Slot paytable explained

What a paytable is

Every slot comes with its own rulebook built in. The paytable is the part of it that answers “what pays what?”: a grid of symbols with the amount each combination returns, followed by pages on wild symbols, scatter symbols, bonus features and the pattern of paylines or ways to win. Most also give the theoretical RTP, the max win and what happens if your connection drops mid-spin.

Table games have the equivalent, usually titled Rules or Help, listing payouts for each bet: 35 to 1 for a roulette number, 3 to 2 for a blackjack, and so on.

What UK rules say a paytable must include

The Gambling Commission’s technical standards (RTS 3) require an explanation of the game rules to be easily available before you commit to gamble. Information on the chances of winning (the RTP or the probability of winning outcomes, plus how the game works) must also be available beforehand, and so must the potential prizes or how they are calculated. A pay-table is one of the methods the standard suggests. On devices with small screens, the content can sit behind a menu item or link, which is why on phones it lives behind an icon rather than on the main screen.

How to open the paytable in a casino app

1. Launch the slot and wait for the reels to load.
2. Tap the ‘i’ icon, or the three-line menu, usually in a bottom corner.
3. Choose Paytable, Game info or Help if a sub-menu appears.
4. Swipe left or scroll down to move through the pages: symbols first, then features, paylines and rules.
5. Look near the end for the RTP and max win, then tap the X or back arrow to return to the reels.

In portrait, paytables on phones usually stack symbols in a single column; rotating to landscape can show them as a grid. Our how to read a paytable on mobile guide has more screenshots described in words, and how to find a slot’s RTP in an app zooms in on that one figure.

Reading paytable values in pounds

The most common mix-up is what the numbers are multiplied by. Paytables use one of three formats, and it is usually stated at the top of the symbol page.

All three describe the same prize. Where values are shown in pounds, they change when you change your stake, so reopen the paytable after adjusting it. Older designs that use coins work slightly differently; see our coin value entry.

Low-paying symbols (often 10, J, Q, K, A) commonly return less than your total stake for a three-of-a-kind. UK slots aren’t allowed to celebrate those returns as wins, but they are still added to your balance.

What else to look for on the paytable

• RTP: the long-run return for the version you’re playing. Many games exist in several versions, so the figure can be lower than the developer’s headline; see RTP range.
• Max win: the cap on what one spin or feature can pay, often given as a multiple of stake.
• Feature triggers: how many scatters start the bonus, and whether more can be won inside it.
• Malfunction clause: a line saying malfunctions void all pays and plays, standard across the industry.
• Missing options: UK versions omit bonus buy and autoplay, so if a rules page mentions them, they won’t appear for UK accounts.

Paytables don’t list volatility consistently, but a top prize far above everything else plus a hard-to-trigger feature usually signals a high-volatility game.

Using the paytable before spending offer spins

Big Bass Bonanza, the Pragmatic Play slot used for PlayOJO’s welcome spins, is a 5-reel, 3-row game with 10 paylines; its paytable sets out the wild, the free spins trigger and how money symbols pay out during the feature. PlayOJO gives new UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland) 80 spins at 10p each, £8 in total, after a first deposit of at least £10, with winnings paid as cash and no wagering. Coral gives 100 spins at 10p each on selected slots after you deposit and bet £10 on slots, with no wagering on spin winnings; the spins must be accepted within 48 hours and used within 7 days, and some payment methods don’t qualify. 18+, terms apply. Reading the paytable of the eligible games first tells you what the spins can realistically return; our 80 free spins app page has more detail.

18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.