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Mastering the Symbols, Features and Paylines of Online Slots

Published

2 years ago

August 3, 2023

To the uninitiated, online slots can feel like a confusing world. A long way from the fruit machines you used to play down the local pub, modern slots are much more extravagant games. At the same time, they can offer much bigger jackpots, as well as the chance to scoop big wins from innovative bonus features and combination pays.

Understanding the symbols, features and paylines of online slots can enhance your playing experience, as well as improve your chances of making good decisions on your way to landing a big win. Knowing the common types of symbols and their roles, along with common ways of triggering bonus features can give you fresh insight into what’s going on when you spin the reels in the hope of landing a win.

Expert slot reviews are one of the best ways to explore all the features of different games, and to decide the right games for you. Ultimately, each slot game is different. But at its core, there are some features of the slot format that will crop up again and again.

Symbols, Reels and Paylines

Lining up symbols in matching combinations is the name of the game in slots. There tend to be a number of regular paying symbols – combinations of usually three or more of these in adjacent positions across the reels will pay out a win, which is calculated by multiplying your stake according to the value of the combination.

There are usually different paylines in play – these are the directions on the reels that will pay out when you land matching symbols in adjacent spaces. Sometimes these are fixed paylines, and only combinations landing on one of these lines will pay a win. In other cases, paylines are adjustable, or win all ways – i.e. paying out on any combination in any direction. This is down to the specifics of the game itself, but it’s worth knowing before you start spinning so you can gauge when you’ve landed a win.

Every slot has a paytable which explains the paylines, as well as the symbol values. It’s always advisable to have a quick scan of the paytable first, to get a firm idea of the different combination values and how much the game pays for matching symbols. This will also note the values and functions of the special symbols, of which there are usually at least two or three in most modern slot games.

The most common is the wild symbol, a symbol that substitutes for any other in the game to help form winning combinations. Scatter symbols are the next most common, which usually need to land three or more times to trigger a free spins feature or other bonus round. You’ll also commonly find separate bonus or jackpot symbols, which will launch the features and the bonus rounds – you’ll want to find these in order to kick yourself into the higher paying quarters of most slots games, where the big money jackpots are to be found.

Special Structures and Features

Aside from the core structures you’ll find across most slot games, developers are now increasingly innovative in their game designs, to deliver an enhanced playing experience and help their games stand out from the crowd.

Expanding symbols are increasingly common, where a single symbol can expand to cover the entire height of a real. Similarly, stacked symbols are in play in some games, which bring a vertical stack of symbols on top of each other onto the reels, giving you more chances to match these symbols in combination with positions on other reels.

Features like tumbling reels or cascading reels are another more commonly seen sight. When these are in play, winning combinations vacate their reel positions, allowing symbols to tumble from above into new positions on the reels. This can have the effect of creating successive wins from a single combination, effectively multiplying the amount you can win from any single spin.

Other features such as multipliers and mystery boxes are also commonplace. In the case of multipliers, it’s a feature that allows you to multiply anything you win, usually incrementally as the game progresses, to deliver the possibility of larger wins. Mystery boxes tend to be symbols that explode to reveal some other symbol or prize, effectively an added bonus feature to further enhance your game.

Practice Makes Perfect

If this all sounds a bit confusing, don’t be alarmed. While fun and straightforward in essence, slots have come on leaps and bounds since basic fruit machines, and it can take some time to get the hang of everything. If you want to learn the ropes without risking your money up front, demo games are the perfect way to get a feel for how it all works.

There’s very little skill in slots, and it tends to be a case of crossing your fingers with every spin. But at least with some experience of demo games under your belt, you’ll have a better understanding of the kind of features that are common across slot games, and on your way to mastering the symbols, features and paylines in online slots.

Related Topics:iGaming online slots slots

George Miller

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Meridianbet Doubles Down on Belgium: New Casino License Unlocks €455m Market Segment

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: This is a classic “Cross-Sell” play. Meridianbet has already spent seven years building a sports betting database in Belgium. By securing this B+ license, they can now monetize those same users with higher-margin casino products (slots, table games) without needing to acquire new traffic from scratch. With the Belgian casino sector growing at 20% year-over-year, this is a significant revenue unlock for the GMGI portfolio.

The Full Story

Meridianbet, the sports betting and gaming operator owned by Golden Matrix Group Inc. (NASDAQ: GMGI), has successfully expanded its regulatory footprint in Europe by securing a B+ online gaming license in Belgium.

The new license (B+ 4016) authorizes the company to launch a comprehensive online casino platform—featuring slots, table games, and automated live games—starting in January 2026. This move significantly broadens the operator’s capabilities in the country, complementing its existing sports betting operations which have been active in the Belgian market for seven years.

Targeting the Largest Market Segment The strategic rationale behind the license is clear: Casino is now the dominant force in Belgian gambling. According to the Belgian Gaming Commission, the online casino vertical generated €455 million in Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) in 2023, representing a 20.2% year-over-year increase.

By entering this vertical, Meridianbet gains access to the largest and fastest-growing segment of a market that generated a total of €944.6 million last year.

Tech-First Entry Meridianbet plans to deploy its proprietary AI Casino Recommender technology for the Belgian launch. This system analyzes player behavior and preferences in real-time to deliver personalized game suggestions, a crucial differentiator in a highly concentrated market where just ten operators account for 94% of all online wagers.

Regulatory Context Belgium is known for having one of Europe’s strictest regulatory frameworks, characterized by rigorous compliance standards and player protection protocols. Securing this license validates Meridianbet’s operational standards and deepens its foothold in a “mature” market that is notoriously difficult for new entrants to penetrate.

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LinkDataMedia Drops ‘Startup’ Look with Major 5th Anniversary Rebrand

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: In the iGaming affiliate space, the five-year mark is a critical survival threshold. Many media startups fade away before reaching it. LinkDataMedia’s decision to rebrand now is a classic “graduation” signal. By shedding their startup skin for a more corporate, “blue-chip” aesthetic (the stability-focused blue triangle), they are telling operators and partners that they are no longer just an affiliate project, but a stable infrastructure partner ready for larger commercial deals.

The Full Story

LinkDataMedia, the parent company behind the popular affiliate portal Gamblers Connect, has announced a comprehensive corporate rebrand to coincide with its fifth anniversary.

The overhaul includes a completely refreshed brand identity, a redesigned logo, and a fully revamped website, all of which are now live. The move is described by the company not as a mere cosmetic update, but as a strategic pivot designed to distance the business from its “startup roots” and reflect its current status as an established player in the competitive iGaming media landscape.

Visualizing Maturity The new visual language features a modernized blue triangular logo, a shape chosen to represent “stability and forward momentum.” The digital user experience has also been streamlined, offering partners a cleaner interface that aligns better with the company’s matured operational capabilities.

Management Commentary Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder and CEO of LinkDataMedia, commented on the significance of hitting the half-decade milestone in such a volatile industry:

“Surviving the first five years in business takes more than luck. It takes belief, resilience, and the right people around you. This milestone, and the rebrand, reflect exactly that.”

Implementation The new branding has already been deployed across the main corporate website and is currently being rolled out across LinkDataMedia’s social media channels and internal communication platforms. As the company enters its sixth year, the refreshed identity aims to set the stage for a new phase of expansion and innovation.

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Win Systems to Debut New ‘Gold Club Colors’ and WIGOS Upgrades at ICE Barcelona

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: As ICE makes its historic move to Barcelona, established tech providers like Win Systems are under pressure to bring their “A-game” to the larger venue. The focus here isn’t just on cabinets; it’s the ecosystem. By highlighting WIGOS (their CMS) alongside WIN PAY, Win Systems is positioning itself as an infrastructure partner, not just a hardware supplier. The debut of the Gold Club Colors roulette specifically targets the growing demand for visually customizable electronic table games (ETGs).

The Full Story

Win Systems, the global provider of technology for the gaming and entertainment industry, has confirmed its product roadmap for ICE Barcelona 2026, the sector’s most significant international event taking place from January 19 to 21.

Exhibiting at Stand 3M30 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, the company will leverage the new venue to showcase a broad portfolio designed to cover the entire casino floor—from management systems to the gaming floor itself.

Systems and Fintech At the core of the showcase is WIGOS, the company’s flagship Casino Management System (CMS). WIGOS is widely recognized for connecting thousands of machines across multiple countries, and the Barcelona display will focus on advanced tools that streamline daily operations and optimize player retention.

Complementing the CMS, Win Systems will present WIN PAY, its secure transaction platform. As cashless and seamless payment solutions become standard requirements for operators, WIN PAY offers the necessary efficiency and security controls for modern gaming environments.

Hardware: Roulette and Slots On the hardware side, Win Systems is refreshing its electronic table game offering with the new Gold Club Colors electronic roulette. The Gold Club line has long been a staple in the company’s portfolio, known for its compact footprint and reliability; the “Colors” iteration promises to maximize visual impact on the floor.

Alongside the roulette, the company will display its latest slot hardware, including the Sublime and Rhapsody cabinets. These units are designed to house the company’s extensive game library, which has been adapted to suit diverse market profiles from Europe to Latin America.

Strategic Goals Win Systems aims to use the three-day event to reinforce its 30-year legacy in the industry. The company described its participation as a commitment to “continuous innovation,” inviting operators and regulators to explore how their integrated solutions can improve in-room performance.

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