How to Play Multiline Slots
A multiline slot lets you win on more than one line per spin. Here is how the lines, the symbols and your bet fit together, with pictures.
Online slots guideA multiline slot is a slot with more than one payline, so a single spin can land several wins at once. Old machines had one line across the middle. Modern slots have many, running straight, diagonal or in zigzags. More lines mean more ways to win, but also a higher cost per spin, because you pay for each line you play. This guide shows you the parts of the screen, how a line pays, and how to set a bet you are happy with.
What you are looking at
Every slot has the same core parts. The reels are the columns that spin. The rows are the levels the symbols land on. A common layout is 5 reels and 3 rows, so you see 15 symbols after each spin. The bar at the bottom holds your balance, your bet and the spin button.
What a payline is
A payline is a set path across the reels. When matching symbols land along that path, you win. Most slots pay from the leftmost reel to the right, so you need the run to start on reel one. You usually need at least three matching symbols in a row on the same line.
The lines are not always straight. A slot can have a line across the top, a line across the middle, and lines that step up and down like a V or a zigzag. The picture below shows three different paylines on the same grid.
Paylines vs ways to win
Not every slot uses fixed lines. Some use a system called ways to win. Here the exact path does not matter. If matching symbols land on each reel from the left, in any row, it pays. A 5 reel, 3 row game with this system has 243 ways, because that is 3 times 3 times 3 times 3 times 3.
How to set your bet
On most multiline slots your total bet is three settings multiplied together. The coin value is the value of one unit. The bet level is how many coins you put on each line. The lines are how many are active. Change any one and your cost per spin changes.
How a spin pays
- Set your bet. Pick your coin value, bet level and how many lines to play.
- Spin. The reels stop and drop 15 symbols onto the grid.
- The game checks each active line. It looks for matching symbols from the left, on the lines you paid for.
- Wins are added up. If more than one line hits, you get paid for each. Two lines can win on the same spin.
A win on a line you did not play does not pay. That is why many players turn on every line. On modern slots the lines are often fixed on, so you play all of them by default and only pick the coin value.
Wilds and scatters
Two symbols break the normal rules. A wild stands in for most other symbols to help complete a line. A scatter pays no matter where it lands, so it does not need to sit on a payline, and it often triggers free spins or a bonus round. The paytable inside each game lists what every symbol pays, so open it before you play.
Three things to check
More lines do not mean better value on their own. Each line adds to the stake, so a 20 line spin costs more than a 5 line spin at the same coin value. Match the bet to your balance, not the other way round.
- The paytable. It shows symbol values, wilds, scatters and how the bonus works.
- The RTP and volatility. These tell you how the game pays over time and how bumpy it feels. Our RTP vs variance guide breaks it down.
- Your budget. Set a limit before you start and stick to it. Read our bankroll management guide first.
Frequently asked questions
What is a multiline slot?
A slot with more than one payline. A single spin can win on several lines at once, instead of just the one line across the middle.
Do more paylines mean I win more?
More lines give more chances to hit a win, but each line adds to your stake. You are paying for those extra chances, so the cost per spin goes up.
Which way do paylines pay?
Most pay from the leftmost reel to the right, and you usually need three or more matching symbols in a row. Some slots pay both ways, which the game rules will say.
Should I play all the lines?
Playing every line means no win is missed on a line you skipped. To keep it cheap, play all lines at the smallest coin value. Many new slots fix all lines on anyway.
What is the difference between paylines and ways to win?
Paylines pay on set paths. Ways to win pay when symbols match on each reel from the left, in any row. A 5 reel, 3 row game has 243 ways.
