Slot Machine Pay Tables – Understanding Slot Game Pay Tables

When slot machines were first created, things were simple. Punters only had to keep track of a couple of paylines and symbols, with only one or two symbol types for hitting jackpots. However, with the creation of modern online slots, and the introduction of numerous bonus features, things have become more complex.

Nowadays, there is a lot more going on in most slot games, and it can be difficult to keep track of. As a result, slot game developers had to include information tables known as pay tables to get detailed information about a slot game’s symbols, payouts, prizes, jackpots and any other important information about the slot.

This blog post will explore the topic of slot machine pay tables further, including where to find the pay table, how to read it, and why it is important.

What Is a Pay Table on a Slot Machine?

A pay table on a slot machine is a chart or a table showcasing all the information you may need about the slot. That includes the available symbols, their potential payouts, and available bonus features, if any.

The pay table displays a list of the symbols the slot has, how to form a winning combination, and how much a combination of each symbol potentially pays out. It may also give detailed information about the slot game’s special features, bonuses and how the paylines work.

In addition, a slot game’s pay table is unique to that particular slot, so no two slot games will have the same pay table. Two slots from the same casino game provider may look very similar, but the information contained will be specific to that slot game alone.

How Can You Find The Pay Table on a Slot Game? 

Finding a slot game’s pay table should be relatively easy. It can usually be accessed through the game’s interface. 

While each slot game has a unique paytable, how to find it is typically in the same fashion. For example, most slot games have their pay table accessible from the information button, usually signified by an “i” or “?” button. 

For some slot games, you have to click on a trophy icon or what looks like a chart or grid icon to access the pay table information, while some have their information button accessed through the game’s Menu icon.

Some slots even just have the words “Help” or “Paytable” as a button to access it.

Slot Machine Payout Table Example

Let’s look at the Alexander The Great: World Conqueror slot game example below to help you better understand what a pay table looks like. We will break the examples into 3 sets: symbols, features, and paylines.

Symbol Pay Table

The pay table below displays the regular paying symbols in this slot game and their payouts. As you can see, the higher the number of matching symbols you land in a winning combination, the higher the payout value.

Paylines Pay Table

This is also part of the pay table, but it is displaying how the paylines work or how the combination of symbols has to land to trigger a winning combination.

Feature Pay Table

If the slot game has any bonus features, you can also find information on these in the pay table. It will provide information on how to trigger the bonus feature and what the feature entails. Remember, not every slot game has bonus features.

How To Read a Slot Machine Pay Table

Reading a slot machine’s pay table is also relatively easy. As seen from the examples above, the information from the pay table is often straightforward and detailed. It is best to read it the way it is structured in the game. 

However, we have found that it is easier to understand if you start with symbols and their payouts, then features and bonuses and paylines. But there are no hard rules.

If you are looking at the symbols table, the numbers on the left are typically the number of symbols in a combination, and the numbers on the right are typically the potential payouts the particular symbol combination awards.

The features and bonuses are usually more detailed, so all you need to do is read what’s written. The coloured boxes in the payline table example above display how the symbols should land to trigger a winning combination.

Essentially, after opening the pay table, you read through one slide and then cycle through the rest or simply scroll the page if it’s not split up into different pages/slides.

Why Are Slot Game Pay Tables Important?

Pay tables in a slot game are essential because they provide vital information that, as a player, you will need to understand the game better. Some slot games can be rather complex if they’re packed with different mechanics and features, and slot players may need extra help to understand what is happening.

The pay table can help you understand the game’s potential payouts and provide additional information on the bonuses and special features the game may have. Other games may require you to make a choice of the bonus game you want to play, so it helps to know what each option entails.

Conclusion

Understanding how to read a slot machine’s pay table may help you better understand slot games more generally, as they all share the same basic premise and a lot of them share mechanics and features or have similar ones. It can also help simplify what would have otherwise been a complicated slot game to navigate on your own. 

Therefore, the next time you start playing a slot game, it may be a good idea to check out the pay table before spinning the reels.