Ways to Win online slot machines do not use paylines to line up wins. As a result, games that make use of this reel mechanic have also earned the nickname no payline slots. Rather than using paylines, the Ways to Win feature uses what is known as ‘adjacent reel’ technology to link up symbol combinations. To help you understand how these combination wins work, we’ll explain exactly how the reel mechanic works below. We also give you examples of a variety of ways to win slot machines available, and introduce you to free play demos, so you can play no-payline slots for free.
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How do Ways to Win Slots Create Symbol Combinations?
Let’s take a 3-symbol combination win using three cherry symbols as an example. As long as there is a cherry symbol anywhere on reels 1, 2 and 3, then the slot will detect this as a 3-symbol payout. Why? Because ways to win slots use adjacent reels tech and not paylines. The three cherry symbols in this example are on 3 separate reels that are next to each other. That’s all the game needs to verify a winning combination.
Notice that we highlight the fact that the cherry symbol can be ‘anywhere’ on its respective reel, which means the positioning of the symbol is irrelevant when calculating winning payouts on ways-to-win slots.
One additional point we left out, to keep the above example easy to understand, is that the first symbol in a winning ways-to-win combination must begin on reel 1. Also, to line up a combination win without a payline, there can be no gaps between the reels. I.e., if the same 3 cherry symbols are on reels 1-2-4, due to the absence of a cherry symbol on reel 3, this is either a 2-symbol win or no win at all.
For example, you can land the following combination wins across a payline:
- 2-Symbol No Payline Slot Combination Win = Same symbols on reels 1-2
- 3-Symbol No Payline Slot Combination Win = Same symbols on reels 1-2-3
- 4-Symbol No Payline Slot Combination Win = Same symbols on reels 1-2-3-4
- 5-Symbol No Payline Slot Combination Win = Same symbols on reels 1-2-3-4-5
One more point worth noting now you understand how the ways to win reel mechanic works is that typically, the symbols must line up from left to right. Kudos to you if you already noticed this in our explanation above as that’s going to make understanding pay both way ways to win online slots easier for you.
Pay Both Ways to Win Online Slots
Pay both ways online slots are common on games that use the payline reel mechanic. The good news is that the same feature has also made its way to no-payline ways to win online slot machines. Essentially, you can line up combination wins from right to left, with the first symbol starting on reel 5 instead of reel 1.
The table below compares the two different ways payline slots can line up symbols, either from left to right or from right to left:
| Combination Win | Left-to-Right | Right-to-Left (Pay Both Ways) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Symbols | Same symbols on reels 1-2 | Same symbols on reels 5-4 |
| 3 Symbols | Same symbols on reels 1-2-3 | Same symbols on reels 5-4-3 |
| 4 Symbols | Same symbols on reels 1-2-3-4 | Same symbols on reels 5-4-3-2 |
| 5 Symbols | Same symbols on reels 1-2-3-4-5 | Same symbols on reels 5-4-3-2-1 |
Ways to Win No Payline Slot Player Strategy
There is no guaranteed winning strategy that guarantees a profit when playing no-pay-line slot or pokie games. You can help yourself by using sensible bankroll management and bet sizing, while there are other tactics you can use. For example, a strategy I like to use is spin and bank.
I.e., I set a 100.00 budget for my session and use, for example, 0.20 spin bet sizes. That gives me 500 spins, and all I do is bank my winnings. In other words, I spin 500 times and do not reinvest the winnings from my session. It is a sensible low-budget bet size, and it gives me a good hour or so spinning the reels, depending on how feature-rich the game is.
- No vanilla minimum spin bet: Since there are no paylines, software providers cannot add a bet per payline. For example, a 10-payline slot could be designed to accept a 0.01 per line spin bet with a 0.10 minimum bet per spin. As a result, you will find that ways to win slot games can come with a random minimum bet, which could be 0.10 to 0.50 per spin.
- No vanilla RTP or Variance/Volatility: Again, while payline slots like classic games with 3×3 reels and 1 to 5 paylines generally have a low Variance/Volatility, when you play ways to win no-playline slots and pokies, the variance/volatility is down to how feature-rich the game is and how the developer designed it. The same applies to the RTP. In fact, I’ve seen 243 ways to win slots with a higher RTP and variance/volatility than 4,096 ways to win games.
| Ways to Win | Reel Set Up | RTP / Volatility |
|---|---|---|
| 243 Ways to Win | 5 Reels with 3 Positions on Each (5×3) |
90% up to 98% (Low to High) |
| 1,024 Ways to Win | 5 Reels with 4 Positions on Each (5×4) |
90% up to 98% (Low to High) |
| 4,096 Ways to Win | 6 Reels with 4 Positions on Each (6×4) |
90% up to 98% (Low to High) |
Comparison: Bill & Coin 2 Mummy Mischief is a 4,096 Ways to Win slot with high variance and a 96.1% RTP, while Bigger Barn House Megaways is a 243 ways to win game with a slightly higher 96.5% RTP. Therefore, the number of ways to win doesn’t always affect the RTP.
Test Ways to Win Slots Via Free Play Demos
We’ve selected the most commonly found ways to win no-payline slots and pokies and added three demo versions for each. Each of the games below uses free play money, so you can test the games out for yourself without risking any real money. Open each game and take the time to study the pay table, where on one of the pages you will find an explanation of how the no-payline ‘adjacent’ reel features determine symbol combination wins. Once you are fully up to speed with how the game works, spin the reels and get a feel for how each online slot variant works.
243 Ways to Win Slot Demos
Award Winning Slot: Gonzo’s Megaways won the Game of the Year in 2021 at the Global Gaming Awards.
1,024 Ways to Win Slot Demos
Award Winner: The original 10-payline Fishin’ Pots of Gold won the Game of the Year award at the International Gaming Awards. The Fishin’ Pots of Gold: Gold Blitz King Millions version is one of a few sequels and comes with the Gold Blitz jackpot!
4,096 Ways to Win Slot Demos
Land Jackpot Wins: The Net Gains and Bill & Coin online slots come with standard and progressive jackpot versions. The progressive jackpots are connected to the Relax Gaming Dream Drop network, which has a must-win jackpot worth 3 million.
Ways to Win Slot and Pokie Bonus Deals
If you spend some time browsing our in-depth iGaming portal, you will notice that we have put together a large number of bonus offers into lists. We cover several different types of bonuses, and the lion’s share applies to online slot games. There are free spins bonuses that include payline, ways to win and Megaways slot games. Alternativly, you may prefer to claim a no deposit bonus deal that give give you a free bonus balance valid to be played on payline, ways to win, Megaways and other slot games.
Slot and Pokie Bonus Rules Explained: If you are new to online casino bonuses, then we advise that before you claim a bonus deal, take a quick look at our guide to bonus rules. These rules help you increase your chances of converting bonus money into real money!
Are No Payline Ways to Win Slots For You?
Ways to Win slots give you a completely different way of lining up symbol combinations compared to classic payline slots, pay anywhere, and cluster pay games. Whether it’s 243, 1,024, or 4,096 ways to win, the same principle stays in place.
Symbols on adjacent reels form the win, no matter where they sit on each reel. Add in features like pay both ways and the variety of bonus offers available, and you have a reel mechanic that feels more flexible than traditional fixed paylines.
If you enjoy experimenting with new reel mechanic formats, testing free demos is the simplest way to determine if no-payline games align with your playing style. As for RTPs, volatility, and bet sizing, the best way to find out how each game combines these variables is to play the demo slots that show the ways to win.
After a while you’ll have a list of your top go-to payline slots and pokies that suit your budget, RTP limits and preferred game play, whether that’s games with high volatility paying out big wins via features or those with low volatility paying out small wins reguarly.
| Software Provider Demo Games | Licensing Certificates Held | Countries Available |
|---|---|---|
| BGaming Payline Demo Slots | MGA | IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Endorphina Payline Demo Slots | MGA | IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Realistic Games All Demo Slots |
UKGC / MGA | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Pragmatic Play All Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA / AGCO | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
| Blueprint Gaming All Demo Slots | UKGC / MGA / AGCO | UK, IE, CA, NZ, SA, IN |
Alternative reel mechanics: We also cover online slots and pokies that use paylines, ways to win, Megaways, cluster pays, and pay anywhere reel mechanics. To see what’s available in the world of iGaming, take a look at our ‘Slot Machine Reel Mechanics‘ guide.
Payline Slot Machine FAQ
Do 1,024 ways to win slots pay out more than 243 ways to win slots?
You would think so, but in reality, all online video slot machines are governed by a complex mathematical algorithm that abides by a winning percentage, which we call return to player. This matters because a 243 ways to win slot can have a 97% RTP, while a 1,024 ways to win slot could have a 95% RTP. Therefore, the answer is no, 1,024 ways to win slots do not necessarily pay out more than 243 ways to win games.
Can I change the number of ways to win when playing online slots?
No. Unlike some payline slot games like Book of Dead or the original Book of Ra, where you can choose 1 to 10 paylines, ways to win slots are fixed. However, there are slot games where the number of ways to win changes with every spin, which is beyond the scope of this guide. Spoiler alert, they are known as Megaways and TrueWays reel mechanics.
Do Ways to Win slots have better odds than Megaways slots?
Not necessarily. Both formats use different mechanics to create symbol combinations, but payouts are governed by the set return-to-player percentage of each individual game. One Megaways title might offer 96.2% RTP, while a 243 Ways to Win game could sit slightly higher or lower, depending on the provider.
Can I use casino bonus spins on Ways to Win slot machines?
Yes, most free spin deals are linked to specific games, and many providers choose popular 243 or 1,024 Ways to Win titles for promotions. Always check the bonus terms first, as some offers limit spins to certain slot types or exclude jackpot and high-variance titles.
Do pay both ways slots pay out left to right and right to left?
Yes. If a way to win an online slot or pokie game includes the pay both ways feature, then wins from left to right will line up starting from reel 1 and wins from right to left will line up starting with the first symbol on reel 5.
How many paylines does a Ways to Win slot have?
The very first iteration of a no-payline slot game began with 243 ways to win. You will also find games with 576 Ways to Win, 178 Ways to Win, and 466 Ways to Win, but these are rare. The most common ways to win no pay line slot games use 243, 1,024 or 4,096 ways to win.
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