Payways vs. Paylines: What Makes Multiway Slots Different?

243 ways to win. That’s a whole lotta ways… more ways than you have to avoid doing laundry, that’s for sure! But if a slot only has five reels and three rows, how in the world do they add so many? The answer is multiway slots, and they work differently from regular payline slot machines.

We’ll show you what we mean by “multiways,” how they compare to average slot machine paylines, and why you might want to try a multiway slot the next time you play.

What Are Multi-Way Slots?

Multiways slots, also known as payways, are an alternative method of awarding wins. Instead of symbols landing on one precise zigzag, sideways ‘S,’ or a series of lines that may-or-may-not represent a doodled spider, you just need them to match on adjacent reels from left to right.

In that way, every reel position becomes an opportunity to link up a win with the next. On a 5×3 layout, that’s 243 possible combos, and some games climb into the thousands.

Difference Between Multi-way & Paylines

In old-school slots, you had a few preset lines – sometimes 10, sometimes 25 – and your symbols had to match exactly along those paths. If one symbol was off the line, then it was tough luck.

That’s still how payline slots games work, and they continue to be widespread and abundant. But multiway slots adopted a different approach. They tossed the rigid paylines out the window and said, “What if every symbol position counted?”

So now, payways refer to all the possible combinations of matching symbols on consecutive reels, no matter where they land on each reel. That means your winning combinations are based on how many ways those symbols can line up, not on one rigid path.

How ‘Ways to Win’ are Calculated

243, 1,024, 4,096 – they seem completely random, but there’s a method to the madness – promise! Developers have already done the calculations for you, but it helps to know how they did the math.

Multiway slots don’t count every possible line like payline games. Instead, they calculate how many symbol positions can create winning combos across reels.

Here’s how it looks. A standard 5-reel, 3-row slot has three symbols on each reel. Multiply them together, 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3, and you get 243 possible “ways.” If you bump that to 4 rows, it becomes 1,024. Add another, and now you have 4,096. You’ve seen these payways before in games like Gongxi Facai (243) and Golden Buffalo (4,096), so now you know!

How Multi-Way Slots Affect Volatility and RTP

Just because there are more ways to win doesn’t mean you’ll always win more. Multi-way slots often have higher hit frequency. You’ll see wins pop up more often, but since payouts are spread across hundreds of possible combinations, those wins are usually smaller.

As for RTP (Return to Player), it typically aligns with standard payline slots. You won’t find games with a higher or lower RTP solely because of its layout. That figure is baked into the game overall. What does change is the volatility.

Volatility is a slot’s rhythm of wins. Some multi-way games hit constantly with mini wins (low volatility), while others hold out for epic payouts (high volatility). So when you see “243 ways,” think of it as more paths to prizes, not guaranteed bigger or more frequent ones.

Multi-Way vs. Paylines: A Side-by-Side Example

Let’s say you’re playing two slots with the same 5×3 layout. One has 25 paylines, while the other has 243 ways to win.

In the 25-payline slot, you only win if your symbols land in those exact lines, like a zigzag or diagonal pattern. Miss one space, and that combo is a capital D dud. Your payout might be bigger because it’s more difficult to line up symbols on a predetermined payline.

Now hop over to the 243-ways-to-win slot. Suddenly, any matching symbols on consecutive reels from left to right count. So if you have three cherries on reel one, one cherry on reel two, and two on reel three, that’s multiple win paths lighting up at once. They don’t have to follow a strict, pre-drawn payline. Because its easier to win, your payout is likely smaller.

Pros & Cons of Multi-Way Slots

Multi-way slots sound like a dream. You enjoy hundreds of ways to win instead of a handful of paylines. However, they also come with trade-offs.

Let’s start with the good news and the advantages of multiway slots:

• More frequent wins: With so many possible combinations, you’ll see wins pop up more often.
• Easier to understand: Forget the confusing reel patterns. Just match symbols across reels from left to right.
• Faster gameplay: Every spin feels dynamic since nearly every symbol has potential, and there’s a lot more movement.
• More visual excitement: Wins can appear all over the screen, not just on a few fixed lines.

And the not-so-good news:

• Smaller average payouts: Frequent wins mean each one usually pays less.
• Higher volatility in some titles: The balance between many wins and big prizes can vary a lot.
• Limited strategy: With so many ways active, you can’t adjust the number of lines to control your bet.
• Potentially higher minimum bet: Some multi-way slots lock in all ways, which can raise the entry cost.

Multi-Way vs. Paylines: Which one should I play?

Here’s the truth. Neither one is better; they’re just different, like sweaters and hoodies. You can win at playing slots with both styles.

If you’re the type who appreciates a steady stream of smaller, regular-symbol wins and isn’t afraid of the dry spells that come with higher volatility games, multi-way slots are your dream boat. They keep your wins bouncing along since every position can count toward a combo.

But if you’re chasing that one big hit or prefer classic slot structure, payline games deliver that old-school tension you miss from family road trips with pit stops at Nevada gas stations. They stick to fewer, defined patterns, which means wins feel rarer but are usually more satisfying.

Traditional slots stick to payline patterns, while multi-way games open up hundreds (or even thousands) of ways to score wins. Whether you like the connect-the-dots structure or the free-for-all feel of payways, SlotsLV Casino has them in droves, and you’ll love them one way or another. Head on over and discover the multitude of ways to win.