Payline: Meaning and Definition
Payline is a line that crosses one symbol of each slot reel, indicating where the combination of symbols need to land for players to get paid. The casino term is used for online slots as well as slots in land-based casinos.
Summary
Paylines are used in slots and if the specific combination of symbols lands on these lines, a player wins a certain amount (depending on the symbol value and other factors). Slots differ vastly in the number of paylines, ranging from 1 to hundreds of thousands (megaways). Each slot comes with a paytable allowing players to check everything before playing.
What is Payline?
Payline is a line in slots that shows where certain slot symbols need to to show up for players to get paid. It can be straight or zig-zagging, but other versions are also in play, depending on the slot in question.
Some classic slots have only a few paylines (1-9) but there are no rules on the number that is available. For example, the series of Megaways slots have hundreds of thousands of different paylines and they’ve become quite popular among players.
Why It’s Important
Paylines are essential as they determine how winning combinations are formed on a slot machine. The higher number gives you more chances to win, but other slot factors need to be considered such as RTP and volatility.
In some online slots, players can choose which ones to activate and which to turn off, so it is important to know all existing lines that cash out.
How It’s Used
Paylines are predefined patterns and each online slot comes with a clear paytable. With each spin, the slot is programmed to check the existing lines and if there is the winning combination of symbols, pay out players.