Scatter symbols in online slots may seem like just another icon spinning around the reels. However, these special symbols open up features and wins not available with regular symbols. Understanding how scatter symbols work can help players capitalize on lucrative bonus opportunities at Royal Reels Casino and other platforms.
What Makes Scatter Symbols Different
Unlike standard symbols that must line up on enabled paylines to award payouts, scatter symbols pay out when landing anywhere on the reels, even on non-payline spots. The key abilities of scatter symbols include:
- Paying out when hitting reels regardless of payline positions.
- Triggering free spins, bonus rounds and other special features.
- Awarding payout multipliers that significantly boost wins.
These versatile symbols provide players with more ways to win big compared to regular icons limited to payline awards.
Activating Free Spins
One of the most popular perks of scatter symbols is their ability to unlock free spins rounds. When a designated number of scatters land on the reels, such as three or more, the slot will award a round of 5, 10 or even 50+ free turns.
During free spins:
- Players enjoy risk-free betting with no money deducted from their balance.
- All payouts are multiplied by the triggering multiplier, often 3x to 10x wins.
- Additional scatters can retrigger more free spins for extended play.
Free spins allow players to rack up substantial payouts without spending extra. Rewards can reach thousands of times the triggering bet when scatters keep hitting.
Launching Bonus Games
Beyond free spins, some slots use scatters as keys to bonus games with instant prizes up for grabs. Examples include:
- Pick and click bonuses. Players select objects on the screen to reveal instant coin wins or multipliers
- Wheel bonuses. A prize wheel is spun to award coin wins, free spins, jackpots and more
- Trail bonuses. Players move along a path to win instant prizes and advance to bigger rewards
These entertaining bonus games break up standard play with chances to grab bonuses. Scatter symbols may award coins on their own in addition to entrance into these games.
How Many Scatters Trigger Bonuses
The number of scatter symbols required to activate bonuses depends on the game. Here are some typical requirements:
| Number of Scatters | Feature Triggered |
| 3 | 10 free spins |
| 4 | Wheel bonus game |
| 5 | 20 free spins + 3x all wins |
Of course, each game sets its own rules. Players can check the paytable for that game’s scatter requirements.
Are All Scatters Created Equal?
While scatters may look similar, some have a higher value than others. Standard scatters that simply trigger free spins tend to pay less than specialized types like:
- Mega Scatters: Oversize icons that occupy more reel space for easier landing.
- Multiplier Scatters: Apply a 2x to 10x multiplier to any scatter win.
- Expanding Scatters: Can expand to cover entire reels after landing, boosting wins.
- Stacked Scatters: Appear stacked on reels, enabling multiple hits per spin.
Richly decorated scatters also tend to award higher payouts along with plentiful bonuses.
Strategies for Winning With Scatters
Follow these tips to maximize scatter symbol rewards:
- Choose games with multiple scatter triggers like free spins, bonuses and multipliers.
- Target slots with frequent low-paying scatters to trigger smaller bonuses more often.
- Play games where scatters activate lucrative pick-and-click bonuses.
- Enable more paylines to give scatters more landing spots for bonuses.
- Use free spin rewards to keep retriggering more spins and extend play.
By applying these strategies, players can optimize scatter symbol payouts for bigger overall wins.
Scatters Clearly Do More Than Meets the Eye
Scatter symbols undoubtedly offer more than first meets the eye. With abilities to pay out anywhere, trigger free spin bonuses, reveal instant prizes and multiply wins, they provide plenty of profit potential. Understanding scatter symbol functionality is key to unlocking these lucrative features. Players who learn to leverage scatters can bank epic rewards other symbols simply cannot deliver.
