3 Things to Learn from a Paytable

Most slot games have a paytable. It will either be accessed via a button to click on the game screen, or in the case of three-reel games, it might appear next to the reels themselves.

Either way, there is a lot you can learn from these paytables. Read on to find out more about them.

You'll learn which symbol combinations win prizes

All slots are packed with symbols. Get enough of one symbol in the right places, and you can win a prize. The paytable will reveal what you need to do to win something, and what each symbol is worth.

You will usually be required to get at least three matching symbols on a paid line to trigger a prize. Occasionally, you might have some lower-value symbols included, and these can award prizes for just two or more in some instances.

You'll discover how any bonus features are triggered

Free spins, bonus features, and instant prizes can all crop up in slot games. However, you need to achieve the correct trigger to gain access to them. The paytable will tell you what you need to do, and reveal how the bonus feature will be played. Some of them will have screenshots to give you an idea of what to expect, as well as including all the relevant rules and instructions.

You can usually see what the return-to-player percentage (RTP) is

This is the most important figure you can find out about any slot game. It is shown as a percentage, i.e. 96% or 97.2%. The higher the percentage, the better the payout to the player.

Remember though, this is the percentage return you can expect over a long period of playing the game. You could get a payout far less than the amount you pay into the machine, or you could hit the progressive jackpot and win far more than you played. You simply never know. However, it's good to know that percentage, and the paytable is usually where you will find it.

Our best tip: Always check the paytable prior to playing a new game

If you're playing a game you're already familiar with, you probably won't need to look at the paytable. However, if you want to try something new, look at the paytable before you begin play. It means you can see exactly how the game is played, and the kinds of prizes that could be waiting for you.