When trying to decide which slot to play from the overall collection of online games at top Irish casinos, several factors must be considered, including the slot winning method that pays out the best.

If you are a new player in the casino gaming world, you may be wondering, what are Paylines, Clusters or Megaways? Hang in there! As you read on, our team will help you discover what each represents while shedding more light on how they work.

• Defining the Important Aspects
• Paylines – Overview
• What Are Cluster Pays in Online Slots?
• Megaways – Insights on the Slot Game
• Which Winning Method is the Best in Slot Games?
• Which Slots Winning Method Pays Out the Best in Gaming?
• CasinoAlpha’s Verdict

Defining the Important Aspects

While design, volatility, theme, license, availability of a demo, free spins, and special features are key qualities to keep an eye out for, there is more that makes each slot stand out. One key quality that attracts players to an online casino is the slot payment method. If you are more familiar with the major types of slot payment methods available, check out our review on the best no deposit casinos out there.

This can be used strategically to offer players the best payout possible. As such, this should be highly considered when choosing your preferred slot machine.

Have you ever noticed that the way winning works in one slot is often different from how it works with another?

It is common knowledge among avid casino gaming enthusiasts that slots operate different winning or payment methods, some of the most popular ones being Paylines, Clusters, and Megaways. When we rate the best slot sites and compare them to ones that perform at medium quality, we look into game diversity, slot types, and software creators.

Paylines – Overview

These are invisible patterns or lines that dictate the combinations that could lead to a win when you play online slots. These are different from game to game.

The earliest slots come with 5 paylines with a straight horizontal line of matching or complimentary symbols triggering a win. Recent slots from new Irish slot sites feature even more paylines in different configurations (e.g. diagonal), meaning that you have more chances to win.

This winning method is most common among the earliest traditional slots, such as fruit slots. It revolves around preconfigured patterns in which symbols are expected to line up to trigger a win. The outcome is controlled by the software we presented in our random number generator guide.

Pros

• The slots are easier to learn because of their simplistic nature. All you have to do is understand where the lines are and the best places to land certain symbol combinations to get a win.
• They are easily compatible with Irish free spins no deposit. We discovered that in most cases, these bonuses apply to games with 20 paylines, up to 100.
• Most online slots allow you to choose the number of paylines you want to wager on, making the games accessible for everyone.
• These types of slots are the top choice for beginners who are still finding their feet playing casino games.
• Average free spins slots from the Irish market have 20-25 paylines and complementary methods like “Win-both-ways”.

Cons

• While having the ability to adjust the number of paylines for slots can be a plus, it can cause you to spend more per spin if you don’t lower the payout.
• Reducing the number of paylines you play on can also reduce what’s attainable in terms of winning on your account.

Top Online Slots with Paylines Winning Method

Let’s take a minute to look at some of the most popular paylines slots across online casinos, some of which are also presented in our best slots with free rounds article:

What Are Cluster Pays in Online Slots?

This winning method is triggered when a cluster or group of symbols (like a wild symbol) are located adjacent to each other on the reels. As a principle, to trigger a single win for this method, there is a specific number of signs or symbols that are expected to appear in the clusters. You only have to get the minimum number of symbols to appear anywhere on the screen.

For context, most slots that use cluster pays require stacking of a minimum of 3 symbols and above, horizontally or vertically. It is important to check the pay table of that slot to know the minimum number of symbols required. If you’re looking for cluster summer-themed slots, our list is what you wanna check first.

Cluster Pays is a payment method widely used by the newest online casinos. The majority of slots released since 2016 use this technology to offer more features and to create more ways for players to win.

Pros

• It poses a refreshing new outlook on the way winnings are triggered away from the traditional paylines method.
• There is no restriction as to the positions you can score a win, as is the case with paylines – just get the minimum number of symbols anywhere on the screen to trigger a win.
• The cluster gameplay mechanics are more exciting and thrilling when compared to paylines. NetEnt Irish casinos have plenty of such gaming mechanics embedded in their real-money slots.
• When you play a slot that uses cluster pays, they tend to offer a wealth of jackpot offers or mini-games.
• Their refreshing aesthetics made new Irish sites create online casino offers with cluster party games in 2023.

Cons

• It requires some level of experience to have a grip on how it works.

Top Slots with Cluster Pays

The table below serves as a tip on some of the popular cluster pays slots you can bet on:

Megaways – Insights on the Slot Game

This winning method stands out in the sense that the number and configuration of paylines change on every single spin. This new mechanic opens you up to multiple ways of winning, which can rise as high as 117,649 for some slot games online. As a player in this game, you tend to have a much higher opportunity to win.

Megaways is the newest software in the slots industry today. It creates yet more chances for players to win, so it comes as no surprise that most of the slots released since 2021 are Megaways slots.

Pros

• The slot’s possibility of having over a hundred ways to win gives it a high winning percentage. As such, players tend to have a greater edge.
• They are more fun to play, bringing in some of the gameplay mechanics of a live casino. They are also fully optimised for mobile casinos in Ireland.
• They often come with a broad range of bonus features, such as wilds, scatters, and bonus games
• Playing for money can be done with just €10 deposit bonuses collected by our bonus analysts.
• These slot games tend to offer more in-game re-spin possibilities.

Cons

• The gameplay style, although creative and exciting, can be very confusing for new players
• The payouts on wins are usually smaller compared to other payline methods. This is because developers can’t afford to allow high payout outcomes seeing as there are so many ways to win
• They offer limited progressive jackpots compared to cluster pays
• Not popular in offline machine slots that you’d find at a brick-and-mortar casino

Top Slots with MegaWays

The table below includes some of the main megaways slots that are widely popular:

Which Winning Method is the Best in Slot Games?

There is no right or wrong answer to this question, as it largely depends on your personal preference:

• If you are on the lookout for slots that are easier to play while not minding the restriction of paylines, then Paylines Slot games are perfect for you. They generally also offer bigger payouts if you do win. So, they could be ideal for new players looking for a simple form of gameplay and learning the basic mechanics of slot machines.
• On the other hand, if you dislike the limitations that come with paylines, don’t opt for a traditional paylines slot. Instead, you should shop for a category of online slots that allow you to win from any position. For this, Cluster Pays might be a good option for you – they’re made for experienced players (who understand the intricate combinations) looking for more features and an almost constant stream of winning possibilities, including jackpots.
• Lastly, if you are more concerned about having multiple winning opportunities, not minding the fact that the payout amount might be small per win, then Megaways slots could be perfect for you. They’re ideal for players who want to win regularly on a smaller budget.

It’s much easier to make a decision based on your preferences if you browse through our complete Irish casino list. We create detailed descriptions of the titles you find in their lobbies, focusing specifically on slots for a certain portion. The more informed you are about the strategies on online slots, the better your real money slots play will be.

Which Slots Winning Method Pays Out the Best in Gaming?

A short answer is that progressive jackpot slots will bring you the most casino funds if you’re fortunate. But, if we are looking at the frequency of wins, you are likely to have a better result when playing megaways slots.

However, it is important to note that the maximum payout size of a slot is generally proportional to its number of payout methods. The fewer ways you can win, typically, the more you will be awarded should you trigger a win.

CasinoAlpha’s Verdict

We have explored diversity as it applies to the winning method. It is important to note that Paylines, Cluster Pays, and Megaways all have their unique selling points.

Whether you prefer exciting features and winning smaller amounts more often or simplicity and winning larger amounts on a less frequent basis, your preference for any winning method should be based on what you consider the most important. Those who are new to online gambling can check out the guide to playing slot games.