If you have tried your hand at spinning the reels of a few online slot games, you will probably have encountered titles that offer paylines to win on, and those that offer ways to win. But have you ever considered whether one version is better than the other?
We’ve highlighted a few things you should know here, so you can figure out which method suits you best. You should be aware there is no right or wrong answer here – just a few things to know about before you make your choice.
Paylines are sometimes fixed
Fixed paylines mean you must play all of them. For example, a game with 25 fixed paylines requires a minimum bet of 25 coins per spin. If the paylines are not fixed, you choose whether to play on one or all of them, or something in between.
Ways to win mean you get more winning ways for fewer bets
Let’s say you play a game that offers 1,024 ways to win. You won’t bet that number of coins on each spin. Instead, you’ll probably play around 40. That means you get way more potential wins to bet on per spin, instead of just the 40 paylines.
Ways to win can sometimes pay from both ways
With a formulaic payline game, prizes are awarded for combinations starting from the left and going to the right. But this isn’t usually the case with ways to win. If that is chosen as the prize method, you may well win from right to left as well. And with more ways to win each time, it gets quite exciting to play.
Ways to win games sometimes feature more reels or formats
You might see a 5 x 3 grid in play, but you could equally see a 5 x 4 grid. Sometimes, these games offer more unusual arrangements too. As such, they can be good to play if you are looking for something a bit different.
Payline games can be more affordable
This is another key point to remember. If you only have a small number of paylines to wager on, and you’re only playing one or two cents per line, it’s easy to place bets on these games. If you are working with a small budget, this could tip the balance in favor of the payline games. But why not try both and see which one you like most?
