Online pokies, or slots, use different payout systems that define how wins are calculated. There used to be only one way to win in slots: match winning symbols in one of the paylines, which were limited to 10 or lower. Modern pokies are different, although some of them, classic ones specifically, still have these traditional ways.

Now, there are many ways to win, and each format of a changes the way symbols align, how wins are formed, and the overall gameplay flow. Players of classic online pokies and modern casino slots should understand these systems to choose machines that match their strategy and risk level. That’s why we’ve prepared this guide, it explains the most common types of paylines in modern pokies.

The Traditional Payline

A payline is a certain pattern on the reels where matching symbols must appear to create a win. These lines can be straight, diagonal, or shaped in more complex patterns.

Early mechanical online pokies had a single horizontal payline across three reels. This was the only way to achieve a payout.

Modern classic pokies often have 20, 30, or even more paylines. Players can sometimes choose how many lines to activate, and they bet on each active line.

A win usually requires matching symbols to appear from the first reel on the left toward the right. However, some slot machines have the “both ways” rule, so it doesn’t matter where symbols appear on the reel, as long as they’re on the line that pays.

Megaways: Thousands of Ways to Win

These online pokies replace fixed paylines with a system where the number of symbols on each reel changes with every spin. This variable setup can create up to 117,649 possible ways to win. A win forms when matching symbols appear on consecutive reels from left to right, regardless of their position on each reel.

Many Megaways games also have cascading reels. It’s a fascinating system where symbols that form a win disappear, and new ones drop into place, creating a chance for additional wins in a single spin. This chain reaction can continue until no new wins appear.

Megaways are popular not just because of the thousands of ways to win, but also because software developers pack them with innovative features like the mentioned cascading reels. They have amazing graphics and animation, which also attract gamblers.

Cluster Pays and All Ways: The No-Payline Approach

Cluster Pays games remove paylines entirely. You win when a group of matching symbols appears next to each other horizontally or vertically. The bigger the cluster, the higher the payout.

All Ways online pokies, sometimes called 243 Ways, use another no-payline method. You win when the same symbols appear on consecutive reels starting from the leftmost reel. The position of the symbol on the reel doesn’t matter.

There are also no-payline pokies. You only need to see matching symbols, although you do have to match at least 7 or 8 icons.