We are living, so we are told, in the information age. The wonders of the world wide web and the fact that we can access it from anywhere with our smartphones essentially puts all human knowledge and experience at our fingertips. Despite living in such grandiose times, there are still some secrets that take some cracking, and here, we will lift the lid on one of the most mysterious. It’s that strange yet intriguing phenomenon, the slot pay table.
Now if you grew up in the 1980s or 90s, you probably remember the slot games of the day in the arcades. Back then, the only way to work out what was what was either through trial and error or by watching someone more experienced. Today’s online slots are often far more complex, and while they don’t come with an instruction book, there is still plenty of information to be gleaned if you know how to interpret the pay table.
What is the pay table?
Every slot has a pay table, whether it is a virtual one online or a traditional one in your local casino. The pay table provides a summary of all the pertinent information about the game, including the following:
- How many paylines there are.
- Symbols on the reels and what they are worth
- Prizes and payouts on offer
- Betting requirements
Pay tables also appear on other games like video poker, video blackjack, 3-card poker and even roulette.
Things to check in the pay table
- Paylines – these are the patterns that pay. In traditional three reeled slots, there was one payline across the middle where the symbols needed to line up. These days there are more reels and more paylines. In general, that’s a good thing as it means more ways to win. Still, you need to know what they are, or you’ll be in for a disappointment when you get three matching symbols side by side – only to realize that the payline is a wiggly line!
- Symbols – again, in the old days, there were fruits symbols, bars, bells and maybe Lucky 7s. Modern slot games have symbols matching their theme, whether it’s football or Game of Thrones. The pay table tells you what is worth what, and also points out special symbols like scatters and wilds.
- Prizes – knowingthe relative values of symbols is one thing but collecting a serious prize can be more complicated. We all dream of hitting the jackpot. The pay table tells you how to go about doing so and what you need to achieve for the biggest prize. Also keep in mind this final consideration, though.
- Betting requirements – these are specific rules relating to wins. For example, some features are only unlocked if you wager the maximum bet. Another common feature is a wagering requirement on some bonuses, whereby that bonus must be re-bet a set number of times before you can claim it.
Some information is omitted
Working out the probability of winning at slots is pretty straightforward when you have the right information at your disposal. But that’s not always to be found in the pay table. Sometimes, it is as important to know about what isn’t there as what is.
Specifically, there are two metrics that are important to know if you are serious about playing strategically. These are the RTP and Volatility. Neither are usually found on the pay table, but both are only a Google search away in the information age! Simply look up an independent review of the game, and the figures will be right there.
RTP is essentially the reverse of the house edge. It tells you how much the game pays out for every coin wagered. So an RTP of 96 percent means for every ten dollars, pounds or Euros wagered, the game will pay on average 9.60 in winnings.
Volatility describes the manner in which it pays out. A low volatility game might spit out a few coins with every second spin, sometimes of a value even lower than the wager. Essentially, it pays “little and often” so there’s always something happening. High volatility means wins are few and far between, but when they come, they are usually impressive.
Of course, the higher the RTP the better. Volatility is more a matter of personal choice, but if you are playing with a limited bankroll, avoid the high volatility games, as you can easily spend out in 5 minutes flat with nothing happening. If you have more time and money to play with, persevere, though, and the rewards will come. Succeeding at slots demands plenty of luck, but also a little bit of strategic thinking. The pay table gives you lots of data to help you play smart – but always remember, there’s even more information out there if you know where to look.