the symbols from the game alongside the payouts for each number of
the symbols you score on a line – at a minimum. The paytable will also list more complex rules
with other symbols such as wild, scatter, and any other special symbols in the game.
While most paytables take up only one screen, for more complex games there may be multiple
screens. This is especially true when games have one or more features, each with their own set
of rules, and even with their own sets of symbols! When games become this complex, it can be
tricky to decipher whether you’re actually getting a good deal playing or not. So, how can you
tell?
How to read pay tables
Basic paytables are pretty easy to understand. For instance, playing a five reel game, you might
have a Queen symbol, and it will have a series of numbers for five, four, and three of a kind. If you
have the right paylines enabled and you hit five, four, or three of that Queen, you’ll receive the
number allocated next to it as your payout. Obviously, the more pay lines you have enabled, the
more chances you have to win.
Unfortunately, paytables do not disclose how many of a given symbol is on each reel or how long
a reel is. If you were able to figure that out, you would be able to figure out your chances of
hitting those five or three Queens.
Let’s say, for example, the payout for five Queens was 20,000. You would then expect that the
chances of hitting that would be extremely low. You might also surmise that one of the reels is
very long and only has one Wild symbol on it, to substitute for a Queen – if substitutes for the
Queen are even available!
As you can see, you might want to think a little more critically when it comes to examining
paytables, rather than just taking a cursory glance.
How about feature paytables?
When you come across a game that has different paytables for feature games, this is where you
need to pay close attention! Although features may seem extremely exciting and novel, you
might find that their paytables represent far less exciting numbers – especially if there are
different symbols involved. For instance, a paytable may show that three tiaras trigger two free
spins instead of a payout. If you love to play feature-based games then it is imperative you take a
close eye to the feature paytables.
When you come across a game that has different paytables for feature games, this is where you
need to pay close attention! Although features may seem extremely exciting and novel, you
might find that their paytables represent far less exciting numbers – especially if there are
different symbols involved. For instance, a paytable may show that three tiaras trigger two free
spins instead of a payout. If you love to play feature-based games then it is imperative you take a
close eye to the feature paytables.
When you come across a game that has different paytables for feature games, this is where you
need to pay close attention! Although features may seem extremely exciting and novel, you
might find that their paytables represent far less exciting numbers – especially if there are
different symbols involved. For instance, a paytable may show that three tiaras trigger two free
spins instead of a payout. If you love to play feature-based games then it is imperative you take a
close eye to the feature paytables.
When you come across a game that has different paytables for feature games, this is where you
need to pay close attention! Although features may seem extremely exciting and novel, you
might find that their paytables represent far less exciting numbers – especially if there are
different symbols involved. For instance, a paytable may show that three tiaras trigger two free
spins instead of a payout. If you love to play feature-based games then it is imperative you take a
close eye to the feature paytables.
Games developers are not here to help you win more money, after all. They are here to provide a
thrilling experience while keeping their margins strong. While feature games are alluring, they
may not always be the best games to play for a good win. Instead, many players look to jackpot
games which are guaranteed to pay out at some time or other.
Playing with a legitimate casino
Games providers must be governed by strict rules of play so you know that you’re not getting
burned during play. In examining paytables it’s also important to check out the RTP (Return to
Player) of the game. This percentage (e.g. 97%) represents the overall amount you’ll get back out
of every one dollar (or Rand, or Baht, etc.) as your plays tend to infinity. The volatility of the game
also matters. A highly volatile game means that wins hit less often but they might be bigger
amounts, whereas a low volatility game might provide lower wins but will pay out more often.
There are a lot of things to think about in the quest for the perfect slot game to play if you’d like a
win. The best way to discover what works for you is to get out and discover a range of different
titles and styles of play to see what works best for you and your own personal style of gaming.
Author’s Bio:
Seasoned writer Shanna Sahein is a force to be reckoned with in the realm of online gaming. Her
collaborations with a plethora of casinos and dedicated news websites shows how she was
made for such a job! She eats sleeps and breathes anything related to online casinos or sports
betting. Her innate ability to write informative reviews in a fluid manner that’s not only enjoyable
to read but also extremely informative.
