Paylines, Ways & Megaways

A slot needs a rule for what counts as a win. Fixed paylines pay for matching symbols along defined line patterns; 'ways to win' (243, 1024, 4096…) pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels in any position; Megaways varies the symbols per reel each spin for up to 117,649 ways; cluster pays reward groups of touching symbols. None of these change RTP by themselves — they change how wins are counted and how the game feels.

Classic slots pay along set line patterns (1, 9, 20, 25, sometimes 243). A win needs matching symbols left-to-right on an active line. Adding lines spreads your stake over more of them, so you get more frequent small wins for the same total bet — not a higher RTP.

'All ways' games drop the concept of lines: matching symbols on consecutive reels pay regardless of row. 243 ways = 3⁵ (five reels showing three symbols each); 1024 = 4⁵. Any left-aligned match on adjacent reels wins, which raises hit frequency but leaves the edge unchanged.

Big Time Gaming's Megaways engine varies how many symbols (2–7) land on each reel every spin. With six reels of up to seven symbols the maximum is 7⁶ = 117,649 ways. The huge, fluctuating way-count is what drives Megaways' extreme volatility — it is a variance mechanic, not extra generosity.

Cluster games pay when a minimum number of the same symbol touch horizontally or vertically, usually with cascades refilling the grid. It is a third bookkeeping model for 'what wins' — and, like the others, the RTP is set in the reel weights and pay table, not by the win rule.