gameplay
Paylines
The pre-defined patterns of positions across reels that trigger a payout when matched symbols land on them.
Also known as: lineswin lines
Fixed geometric patterns across a slot’s reels that determine which symbol positions count as a “win”. Typical slots have 20-40 paylines; some have 1-10 (classic three-reel), others have hundreds.
Ways-to-win slots (243, 720, 1024, 4096) replace paylines with adjacency scoring: any matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the left pay, regardless of row position.
Megaways (see the entry) is a variable-ways engine that changes the count per spin.
Paylines are only one axis of complexity — RTP and volatility matter more than payline count for expected outcomes.