Slot features explained
Slot features explained in plain English: how paylines, ways to win, Megaways and cluster pays decide what counts as a win, what wilds, scatters, cascades, multipliers and hold and win add on top, and which features UK rules restrict.
By the BonusKing editorial team. Last checked .
Slot features: the two jobs a mechanic can do
Slot features fall into two groups, and knowing which is which makes any game easier to read. The first group sets the win structure, the rule for which symbol positions count as a win: paylines, ways to win, Megaways, cluster pays and scatter pays. The second group changes what happens on or after a spin: wilds, scatters, cascading reels, multipliers, respins, hold and win, and bonus spin rounds triggered by scatter symbols.
No feature changes a game's published RTP. Features change how the return is spread: more frequent small wins, or rarer big ones. That spread is what developers describe as volatility.
Paylines, ways and Megaways compared
The number of ways to win is simple multiplication. On a 5-reel, 3-row grid where wins run from the leftmost reel on adjacent reels, each reel offers 3 positions, so there are 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 243 ways. Add a fourth row and it becomes 1,024. Megaways varies the number of symbols on each reel every spin; six reels showing seven symbols each give the familiar maximum of 117,649.
| Win structure | What counts as a win | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Paylines | Matching symbols along set lines | Book of Dead: 10 paylines |
| Ways to win | Matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left | Buffalo Blitz 2: 4,096 ways |
| Megaways | Like ways, but reel heights change each spin | Bonanza Megaways: up to 117,649 ways |
| Cluster pays | A group of touching matching symbols | Sugar Rush: 5 or more connected symbols |
| Scatter pays | Enough matching symbols anywhere on the grid | Sweet Bonanza: 8 or more matching symbols |
More ways doesn't mean better value: payouts per combination are scaled to the structure. Megaways was developed by Big Time Gaming; its Bonanza Megaways, released in December 2016, shows two to seven symbols on each of six reels. Compare two structures on our Megaways against cluster pays page.
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Which slot features to learn first
Start with wilds and scatters, because almost every slot uses them: a standard wild replaces other symbols except scatters, and scatters pay anywhere and usually trigger the bonus. Then read about cascading reels, where winning symbols vanish and new ones drop in so one spin can pay several times, and multipliers, which scale wins and drive most of the very large max wins.
Studios also brand their own mechanics. Nolimit City's xWays and xNudge expand reels or grow wild multipliers, and progressive jackpots take a share of each stake to build a prize pool. Our slot reviews show which features each game uses.
Slot features and UK rules
Some features are shaped by UK rules. Since a Gambling Commission warning in January 2020, feature buy-ins are not offered to British players, so you reach bonus rounds only through normal play; see buy feature. Turbo, quick spin and slam stop are banned, though the speed rule doesn't apply inside bonus games where no extra stake is placed, under RTS 14 (opens in a new tab). Gamble features, which let you risk a win for a chance to double it, are not banned; whether a game offers one depends on the game. Autoplay has been banned on UK slots since 31 October 2021.
18+. Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: safer gambling tools and support. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between paylines and ways to win?
Paylines pay only when matching symbols land along set lines across the reels. Ways-to-win games pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left, in any row, so a 5-reel, 3-row grid gives 243 ways and a 5-reel, 4-row grid gives 1,024. Neither is better value in itself, because payouts are scaled to the structure. See ways to win for worked examples.
How do Megaways slots work?
Megaways slots change how many symbols each reel shows on every spin, between two and seven in Bonanza, so the number of ways to win changes too. With six reels each showing seven symbols, there are 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 117,649 ways. Big Time Gaming developed the mechanic and licenses it to other studios; Bonanza (December 2016) is a well-known example. Our Megaways page explains more.
Are gamble features banned on UK slots?
No. A gamble feature lets you risk a win for a chance to double or quadruple it, often by guessing a card colour or suit. The Gambling Commission's stake limit guidance even includes an example of an optional prize gamble within a game cycle that needs no extra stake. Whether a particular slot offers one depends on the game. See our gamble feature page for how it works and what it costs.
What does a wild symbol do?
A standard wild substitutes for other symbols to complete a winning combination, usually for every symbol except scatters. Many slots add twists: sticky wilds stay in place for several spins, expanding wilds fill a reel, and some wilds carry multipliers. Whether a wild can stand in for bonus symbols varies, so check the game's rules. Our wilds page covers each type with examples.