Gambling terms, explained straight

Slots & Gaming Machines

Slot machine lines vs ways

Slot machine lines are predefined paylines, while ways is a multiway format that pays for all symbol combinations across active reels rather than only along fixed lines.

Ways calculation
Total ways = product of symbol positions per reel; e.g. 5 reels × 4 positions = 1,024 ways4
Line requirement
Multi-line games must show a summary of paylines and indicate each line wagered2

Key points

  • In a line game, a win is evaluated only if symbols land on a designated payline.1
  • In a ways game, any left-to-right matching combination across active reels can pay, counting distinct symbol-position combinations.3
  • Ways games ignore extra combinations through non-winning reels; only ways passing through winning symbols pay.4

Where this term is used

Slots Slot machine The basic gaming device that uses reels and a random number generator to determine outcomes. Slots Slot machine jackpot The top prize on a slot machine, which may be fixed or progressive. Slots Slot machine reels The spinning columns that display symbols and determine winning combinations. Slots Slot machine price The cost to purchase a slot machine for personal or commercial use. Slots Slot machine payouts The amounts paid for winning symbol combinations, often shown on a paytable. Slots Casino slots Slot machines found in casinos, including video slots and classic reel games.

Sources

  1. GLI-11 Gaming Devices in Casinos gaminglabs.com Supports the definition of paylines and the requirement to show wagered lines.
  2. GLI-19 STANDARDS FOR INTERACTIVE GAMING SYSTEMS gaminglabs.com Supports the definition of paylines and the requirement to show wagered lines.
  3. Slots - General Questions wizardofodds.com Supports the definition of ways and how wins are evaluated.
  4. Ask The Wizard #305 wizardofodds.com Provides the example of 1,024 ways and explains how winning combinations work.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.