The paytable is the most useful screen in any pokie, and the one that most players skip. Tucked behind an “i” icon, a menu button or a small question mark, it explains exactly how the game works: which symbols pay, how much they pay, how features trigger and what the rules are. Reading it takes only a minute or two, but it changes how you understand everything that happens on the reels.
Information sites like https://thepokiescasinoau.com summarise key paytable details for many titles, yet the in-game version remains the definitive source, because it reflects the exact version of the game you have loaded. This guide walks through the paytable section by section, so you know what to look for and how to interpret it.
Step 1: Find the Paytable and Check the Game Version
Most games place the paytable behind an information icon near the spin button. On mobile, it may be inside a menu accessed through three lines or a gear symbol. Once open, scroll through all the pages, as many games split their rules across several screens.
Look first for the RTP, which is often listed near the end of the rules. Some studios release the same game in several RTP versions, and the paytable will show the figure for the version you are actually playing. If the number differs from what you have read elsewhere, trust the paytable.
Step 2: Understand the Symbol Values
The first page usually shows the symbols and what they pay for combinations of three, four or five matching icons. Values may be shown as cash amounts based on your current bet, or as multipliers of the stake. If they appear as cash amounts, they will update when you change your bet size.
Symbols generally fall into three groups:
- Low-value symbols, often card ranks such as 10, J, Q, K and A
- High-value symbols, usually themed characters or objects
- Special symbols, including wilds, scatters and bonus icons
The difference between low and high values tells you a lot about the game. If five high-value symbols pay many times more than five low-value ones, much of the base-game excitement depends on landing those premium icons.
Step 3: Learn How Wins Are Counted
The paytable explains whether the game uses fixed paylines, ways to win or cluster pays. For payline games, it usually includes a diagram of every line. For ways games, it states the number of ways and explains that symbols must land on adjacent reels from left to right.
| What the paytable says | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| “20 fixed paylines” | Wins only on the 20 drawn lines | Symbol positions matter |
| “243 ways to win” | Any position on adjacent reels counts | More frequent small wins |
| “Pays left to right” | Combinations must start on reel one | A symbol on reel two alone does not count |
| “Pays both ways” | Combinations count from either side | More chances per spin |
| “Cluster pays” | Groups of touching symbols win | Position on lines is irrelevant |
| “Malfunction voids all pays” | Faulty results are not honoured | Standard rule across games |
Also check whether only the highest win per line is paid. In most games, if a line contains both a three-symbol and a four-symbol combination, only the larger win counts.
Step 4: Read the Special Symbol Rules
Wilds and scatters have their own rules, and these are where games differ most. The paytable will tell you which symbols the wild substitutes for, whether it appears on all reels, and whether it carries a multiplier or expands. For scatters, it explains how many are needed to trigger free spins, whether scatters also pay on their own, and whether the feature can be retriggered.
Pay attention to restrictions. A wild that appears only on reels two to four behaves very differently from one that can land anywhere, and a scatter that only lands on certain reels makes the feature harder to trigger than it first appears.
Step 5: Understand the Bonus Features
Feature descriptions are often the longest part of the paytable. Read them carefully, ideally with an example in mind. What happens when the feature starts? Do multipliers grow, do wilds stick, are extra symbols added to the reels? Is there a cap on the number of free spins or on the total win?
If the game offers a bonus buy or ante bet, the paytable should state its cost and any differences in RTP. These options can significantly change the experience and the cost of play, so they deserve close attention.
Step 6: Check the Limits
The final pages typically list the minimum and maximum bet, the maximum win and any other limits. The maximum win is often expressed as a multiple of the stake, for example 5,000x. Some games end the feature automatically once that cap is reached. Knowing the limit helps set realistic expectations and makes it easier to compare games.
A Quick Paytable Routine
Once you have read a few paytables, the process becomes quick. A practical routine for any new game might look like this:
- Note the RTP and confirm it matches the version you are playing
- Compare the top symbol payout with the lowest
- Identify whether the game uses lines, ways or clusters
- Read the wild and scatter rules, including any reel restrictions
- Skim the feature rules and check the maximum win
Five minutes spent here can save a lot of confusion later and help you decide whether the game suits your budget and style.
Why Paytables Are Worth the Effort
Paytables exist because studios are required to explain how their games work. They contain everything needed to understand a pokie’s structure, from the smallest symbol value to the rules that govern the biggest features. Reading them will not change the odds, but it will make you a more informed player, less likely to be surprised and better able to choose games that fit the way you like to play. If you ever feel your gambling is getting out of hand, free and confidential support is available through Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.
