Most players spin for hours without ever opening the paytable. That's a mistake. The paytable is the only place where the real RTP, symbol values, and bonus rules live - all in one screen. Here's how to read it in under 2 minutes.
By Marcus Reid·Published May 27, 2026·8 min read·Beginner guide
A paytable is the rules document built into every slot. It's always there - on desktop and mobile - behind a small "i", "?", or "Info" button, usually found in the game's top corner or burger menu. Tap it before you spin anything.
It's split into multiple screens you swipe or click through. Each screen covers a different part of the game. Most players never look at it. That's why casinos can configure a lower RTP variant and very few players notice - there's nowhere else the real number appears.
Worth noting: The paytable is the only document that shows the RTP the casino has actually configured. Review sites, Google results, and even the provider's own website typically show the published maximum - which may be higher than what's running at your casino. Always check the paytable in the game itself.
The good news: once you know the 5 sections, you can read any slot's paytable in under 2 minutes. The layout varies between providers - Pragmatic Play looks different from Play'n GO - but the information is always the same.
The 5 Sections of Every Paytable
Here's a simplified mockup of a paytable - styled to show you where everything sits. Click any section to see what to look for.
Paytable
PaysLinesBonusInfo
Section 1
Symbol Pays - multipliers for each symbol at 3, 4, and 5-of-a-kind
Pays
Section 2
Paylines / Ways to Win - how wins are formed, direction, count
RTP & Variance - the actual return percentage and volatility rating
RTP
Section 5
Special Symbols - wild rules, expanding wilds, sticky wilds, scatters
Special
Click any section above to see what to look for.
Not every slot uses exactly this structure - some split bonus info across multiple screens, others combine RTP with the game info page. That said, all five categories of information are always there. You just need to know what to look for.
How to Read Paytable Symbol Values
Symbol pays are shown as multipliers of your stake - not as fixed amounts. That's worth understanding before you read any paytable. A "500x" symbol doesn't mean $500. It means 500 times whatever you've staked per spin.
Here's a typical symbol hierarchy from a medium-volatility slot. High-value symbols pay more but land less often. Low-value symbols (card suits, numbers) fill most spins but pay very little.
💎
Top Symbol
500x
5-of-a-kind
⚡
High-Value 1
150x
5-of-a-kind
🔮
High-Value 2
80x
5-of-a-kind
🗝️
Mid-Value
30x
5-of-a-kind
🃏 A
Card - Ace
10x
5-of-a-kind
🃏 K
Card - King
8x
5-of-a-kind
🃏 Q
Card - Queen
6x
5-of-a-kind
🃏 J
Card - Jack
5x
5-of-a-kind
Use the calculator below to see what any multiplier actually pays at your stake size.
Symbol Pay Calculator
$500.00
500x multiplier × $1.00 stake × 1 line
One thing to know: Some paytables show multipliers per line, others show total win. Read the small print at the top of the pays screen - it usually says "multiplied by line bet" or "multiplied by total bet". The difference matters a lot on multi-line slots.
How to Find the Real RTP in the Paytable
This is the most important part - and the most overlooked. The RTP figure on review sites is almost always the published maximum. What the casino is actually running may be lower.
Here's how to find it yourself, step by step:
1
Open the slot at your casino - not the demo, not an external site. Log in and open the real-money game.
2
Look for "i", "?", or a burger/menu icon - usually top-right or bottom-right of the game frame. Tap it.
3
Navigate to the game info or rules screen - swipe through the paytable tabs until you see a page titled "Game Info", "Rules", or "Return to Player".
4
Find the RTP percentage - it's usually listed as "RTP: 94.xx%" or "Return to Player: 94.xx%". Write it down or screenshot it.
5
Compare it to the published max - check our RTP database to see what the slot's maximum published RTP is. If yours is lower, the casino is running a lower variant.
If the RTP is missing entirely: That is a red flag. Some casinos configure the game to hide the RTP from the paytable. We found this on 4 slots at Pistolo. If you can't find it - even after checking every screen - treat that as a warning sign and consider playing elsewhere.
From what we tested: Wild Tokyo showed the RTP on every single slot we checked. Pistolo hid it on 4. That difference tells you something about how transparently each casino operates.
4 Paytable Red Flags - and 4 Good Signs
Once you know what to look for, a paytable tells you a lot about a slot - and the casino running it. Here are the things we check every time.
🚩
RTP not shown
The casino has hidden it. You can't evaluate the game fairly. Move on.
🚩
RTP below 94%
Anything under 94% is a poor return by slot standards. High volatility doesn't justify it.
🚩
Bonus rules vague or missing
If the free spins rules are unclear or the wagering cap isn't stated, expect disappointment.
🚩
Max win not stated
Reputable providers always list a maximum win cap. No cap listed = unclear expectations.
✅
RTP visible and above 96%
The casino is transparent and running a competitive variant. A good sign.
✅
Clear bonus trigger rules
Exactly how many scatters, on which reels, under what conditions. No ambiguity.
✅
Max win and volatility stated
Shows the provider is giving you the information needed to decide whether to play.
✅
Symbol values add up with the RTP
If the top symbol only pays 100x on a 96% RTP slot, check whether the bonus carries most of the return.
Quick paytable checklist: Before your first spin at any slot, check these 5 things in the paytable.
RTP is visible and above 94%
Top symbol multiplier is stated
Bonus trigger rules are clear
Maximum win cap is listed
Paylines or ways-to-win count is stated
Marcus Reid
iGaming Data Analyst
Marcus has opened the paytable on over 30 slots across multiple casinos - not to check the theme, but to record the configured RTP and compare it against the published maximum. The checklist and red flags in this guide come directly from that process. When he finds a hidden RTP, it goes on the casino's record.
RTP Database
