How to Read a Slot Paytable: A Step-by-Step Guide
Updated November 2026
Every slot has a paytable, and most players never open it. That is a mistake, because the paytable tells you exactly how the game pays, what each symbol is worth, how the bonus is triggered and how much the game returns over time. Two minutes with it can tell you more than an hour of spinning.
This guide shows you how to read a slot paytable step by step. You do not need to deposit anything to follow along: open any game on our free slot demos, find the info screen and work through it with us.
What You Need Before You Start
- A slot open in demo mode. We will use examples that work on almost any modern game.
- Your bet size set to something simple, such as 1.00, so the maths is easy.
- Two minutes. Seriously, that is all this takes once you know where to look.
Once you can read a paytable, you'll spot the games worth your money in seconds. When you're ready to try one for real, our vetted casino picks are a good place to start.
How to Read a Slot Paytable in 7 Steps
Step 1: Open the Info Screen
Look for an "i" icon, a menu icon with three lines, or a button labelled "Paytable", "Game Info" or "Rules". On mobile it is often hidden in the settings menu. The paytable usually opens as a series of pages or a scrolling screen. Read it in order the first time, because studios tend to put the most important information first.
Step 2: Check How Wins Are Formed
Before symbol values mean anything, you need to know what counts as a win. Modern slots use one of four main systems:
| System | How a Win Forms | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Paylines | Matching symbols on a fixed line, usually from the leftmost reel | 10 or 20 lines drawn on a diagram |
| Ways to Win | Matching symbols on adjacent reels, any row, from left to right | 243 ways on a 5x3 grid |
| Cluster Pays | A group of touching symbols, horizontally or vertically | 5 or more matching symbols in a cluster |
| Pay Anywhere | A minimum number of a symbol anywhere on the grid | 8 or more of a symbol on screen |
Some games change the number of ways on every spin. Megaways slots can reach over 100,000 ways, and Nolimit City's xWays games, such as San Quentin, expand individual symbols to add ways. The paytable will explain the system the game uses with a diagram.
Step 3: Read the Symbol Values
This is the part most people think of as the paytable: a grid of symbols with numbers next to them. The numbers show what each symbol pays for 3, 4, 5 or more of a kind. Premium symbols, often characters or themed items, pay the most. Low-value symbols, often card royals (A, K, Q, J, 10), pay the least but land far more often.
There are two common ways to show the values, and mixing them up is the most common paytable mistake.
Step 4: Work Out Whether Values Are Multipliers or Cash Amounts
Multipliers of your bet. Many modern paytables show values like "5x" or "x5". That means the win is your total bet multiplied by that number. At a 1.00 bet, 5x pays 5.00.
Cash amounts that update with your bet. Other games show actual currency values that change when you change your stake. Try it: change your bet in the demo and reopen the paytable. If the numbers moved, the paytable is showing cash amounts for your current bet.
On older payline slots, values can be based on the line bet rather than the total bet. If a game has 20 lines and you bet 1.00 in total, each line is worth 0.05, and the paytable value is multiplied by that. The rules page will say which applies.
Step 5: Find the Wild, Scatter and Bonus Symbols
These symbols usually get their own page. Look for:
- Wild: substitutes for other symbols. Check whether it substitutes for scatters (usually not) and whether it carries a multiplier.
- Scatter: pays or triggers features wherever it lands. Check how many you need, often 3, and whether it can land on every reel.
- Special symbols: anything unique to the game, such as coin symbols with cash values, collector symbols or symbols that expand.
Step 6: Read How the Bonus Works
The feature pages explain what happens when you trigger the bonus: how many free spins you get, whether multipliers grow, whether spins can be retriggered and what the different bonus levels do. Many high-volatility games have more than one bonus, with the best version needing more scatters.
If the game has a bonus buy, the cost is shown here or on the buy screen, usually as a multiple of your bet. A buy priced at 100x costs 100.00 at a 1.00 bet. Some games list a slightly different RTP for bought bonuses than for the base game.
Step 7: Find the RTP, Max Win and Small Print
Scroll to the end of the rules. This is where you find the numbers that matter most for your bankroll:
- RTP (return to player): the long-term percentage of bets the game pays back, for example 96.03% for San Quentin. Studios often make several RTP versions, and the rules show the one running where you play. Our guide to RTP explains why it can differ between casinos.
- Maximum win: the cap on a single round, often written as a multiple of your bet. San Quentin's is 150,000x, while its sequel San Quentin 2: Death Row goes up to 200,000x. When a round hits the cap, it ends and pays the maximum.
- Malfunction rule: a line saying a malfunction voids all pays and plays. It is standard, but worth knowing.
A Worked Example
Imagine a five-reel slot with this simplified paytable, shown as multipliers of your total bet:
| Symbol | 3 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 5 of a Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Skull (Premium) | 1x | 5x | 20x |
| Red Gem | 0.5x | 2x | 8x |
| A | 0.2x | 0.5x | 1.5x |
| 10 | 0.1x | 0.3x | 1x |
You bet 1.00 and land four Gold Skulls from the left on a winning line. That pays 5x your bet, so 5.00. On the same spin, three Aces land on another line for 0.2x, so 0.20. Your total win is 5.20.
Now notice what the table tells you about the game. A full line of the lowest symbol pays only 1x, so most base-game wins will be smaller than your stake. That is normal for a high-volatility slot. It means the game saves most of its value for the bonus, and that you should expect long runs of small or no wins.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming "5x" means five times the line bet. Check whether the multiplier applies to your total bet or your line bet.
- Ignoring the minimum match. Pay-anywhere games often need 8 or more symbols, so 7 pays nothing.
- Missing the RTP version. The same game can run at different RTPs. Always check the rules where you are playing.
- Treating max win as likely. It is a ceiling, not a target. Very few rounds come close.
- Skipping the bonus rules. Retrigger limits and multiplier rules change how good a bonus really is.
Tips to Get More From a Paytable
- Compare the top premium value to the bonus buy price. It gives you a quick feel for where the game keeps its value.
- Read our review alongside the paytable. Our scored slot reviews break down features in plain English.
- Check the paytable again after a game update. Studios sometimes change features or RTP options.
- Use the paytable to choose, not to chase. It tells you how a game behaves, not when it will pay.
Practise for Free
The fastest way to get comfortable is to open three or four different games and read each paytable side by side. Try a cluster game, a ways game and a classic payline slot, and you will spot the patterns in minutes. Our slot demos let you do all of this with play money, and upcoming releases show you what is coming next.
Once you know how to read a paytable, you are in a much better position to pick games that suit your bankroll. If you then want to play for real, see the crypto casinos we currently recommend, each checked for payout speed and fair bonus terms.
Found a slot whose paytable you like? Play the free demo first, then compare today's top crypto casino offers to get the most out of your first deposit.
Final Thoughts
A paytable is the closest thing a slot has to an honest instruction manual. It tells you how wins form, what symbols are worth, how the bonus works, the RTP and the maximum you can win. It cannot tell you when a win will land, because every spin is random.
Make reading it a habit before you play any new game, and set a budget before you start. Our responsible gambling page has tools and support if you need them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do I Find a Slot's Paytable?
Look for an "i" icon, a three-line menu icon or a button labelled Paytable, Game Info or Rules. On mobile it is often inside the settings menu. The paytable opens as a set of pages covering symbol values, features and the game rules, including RTP and max win.
What Does 5x Mean on a Slot Paytable?
On most modern slots, 5x means the win is five times your total bet, so a 1.00 bet pays 5.00. On some older payline games the multiplier applies to the line bet instead, which is your total bet divided by the number of lines. The rules page tells you which applies.
Does the Paytable Show the RTP?
Usually, yes. The RTP is normally listed near the end of the game rules. Studios often release several RTP versions of the same game, and the rules show the version running at the casino you are playing at, so check it there rather than assuming the default.
Why Do Paytable Values Change When I Change My Bet?
Some games show cash amounts rather than multipliers, and those amounts update to match your current stake. The underlying multiplier stays the same. Change your bet in a demo and reopen the paytable to see which style the game uses.
Can I Read a Paytable Without Depositing?
Yes. Open any game in demo mode and the paytable works exactly as it does in real-money play. ReelRadar's free slot demos let you read the paytable and test the game with play money before you decide whether to play for real.