In depth
Paylines and ways to win both decide when matching symbols pay — but they count combinations differently. Fixed lines follow drawn paths; ways pay left-to-right on adjacent reels regardless of row. This beginner guide compares both systems, shows where Megaways and scatter pays fit, and points to free demos on demo.black so you can feel the difference in a few sessions.
How paylines work
A payline is a preset path across the reels (straight, zig-zag, or shaped). You need matching symbols on consecutive reels along that path, usually starting from the leftmost reel. Games advertise “10 lines”, “20 lines”, or “243 ways” — classic line slots let you enable fewer lines on some older titles, while modern HTML5 games often fix all lines on at the chosen stake.
- Wins follow the line map in the paytable — not every matching pile pays.
- Same symbol on different rows may miss if no line connects them.
- Book of Dead-style games still use lines in the base game before expanding features.
