Slot Paylines Explained: Fixed vs. Adjustable and How They Impact Your Wins

When discussing slot features, paylines often get lost in the shuffle while wilds and scatter symbols, bonus rounds, and payouts get all the love. However, it’s paylines that determine when and how you can win, and understanding how they work will go a long way towards helping you maximize your results from your favorite real money online casinos.

The first thing to understand is that there are two types of paylines: fixed and adjustable. Below, we’ll reveal the differences between the two and how to use both to your advantage.

🎰 What are slot paylines?

Slot paylines are the lines across a machine that symbols must land on in order for you to win. If you don’t line up your symbols along a recognized payline, you’ll walk away empty-handed.

The exact layout of these paylines will vary by machine, both on the casino floor and with online slots. The simplest paylines run horizontally across the middle reel. However, you’ll also see slots with paylines that run vertically, diagonally, in zig-zag patterns, or in complex layouts that aren’t linear in nature. Then you have Megaways slots, which can offer over 100,000 paylines.

Regardless of how they’re laid out, though, you should understand how paylines work on any game you play, or else you won’t be able to determine if you won or create a workable slots strategy.

🍒 Fixed paylines

Fixed paylines are always active on every spin, and you’re required to bet on all of them each time. That means that if a penny slot has 20 paylines and you bet one cent per line, your total cost will actually be 20 cents per spin.

These games are simple to understand, making them perfect for beginners, especially those who are very, very, very new to online casino apps. Because you’re forced to bet on all the paylines, you’re guaranteed coverage of all winning combinations, meaning you won’t miss any winners. However, they require you to bet more per spin, and you have less control over each one. That may be a dealbreaker for small-stakes gamblers.

If you want to try a fixed-payline slot, pick a classic 3-reel slot like Fire Joker, or pick from a variety of NetEnt online slots games (Dead or Alive being a classic example).

💎 Adjustable paylines

As you might expect, adjustable paylines are the opposite of fixed paylines. You can decide how many paylines you want to play on a given spin, giving you more control over how much you risk on a single turn.

The risk, however, is that if you don’t bet on a payline and it hits, you’ll win nothing. That’s why many experienced players bet every payline on adjustable games as well. This makes for a more complicated game, which is why they’re not often recommended for beginners (unless you're joining one of the best no-deposit bonus casinos where you can practice playing). If you want total control over your slot experience, though, adjustable paylines are the way to go.

Some adjustable payline slots that are currently popular include Sugar Rush from Pragmatic Play, Thunderstruck from Microgaming, and White King from Playtech.

💰 How paylines affect your wins & strategy

A lot like real money blackjack, playing slots requires striking a delicate balance between risk and reward, and nowhere is that clearer than in how many paylines you choose to play.

If you only play a few at a time, your bankroll will last longer, but you’ll be less likely to add much to it. On the other hand, playing as many paylines as possible will give you the best chance of hitting a big win, but you’ll burn through more cash as you chase that big payday and will need to switch your bet amounts accordingly.

However, it’s important to remember that slots are completely random, and there is nothing you can do to influence or predict the outcome, regardless of the slot denomination. You could bet on every single payline and not win, or just wager on one and hit it big.

It’s also important to understand that there’s not much strategy involved in playing a fixed payline game (other than in the decision to play it in the first place). These games are great when you want to turn your mind off, as you simply spin the reels with no thought to your wager.

Strategy is much more prevalent in adjustable payline games. These let you tailor each wager you make, allowing you to decide whether to chase maximum payouts or play more cautiously in order to guard your bankroll.

💡 Tips for choosing between fixed and adjustable paylines

If you’re trying to decide which kind of slots are right for you, here are some tips you can use to ensure you find the perfect game every time:

• If you’re just starting out, stick with fixed paylines. They’re easy to learn and provide an excellent introduction to the idea of playing slots in general.
• Want to limit your exposure? Adjustable payline games allow you to be more careful with how much you bet, which can extend your playing time.
• Slot volatility, or how often a slot pays out, also matters. Low-Volatility games offer more frequent payouts, albeit with less big win potential, so it may be smarter to bet on all possible paylines if playing one.
• If you’re not sure which is best, you can try free online slots in demo mode to see how they play. You can then use that info to inform your real money wagers. You can also play at online sweepstakes casinos, which offer a free-to-play version of many slot titles.
• Understand that having more paylines doesn’t increase your overall odds of winning, just the distribution of winners. Your chances of winning are ultimately dictated by a slot’s RTP percentage, meaning finding the highest payout casino games is an absolute must.
• If you’re playing fewer paylines than the max, track how often you’re missing wins. You may find that you’re costing yourself more money than you’re saving.
• Your ultimate goal should be to find a game with the perfect number of paylines for your budget, but don’t sacrifice fun to do it. Remember, playing slots should only ever be for entertainment, not profit.