The slot machines of yesteryear featured simple, single paylines that ran across the center row of symbols. But over the past decade, game developers have gotten far more creative with payline configurations. Modern slots contain myriad multiway paylines that zigzag, crisscross and arrow across the reels in elaborate webs.
This complex payline structure has definite advantages for players. With more paying lines in action, there are more ways to hit winning combinations during each spin. Certain multiway slot variants even remove the concept of paylines altogether, instead paying out for adjacent symbol matches regardless of pattern or position.
However, the increase in paylines also ramps up the betting requirements. Whereas old-school slots allowed wagers on a single payline, placing bets now requires covering the many paylines in play. This can quickly escalate the cost per spin. Additionally, the extra visual noise from zigzagging paylines can confuse some users.
So how do you make sense of the tangled web of paylines on a modern multiway slot machine? Here we’ll explore the structure of these games and provide tips for strategizing your wagers.
Multiway Payline Basics
Today’s video slots on platforms like Lucky Ones online casino employ various configurations of multiway paylines:
- Multiway X slots – Have a fixed number (X) of paylines that span the reels in different patterns. For example, a multiway 25 slot machine has 25 distinct paying lines.
- Reel Power slots – Divide each reel into a set number of positions, with paylines running through each position on adjacent reels. A 243 Ways slot machine contains 5 reels with 3 positions per reel, equaling 243 potential lines.
- Megaways slots – Utilize a variable number of rows per reel to create thousands of payline possibilities across the game grid. The number of ways continually shifts during play.
| Slot Type | Payline Structure | Number of Paylines | Sample Games |
| Multiway X | Fixed sets of paylines in different shapes | 25, 50, 100, etc. | Merlin’s Magic Respins, Fortunes of the Amazons |
| Reel Power | Paylines running through reel positions | 243, 1024, etc. | Book of Ra Deluxe, Big Bad Wolf |
| Megaways | Continually shifting paylines | Up to 117,649 | Bonanza, Tetris Super Jackpots |
These categories all bring extra winning potential through expanded paylines. But they also hike the line bet costs, as wagers must be placed to cover the various lines. We’ll break down strategies for managing multiline bets next.
Wagering Efficiently on Multiway Slots
Having more eligible paylines is only beneficial if you’re wagering on those lines. Yet with 50, 100, or even thousands of ways in action, this can get prohibitively expensive.
Let’s use the example of a hypothetical multiway slot with 20 selectable paylines. Wagering $0.20 per line would cost $4.00 per spin. But covering all 117,649 ways on some Megaways games at $0.20 would mean a gut-wrenching $23,529.80 bet!
Clearly, most casual players won’t be spending five-figure sums per spin. So what’s the best approach to place affordable bets while still hitting enough lines for a shot at decent payouts?
Paylines vs. Total Bet
Rather than looking at the sheer number of active paylines, focus instead on your total bet amount as the bottom line. Ultimately, whether you trigger 10 lines at $0.40 per line or 40 lines at $0.10 per line, the end result is a $4.00 spin cost.
Consider both factors to strike the right balance for your bankroll. Activating more lines boosts winning chances, but may require reducing the line bet to sustain the total stake.
Evaluate Pay Table Volatility
Study the game’s pay table closely to gauge volatility levels before tailoring your bets. Slots with frequent small hits can support covering more lines at reduced wagers. But for games focused on big jackpots through rare wins, covering fewer lines at higher stakes may suit better.
Use Auto Bet for Baseline
Most multiway slots have an Auto Bet function that automatically covers all lines at a set amount. Observe it in action to see payout potential at different totals. Then you can manually configure lower/higher bets from there.
Payline Tip: On slots with selectable paylines, covering higher-numbered lines usually costs more, as they often have wider coverage. Lower lines concentrate in the center and are cheaper to activate.
Consider Bonus Frequency
If a slot machine has lucrative bonus rounds that hit regularly, cheaper multiline bets can yield frequent access to these features. But games with harder-to-trigger bonuses may warrant bigger bets despite less line coverage.
Final Thoughts
While their sheer number of paylines can seem dizzying at first, a little familiarity makes multiway slots manageable. View paylines as means to an end ‒ a vehicle toward winning combinations ‒ rather than an end unto themselves.
Monitor factors like volatility and bonuses when judging the payline versus bet amount tradeoff for your style of play. And use handy auto bet tools to observe the pay potential of max lines/bets before configuring your own custom wagers.
Approaching multiline slots with an analytical eye helps unravel their convoluted payline webs. Over time, games with tens of thousands of ways will become less baffling as you grasp the essential betting dynamics underlying any modern slot machine.
Other Articles
