Slot Features Explained: Wilds, Scatters, Megaways and More

Modern slots are packed with features, and every new release seems to add another one. This guide explains the main slot types and features in one place, so you can read any paytable with confidence. If you are completely new to slots, start with our beginner’s guide to playing slots.

• Classic slots – three reels, a few paylines and fruit, bar and seven symbols. Simple and quick. Fruit-style games such as 40 Super Hot keep the classic symbols on five reels.
• Video slots – five or more reels, detailed themes and bonus features. Most new games are video slots.
• Megaways slots – the number of symbols on each reel changes every spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win.
• Cluster and “pay anywhere” slots – wins come from groups of matching symbols anywhere on the grid instead of paylines.
• Progressive jackpot slots – part of every bet feeds a growing jackpot. See our progressive slots guide.
• Book slots – games where one symbol expands across the reels in free spins, like Book of Fortune.

Wilds

Wilds substitute for other symbols to complete wins. Variations include expanding wilds (cover a whole reel), sticky wilds (stay in place for several spins), walking wilds (move each spin) and multiplier wilds.

Scatters

Scatters pay or trigger features wherever they land, without needing a payline. Three or more usually start free spins.

Free Spins

A round of spins at no cost, often with extras such as multipliers, extra wilds or expanding symbols. Not to be confused with casino free spins bonuses.

Multipliers

Multiply your win by 2x, 3x or much more. Some grow with each win in a row or each cascade.

Cascades (Tumbles, Avalanches)

Winning symbols disappear and new ones fall into place, giving several wins from one spin.

Hold and Win / Respins

Special symbols lock in place while you get a few respins to land more of them. Each new one resets the respins. These features often award fixed jackpots.

Bonus Games

Pick-and-win games, wheels or trails that award prizes separately from the reels.

Bonus Buy

Some slots let you pay a fixed price to go straight to the bonus round. Bonus buy is not available at UK-licensed casinos.

• RTP (return to player) – the share of all bets a slot pays back over millions of spins. With 96% RTP, the house edge is 4%. Look for 96% or more.
• Volatility – how wins are distributed. Low volatility means frequent small wins; high volatility means rare but large ones.
• Hit rate – how often a spin produces any win, for example one in four spins.
• Maximum win – the biggest win the game allows, often shown as a multiple of your stake, such as 5,000x.

Our slot reviews list RTP, volatility and top win for every game.

No strategy changes the outcome of a spin – every result is decided by a certified random number generator. What you can control is which game you play and how you play it:

• choose higher-RTP games;
• match volatility to your budget;
• use small stakes so your money lasts;
• try games in demo mode first;
• set a budget and stop when it is used up.

Slots are created by specialist studios, then offered at casinos. Leading names include Microgaming, NetEnt, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Big Time Gaming, Novomatic and many more. Each has its own style – browse our slot providers to find the studios you like.