What Are Multi-Line Slots?

Slot machines have evolved significantly since they were manufactured. In the old days, there were no online game consoles and they have fewer features than nowadays. People even had to use a pin to spin the wheels, and there were only three-shaft slots. A few decades ago, players were only interested in playing slot machines with a single cash flow. The practice starts in land-based casinos that offer such types of games. When online computers appeared, most companies followed the same tradition.

However, with the advancement of technology, things have changed. There are many features that have been added to the reel. Over time, people wanted to experiment more, and that's why the multi-line (multi-roll) fruit machines quickly became so popular. Nowadays, players can choose to play slot machines at land-based casinos as well as online slots for free at top-rated online casino sites in the gambling industry.

Multi-line slots are gaming machines with a number of reels that can range from 4 to 9 rolls. The more rolls the machine has, the more winning combinations can be made. These combinations can be achieved either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Alternatively, some of these can be made in the form of a V or a zigzag.

If you want to know more about types of slots, you can also refer to everything about 3 reel slots and play them totally for free.

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Differences Between Single Payline and Multi-Line Slots

It depends on the choice of game type that gamblers can win on single-line and multi-line slots. Multi paylines titles give gamblers the option to choose multiple lines to bet on, increasing their chances of winning. There are many of the same features in both single payline and multi-line slots including bonuses, jackpots, wild symbols, scatter symbols, etc.

The older generation of gamblers mostly liked single-line slots because they were similar to classic land-based slot machines. Modern gamblers, on the other hand, are more attracted to multi-line games because they have more options to play with. It's all about experiencing both and then deciding which one is more suitable for you.

How Does It Work?

The goal of any gambler is to achieve a winning combination of symbols on an active payline when the reel is stopped. The payout is a line that rewards the player with a sum, depending on the winning combination of symbols on which the gamblers landed. In other words, the payline stream is a sequence of positions on the slots that award payments from left to right whenever several identical symbols are spun on the reel.

Classic 3-roll slot machines or fruit machines usually have a single line of payment, placed in the center of the screen. This doesn't happen with multiple payline placements, where the line count can sometimes exceed 100.

Since actual paylines correspond to winning combinations, the greater the number of lines on the slot, the greater the player's chances of hitting matching symbols on the spindle and collecting the money. From there, it is possible to achieve several winning combinations per single rotation of the reel, which in turn, yields more significant profits.

On most multi-line slots, paylines are read from left to right, which has become a standard part. However, it is also possible to find online games where the payline is in both directions, left to right and from right to left, which further increases the gamblers' chances of earning money.

The number of paylines available per slot depends on the number of possible winning combinations, which is limited by the number of game reels combined. Gamblers can hit winning combinations on multiple paylines in one spin. Payouts depend largely on identical symbols on the scroll. Usually, there are high pay and low pay symbols. The second type is usually represented by cards of 10 through Aces.

The high paying icons depend on the theme the gamblers choose. Payouts per symbol are detailed in the game's payout table along with available payline slots and game bonus features.

It is important to note that the number of paylines is related to the amount a player stakes per spin. See our research on what is payline in a slot to know how paylines affect your chances of winnings.

Each cash line you activate and play is considered a separate bet. That is why the balance in the bank account is one of the important factors to take into account when choosing which online slots to play. Multi-line slots allow players to bet up to 10 coins per line when spinning and this can drain the gamblers' bank account in minutes if they don't adjust the bet amount per spin fit with their budget.

Winning Chances for Gamblers

Winning in multi-line slots isn't complicated. There are thousands of combinations made as gamblers spin the rolls.

Occasionally, V and zigzag shapes also appear on the screen. Any important symbols that fall on these lines will yield a cash prize. The best thing about multiplayer games is that it is difficult for a player to shoot and not achieve something.

In addition, gamblers do not need to bet the maximum on them and can still adjust the number of paylines you wish to join.

Progressive slot machines, on the other hand, may have an attractive amount of money to win, but the chances of winning them are small. In addition, gamblers must wager maximum to participate in these competitions and they can lose all their money at the end of the game.

Multi-Line Slots' Types

As with different themes and bonus features, free multi-line slots also have different types of paylines and have the 4 most popular mainline of payout categories:

Adjustable Payline

Adjustable paylines in multi-line positions meaning gamblers don't have to bet on all available lines but can trigger certain paylines. Gamblers with narrower budgets may prefer slots with adjustable payout limits, as they give them more flexibility. You can check out Dead or Alive slot to discover how adjustable paylines work or play Book of Dead slot without registration to learn more.

Fixed Paylines

In order to play slot machines with fixed paylines, gamblers will have to bet on all of them. That way, players will never miss a potential winning combination, but you'll also have to pay more for each spin as the bet will be multiplied with each cash line. Hence, these types of slots are better suited to players with a larger balance.

However, the fixed payline machines can offer more interesting bonus features than those with adjustable paylines and potentially increase the winnings for gamblers.

Wolf Gold slot from Pragmatic Play is an example of this slot type. Play Wolf Gold slot for free here.

Win-Both-Ways Paylines

Two-way slot machines are favored by players for a good reason. They allow gamblers to win from left to right and vice versa, so players have a double chance of hitting the target with a winning combination in one spin. Good girl bad girl slot will be a good choice for gambling enthusisasts to deeply dive into this slot type.

Paylines with 243-way Format to Win

Paylines with a 243 way to win mechanism do not have fixed paylines but instead generate a win when the gamblers place 3 or more symbols of the same type on the spindle regardless of the position. As long as they land on adjacent reels, gamblers will be paid.

One of the biggest advantages of playing 243 ways to win instead of fixed and adjustable payline slots is that players don't need to bet on all 243 separate lines.  

Try the demo version of Immortal Romance slot from Microgaming to see how fascinating this slot type can be!

Published: 13 January 2021 11:37