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Understanding Online Slots Rules

 

Most newbie online slots players look at the payout table just to check the amounts paid out for each like symbol combination. They ignore the rules of the slots game because the payouts are automatically computed by the software. However, it is prudent to get a basic understanding of the rules. This article explains some of the rules.

Symbols have to appear from left to right on consecutive reels, starting from the left-most reel. If three like symbols result in a payout then these symbols must appear on reels 1, 2 and 3 in an active payline. If the symbols are on the first three reels but not on an active payline then there will be no payout. If the symbols are on an active payline but on reels 1, 3 and 4 then there will be no payout. Watch out for the rule that says payouts are also made for symbols appearing from right to left. Here the combinations must start from reel 5 and move leftwards.

In most slot games, the payout table specifies the number of coins won per coin wagered. The line payout is the product of the payout per coin, the number of coins wagered and the coin size. In some of the latest slot games the payouts shown in the table get automatically adjusted for the number of coins wagered. You should watch out for this.

The scatter symbol is unique. It does not follow the usual left to right rule. Scatter symbols pay any, meaning that the required number of scatter symbols can appear anywhere on the reels. The scatter payout is the product of the payout per coin and the total bet. The variation to watch out for in some slot games is that scatter symbols have to fall on an active payline but not consecutively from left to right.

A slots rule states “coinciding wins on different paylines are added”. In a spin winning combinations can be obtained on more than one payline. In such an event the line payouts are added together. If there is a scatter payout also, then it is added to the line payouts.

Another slots rule is “highest win only on each selected payline”. The implication is as follows. If four like symbols appear in an active payline, then three of that symbol will also appear in that payline. The player will not get paid for three symbols, but only for four. If five like symbols appear in an active payline the player will get paid only for five symbols.

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