Online slots a long way since the classic three-reel games with a single payline. Modern video slots offer players more ways to win through varied payline configurations. Two popular styles are multiway slots and traditional payline slots.
What are multiway slots?
Multiway slots don’t have set paylines in the traditional sense. Instead of paying left to right only on specified lines, multiway slots evaluate winning combinations in numerous directions. Symbols can form payouts on diagonal lines, in zigzags, and other patterns across the reels. This opens up many more potential ways to win compared to fixed payline games. That’s where the “multiway” name comes from – you can form winning combinations in multiple ways.
How do multiway games work?
On a typical multiway slot, every possible winning pattern is active. You don’t choose how many lines to play or bet per line. Simply select your total bet and spin the reels. Wins are awarded when matching symbols land adjacently on consecutive reels starting from the left side. For example, a five-reel multiway slot with three rows has 243 possible winning patterns. A symbol appearing on the first reel can combine with symbols on reels 2 through 5 to produce a win as long as they connect. Certain multiway slots use formats like Megaways that have thousands or even millions of ways you can hit winning combinations! The more potential patterns, the greater your overall chances of landing payouts.
Advantages of multiway slot games
There are a few key benefits that multiway slots have over traditional payline games:
- More excitement – With wins possible in multiple directions, multiway slots create anticipation with every spin. Any symbol pattern could produce a payout.
- Better winning chances – You don’t have to hope symbols line up exactly left to right. Multiway mechanics give you more ways to hit winners.
- Simple gameplay – There are no complicated decisions about paylines or bets per line. Just set your total wager and go for big wins!
- Cascading wins – Many multiway slots feature cascading symbols that disappear after wins and get replaced to allow ongoing wins from a single spin.
If you enjoy action-packed gameplay and piles of payouts, multiway slots are likely the better choice. The flexibility of how symbols pay and the potential for cascading wins make these games thrilling and lucrative.
How do payline slots work?
In contrast to the freeform nature of multiway Balislot88, payline games have set paylines that must be activated symbols landing on enabled lines from the leftmost reel to the right produce wins. Payline slots also have higher variance given the defined winning patterns. When you play a payline slot, you choose how many lines you want to activate per spin. More paylines mean more ways you can hit winning combos. However, you also have to wager extra per line to cover each one. Unlike multiway slots where all patterns pay, payline games involve strategy in selecting active lines. The obvious trade-off is spending more to unlock additional ways to win versus betting less but lowering your odds.
