A payline is a fixed path across the reels on which matching symbols must land to pay, usually starting from the leftmost reel. A slot can have one line or a hundred, or replace lines with "ways to win", where any matching symbols on adjacent reels count. The number of lines changes how often small wins land and how the bet is split. It does not change the slot's RTP.
This guide explains each payline system, how lines set the price of a spin in shillings, and how many lines the slots in our catalogue actually use.
How paylines work
Each line is a pattern drawn across the reels: straight rows, V shapes, zigzags. A win needs the required number of matching symbols on one line, normally on consecutive reels from the left. The game's info screen shows every line as a small diagram, numbered.
- Each line pays only its highest win.
- Wins on different lines are added together.
- Wilds substitute on the line; scatters usually pay or trigger features wherever they land, off the lines.
- Some games pay both ways, left to right and right to left, which raises the number of winning patterns without adding lines.
Fixed and adjustable paylines
On a fixed-lines slot every line plays on every spin, and you only choose the stake. Most modern video slots work this way. On an adjustable slot you can switch lines off to lower the stake, but a combination on a switched-off line pays nothing, and some features or jackpots need all lines active.
The price of a spin is the line bet times the number of lines: 25 lines at KSh 0.40 per line is KSh 10 a spin, 50 lines at KSh 0.40 is KSh 20. When you compare slots, compare the total bet per spin, not the line bet. For low-stake play see our penny slots guide.
Ways to win, Megaways and pay-anywhere slots
Ways to win
Instead of drawn lines, a ways slot pays for matching symbols in any position on adjacent reels from the left. The count is simple arithmetic: the number of symbol positions on each reel multiplied together. Five reels of three rows give 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 243 ways; five reels of four rows give 1,024. See our 243 ways to win slots.
Megaways
Big Time Gaming's Megaways mechanic changes how many symbols land on each reel every spin, so the number of ways changes too. With six reels of up to seven symbols the maximum is 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways, the figure Big Time Gaming lists for Bonanza. Browse more in our Megaways slots.
Cluster and pay-anywhere slots
Some games drop lines altogether. Cluster slots such as Gemix pay for groups of touching symbols on a grid. Pay-anywhere slots pay for enough matching symbols anywhere on screen: Pragmatic Play's Gates of Olympus pays for 8 or more matching symbols anywhere on its tumbling reels. See scatter pays slots for more.
How many paylines slots really have
Our catalogue records a payline or ways count for 823 slots. The median is 20 lines, and two in three slots (67%) use between 10 and 50 lines.
| Lines or ways | Slots | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1–9 lines | 140 | 17.0% |
| 10–20 lines | 329 | 40.0% |
| 21–50 lines | 224 | 27.2% |
| 51–100 lines | 15 | 1.8% |
| 101–1,023 (mostly ways) | 14 | 1.7% |
| 243 ways | 64 | 7.8% |
| 1,024 ways | 12 | 1.5% |
| More than 1,024 ways | 25 | 3.0% |
For you this means the classic 10–25-line video slot is still the standard, and slots with more than 100 lines are rare: past that point studios switch to ways. Ways and Megaways games make up about one slot in eight with a recorded count. A few of our listings are wrong (some pay-anywhere games carry a line count), so confirm the system in the game's info screen. Browse multi-payline slots or 3-reel slots with a handful of lines.
Do more paylines mean better odds?
More lines or ways mean more combinations can pay on a spin, so wins land more often. They are usually smaller, because the same stake is spread across all those combinations, and many of the wins are less than your total bet. The share of stakes the slot pays back over time is its RTP, and that is set by the maths model, not by the line count.
Choose a payline system for how you like to play: few lines for a simple game you can follow, 20–50 lines or 243 ways for frequent small hits, Megaways for reels that change shape on every spin. Try new systems in the free demo first, and set your stake per spin to fit your budget. Slots are for adults 18+ only; see our responsible gaming page.
