How to Play Online Slots: Reels, Lines and Symbols

To play an online slot, you set your bet per spin, spin the reels, and get paid when the symbols that land form a winning combination listed in that game's paytable. Every game has its own reel layout, symbols and features, so this guide covers what most online slots share: reels and rows, paylines and ways, the common special symbols, bet size, auto spin and the info page you should read before you start.

How an online slot works

Open a game. Each slot shows its reels as a grid, usually 5 reels of 3 or 4 rows, though many games use other layouts.
Set your bet per spin. You choose the amount in RM before you spin. The lowest and highest bet depend on the game.
Spin. The reels stop and show a new set of symbols. The result of each spin is decided by the game itself.
Check the win. If the symbols form a combination from the paytable, the win is added to your balance. If not, the bet for that spin is spent.

Reels, rows, paylines and ways

The reels are the vertical columns, and the rows are the horizontal lines across them. How a winning combination is counted depends on the game:

Paylines: fixed lines across the grid. A win needs matching symbols along one of those lines, normally starting from the leftmost reel.
Ways: no fixed lines. Matching symbols on adjacent reels, starting from the left, count as a win wherever they sit on each reel. Games that use this often say "243 ways" or a similar number.
Pay anywhere: some games pay when enough identical symbols land anywhere on the grid, with no lines at all.

The info page of each game tells you which system it uses and how many lines or ways are active.

Wild, scatter and multiplier symbols

Wild: stands in for other symbols to complete a combination. Most games list a few symbols a wild cannot replace, usually the scatter.
Scatter: pays or triggers a feature wherever it lands, not only on a line. In many games, three or more scatters start a bonus round.
Multiplier: multiplies a win by the number shown on it, for example 2x or 5x.
Bonus round: a separate feature, such as a set of extra spins or a pick-and-win screen, started by scatters or other symbols.

What each symbol does, and how a bonus round starts, differs from game to game. The paytable shows the exact rules for that title.

Bet size, auto spin and the info page

Bet size: in most games you change the coin value, the bet level or both. The total bet per spin is shown on the screen.
Auto spin: the game spins for you for a set number of rounds. Every auto spin is charged at the bet shown, so check how to stop it before you start.
The info page (paytable): lists what each symbol pays, how lines or ways work, the special symbols and the features. Many games also show their RTP and volatility here; our guide to slot RTP and volatility explains what those figures mean.

Online slots on Go2win

Go2win is a Malaysia online casino with six product categories, and slots are one of them, alongside live casino, lottery, mini games, sports betting and fishing games. Its games come from 31 providers, including PP, PG, JILI, PLAYTECH and HACKSAW, and popular titles include Mahjong Ways, Mahjong Ways 2, Captain's Bounty, Wild Bounty Showdown and Shark Bounty. The full list is in Go2win game providers and hot games, and the slots section is at online slots in Malaysia.

To start, register a Go2win account with your Malaysian mobile number (+60) and a password. New members get RM18 on sign-up. For which titles are open and their bet ranges, log in at go2win.bet, then check with live chat: what live chat confirms is what applies.

FAQ

How do you play an online slot? You play an online slot by setting your bet per spin, spinning the reels and checking the result. You win when the symbols that land form a combination listed in that game's paytable, and the win is added to your balance. If they do not, the bet for that spin is spent. Each game has its own features.

What is the difference between paylines and ways? The difference is that paylines are fixed lines a winning combination must follow, while ways have no fixed lines. With paylines, matching symbols must sit along one line, normally from the leftmost reel. With ways, matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left count wherever they land on each reel. Each game's info page shows which system it uses.

What does a scatter symbol do? A scatter symbol pays or triggers a feature wherever it lands on the grid, not only on a line. In many games, three or more scatters start a bonus round, such as a set of extra spins or a pick-and-win screen. What each symbol does, and how a bonus round starts, differs from game to game, so check the paytable.

Where can I see the rules of a slot game? You can see the rules of a slot game on the info page or paytable inside the game. It shows what each symbol pays, how lines or ways work, the special symbols and what the features do. Many games also show their RTP and volatility there. Read it before you start, because every game has its own layout and features.