How Many Paylines Do You Really Need? The Truth About Slot Strategy

As an online slot expert, one of the biggest talking points I hear from new players is that “more paylines equals more wins.” On its face, this makes sense, but it’s not the full story. Let’s take a closer look at this common saying, the math behind it, and examine why more paylines isn’t always a good thing.

Before I address the main issue with the “more paylines equals more wins” claim, I want to make sure that we are on the same page about what paylines are.

Paylines are the specific set of symbols that determine if you win. For example, if you were playing a classic three-reel, Las Vegas style slot, three sevens would be one potential payline.

Things get a bit more complicated when you start talking about fancy modern slots with vertical, diagonal, zig-zag, and even scattered paylines. However, the basic principle is always the same. If your spin results in you landing on a payline, the slot pays out and you win.

Do more paylines mean more wins?

Okay, so now that you know that a payline means a win, more of them must mean more wins. Right? Technically, yes, but here is where things get complicated.

Online slots with the most paylines are almost always low-volatility slots. This means they payout more frequently than high-volatility slots. However, the payouts are smaller than ones you would get playing online slots with high volatility. On the flip side, high-volatility slots typically have fewer paylines, but will payout more when you win.

Yes, more paylines does usually mean more wins, but it doesn’t always mean that you will win more money.

I know what you’re probably saying. Does it really matter if one game pays out smaller individual wins than another if I am winning more money in the long run? Again, this is another complicated question.

Yes, in theory, your total winnings should be the only thing that matters. However, a slot’s volatility isn’t the only thing that contributes to your chances of turning a profit. What you really need to know is the game’s return-to-player percentage (RTP).

RTP tells you how much a game will payout. For example, if a game has a 97% RTP, it will payout $0.97 for every $1 wagered. If you want to maximize your chances of winning, try to focus on games with high RTP values.

Additionally, always remember that RTP is an average. If you spend $1 on a slot with a 95% RTP, you won’t always get $0.95 back. However, you can increase your chances of getting at least some of your $1 back by playing low-volatility slots.

Why volatility slots can be a good thing

Let’s go through some examples: A low-volatility slot at an online casino site will payout more regularly. This means a bigger share of the amount the game will pay out is available every spin.

Let’s say 1,000 players cumulatively wagered $10,000 on a low-volatility slot with a 95% RTP. Of those 800 players (80%) might get a cut of the $9,500 that will be available.

Should you rather play on a high volatility slot?

High-volatility slots, on the other hand, pay out less frequently to fewer players. Let’s go through some examples: If 1,000 players cumulatively wagered $10,000 on a high-volatility slot with a 95% RTP, only 10% of the players might share the $9,500 expected payout.

If you are new to online slots, you might be asking why anyone would play high-volatility slots if the chances of winning were against them. Well, if you do win, you could win a big reward. For me personally, and for others who like high-volatility games, it’s about the thrill of potentially winning a huge jackpot.

With that being said, high-volatility games are not for everyone and I certainly wouldn’t suggest throwing your money into them. Always have a budget and never bet more than you are willing to lose.