Slot Guides
How to Read a Slot Paytable (and Why It Matters)
The paytable is the instruction manual built into every slot. A minute spent reading it tells you how the game pays, what the features do and how risky it is.
Where to find the paytable
In most online slots, the paytable sits behind an i (information) icon, a menu button with three lines, or a button labelled "Paytable" or "Game rules". On mobile it is often inside the settings menu at the bottom of the screen. It is usually several pages long, so swipe or scroll through all of it.
1. Symbol values
The first page normally lists each symbol with the amount it pays for 3, 4 or 5 matching symbols. There are two common ways of showing these values:
| Display style | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bet multiplier | Win = your total bet × the number shown | "5 × Dragon = 20x" pays RM20 on a RM1 bet |
| Live coin value | Numbers update automatically when you change your bet | Shows RM20 at RM1 bet, RM40 at RM2 bet |
Symbols are usually split into low-paying symbols (card ranks such as 10, J, Q, K, A) and high-paying symbols (themed characters or objects). If the gap between the two groups is large, most of the game's value sits in rare high-symbol combinations and features, which is a sign of higher volatility.
2. Paylines or ways to win
The next section shows how symbols must line up. Fixed-payline slots draw each line as a pattern across the reels. "Ways" slots (for example 243 or 1,024 ways) pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, in any row. Cluster slots pay for groups of touching symbols. Check whether wins pay left to right only, or in both directions.
3. Special symbols and features
Look for explanations of:
- Wild – substitutes for other symbols (check which ones it cannot replace).
- Scatter – usually pays anywhere on the reels and triggers free spins.
- Bonus symbol – triggers a separate bonus game.
- Multipliers, respins, expanding or sticky symbols – modifiers that change how wins are calculated.
Read how many scatters trigger the feature and how many free spins you receive. Our guide to wilds, scatters and multipliers explains each feature in more detail.
4. RTP, volatility and maximum win
The final pages often include the game's RTP (return to player), sometimes a volatility rating, and the maximum win as a multiple of your bet. Some games list more than one RTP because operators can choose between versions; the figure shown in the game you are playing is the one that applies. A high maximum win (for example several thousand times your bet) usually means the game is more volatile.
A quick worked example
Imagine a paytable that shows "5 × Tiger = 25x" and you bet RM0.40 per spin. Landing five tigers on an active line or way would pay 25 × RM0.40 = RM10. If the same paytable shows "3 × Scatter = 10 free spins", you now also know what triggers the feature. These numbers are illustrative, but the method works for any slot.
One-minute paytable checklist
- Are wins shown as bet multiples or live coin values?
- How many lines or ways are there, and do all of them stay active?
- What triggers free spins or the bonus game?
- What is the RTP and maximum win?
- Are there any buy-feature or ante-bet options that change the cost per spin?
For the bigger picture on RTP, volatility and jackpots, see our main Bonus888 slots guide.