Slot machines have evolved over the last 100 years. The machines started out as a simple three-reel game that was activated by a pull of a lever to a casino game option that features a diverse selection of themes, features, and mechanics.
Three of the most popular formats among 21st century slots players are payline slots, Ways to Win slot machines and Megaway slot machines. Each offers a unique gameplay with plenty of potential for real money wins.
Gamers who don’t understand the difference in these games are likely to overlook the features of each and the pros and cons that each presents.
Grande Vegas casino players are invited to read this guide to these two types of slots so that they can decide which is best for their personal gaming style, expectations, betting preference and gaming level.
Payline Slots
Payline slots are the classic slots format for three-reel and five-reel video slots. In these games, the player wins when s/he matches symbols along specific lines across the reels.
These lines are the paylines which are preset paths that run across the reels horizontally, diagonally, or in zigzag patterns. With payline slots, the number of ways to achieve a winning combination is fixed and is generally limited to a set number of lines (number of paylines typically ranges from 1 to 50, though sometimes there are more).
Players can choose the number of paylines that they want to activate which is a strong draw for gamers who want to exercise a level of control over their bet size and risk.
Payline slots offer increased probabilities for wins but games with massive numbers of paylines take their toll on the gamer’s bankroll since you have to enable a payline in order to collect on the win that occurs on that payline. When you play a payline slot machine you must learn to balance your bet amounts with a calculation on how many of the paylines to enable.
Let’s say that you play a slot with 25 paylines and place a bet of $0.02 on each line. Therefore, there’s a total bet of $0.50 on the spin. If you win one payline, you’ll win $0.20 but you’ll still lose $0.30. Yet, if you win on 2 lines, your total win will be $0.30 and your total loss will be $0.20 – not bad.
All in all, payline slots deliver slightly higher winning payouts per payline than megaways slots.
Ways to Win Slots
Ways to Win slots are operated with a random reel-modifier mechanic so instead of having fixed paylines, you get hundreds (sometimes thousands, sometimes tens of thousands ) of ways to win. In a Ways to Win slot, the number of symbols that appear on each reel varies with every spin. Wins are paid out based on three or more symbols aligning across different axes of reels. Ways to Win reels expand and contract which creates a more volatile and unpredictable experience with high rewards and a thrilling gameplay style.
In a Ways to Win slot, you don’t bet on each individual payline. Instead, you bet at a flat rate on each spin of the reels. There’s a higher rate-per-spin in this type of machine. You can play at a budget level for $0.20 per spin or up to $0.50 per spin, at your leisure.
Between the theoretical chances of winning and this wagering system, Ways to Win slots are seen by casino advisors to offer the best value for your money. Another factor to take into consideration is that volatility of Ways to Win slot machines are often lower than they are for payline slots. If you’re careful to not mix up the certainty of a win with improved chances and possibilities, you might find Ways to Win slot machines to your liking.
Just remember that in a Ways to Win slot, you’ll have less control over the gameplay because there are fewer decisions to be made. In general, these games are suggested for less experienced gamers because there are fewer decisions with more easily identifiable results.
MegaWays Slot Machines
MegaWays slots build on the Ways to Win slot machines, adding one simple element that turns the gameplay on its head. MegaWays games feature a variable number or symbol on each reel in every spin so the number of winning combinations is endless.
Each reel of a Megaways slot can display between eight different symbols, with the number of symbols displaying changing from one spin to the next. Some Megaways slots have 5 reels and some have 6 so, obviously, the more reels, the more symbols and the more opportunities to complete winning paylines.
What happens in a Megaways slot is that the number of symbols changes on each reel every time the reels spin. The reels are changeable and the symbols’ height can vary from one spin to the next. For instance, on a spin, you might have 3 symbols on reel 1, two symbols on reel 2, five on reel 3, four on reel 4, seven on reel 5, and six on reel 6. On the next spin, the sequence will be different.
If you complete a combination on the six reels at 2 symbols per wheel, you will see a 64x win on your bet. (2x2x2x2x2x2=64.). As the number of symbols on each reel changes, the outcomes can grow to create bigger and better wins.
Megaways slots tend to be low variance games meaning that you get more wins with lower payouts. But if you’re lucky and score some high-rolling spins, that means that you’re going to enjoy some big wins!
Casino advisors suggest that you try out the different types of games in the free mode to get a better idea of which type of slots best suit your gaming preferences, skill level, and budget.
