The humble scatter symbol may seem like just another icon on the slot reels at first glance. However, looks can be deceiving. While standard symbols need to line up on enabled paylines to trigger payouts, scatters are free to pay anywhere. These special symbols also give YoCasino players access to bonus features like free spins, multipliers, pick games and more.

Scatter Symbols Break Free from Payline Restrictions

Landing matching symbols across enabled paylines is the standard way to win money in slots. Line up five 10s on a line and you’ll get a payout based on that symbol’s value. Scatter symbols say goodbye to those restrictions, however.

As the name suggests, scatters can land anywhere on the reels to pay out. Three scatters landing on reels 1, 3 and 5 would traditionally pay nothing since there is no connecting payline. But with scatters, those three icons alone trigger payouts and other rewards.

This pay-anywhere mechanic makes scatters far more valuable than other symbols. Players don’t need to enable more paylines to give scatters a better chance of hitting. Their positioning is irrelevant.

Scatter Payouts and Multipliers Encourage Bigger Bets

Scatter wins are usually proportional to the total bet size. At the most basic level, landing three scatters when playing $0.20 per spin may return 2x your bet while hitting five scatters at $1 per round may pay 500x.

Bet Size	3 Scatter Payout	5 Scatter Payout
$0.20	$0.40 (2x bet)	$10 (50x bet)
$1.00	$2 (2x bet)	$500 (500x bet)

These proportionate payouts encourage players to up their bets to earn bigger scatter wins. After all, landing five scatters when betting $0.20 returns just $10 while hitting the same result at $1 per spin awards $500.

Some slots take things further by adding extra scatter multipliers. On top of the standard scatter payouts, an additional 5x or 10x multiplier can be applied for added excitement.

Scatter Symbols Trigger Bonus Features

Beyond handing out payouts, scatter symbols also commonly activate bonus features. The most popular reward is likely free spins. When three or more scatters land, players may win 10, 20 or even 100+ spins to continue playing for free.

During these bonus rounds, extra features are usually enabled to drive up win potential. Some titles lock wild symbols in place for the duration of free spins or apply lucrative multipliers to all payouts.

Other freeslots99 use scatters to unlock pick bonuses. Here, players click on scatters to reveal instant credit prizes, more free spins or access to second-screen bonus events. The picks may also reveal matching symbols to help complete combinations on the base game reels.

Top Slots With Scatter Symbols and Their Key Features

Slot Name	Provider	Scatter Symbol	Key Features
Book of Dead	Play’n GO	Book	Free spins, Expanding symbols, High volatility
Starburst XXXtreme	NetEnt	Starburst symbol	Expanding wilds, Respins, Random wilds
Wolf Gold	Pragmatic Play	Full Moon	Free spins, Money respin feature, Fixed jackpots
Gonzo’s Quest	NetEnt	Free Fall (Gold Coin)	Avalanche reels, Multipliers, Free spins
Buffalo King Megaways	Pragmatic Play	Buffalo	Free spins, Multipliers, Megaways mechanic
Bonanza	Big Time Gaming	Gold Scatter	Megaways, Cascading reels, Free spins
Immortal Romance	Microgaming	Lion Door Knocker	Chamber of Spins (Free spins), Wild desire feature
Pink Elephants	Thunderkick	Glowing Peanut	Free spins, Mystery symbols, High volatility
Dead or Alive 2	NetEnt	Pistols	Sticky wilds, Free spins, Multipliers
Jammin’ Jars	Push Gaming	Jam Jar	Cluster Pays, Cascading reels, Multipliers
Aloha! Cluster Pays	NetEnt	Free Spins Postcard	Cluster Pays, Free spins, Sticky symbols

Scatter Functionality Differs Between Slot Types

While scatters in video slots almost always drive bonuses and payouts, their functionality varies across other slot types:

Classic Slots

The original slot machines had physical reels and no special software. As such, classic slots generally don’t have scatter symbols or related bonuses. However, modern software providers sometimes program classic slots with extra features like free spins.

Megaways Slots

Megaways slots use an expanding reel format for over 100,000 ways to win. Scatter symbols fit neatly into these titles by further boosting payout potential. Top providers like Big Time Gaming skillfully utilize scatters to activate lucrative re-spins, multipliers, extra wilds and more.

Jackpot Slots

Games with pooled progressive jackpots will occasionally use scatters to drive excitement. Scatter jackpots with rising values are common, awarding the full pot when six or more land. The jackpot scatter mechanic gives players an extra way to win besides the standard jackpot trigger.

Key Takeaways

Scatter symbols break from standard slot icons by paying out when landing anywhere on the reels. They commonly trigger lucrative bonus features like free spins and jackpot prizes based on your total wager. Optimizing scatter payouts requires volatility tolerance, higher bets and activating more paylines.

While scatters may seem like a simplistic concept, developers have molded them into versatile tools for awarding prizes, driving engagement through features and incentivizing higher wagers. Properly utilizing scatters has become integral to crafting captivating, rewarding slot experiences. Their randomized nature and big-win potential will surely continue appealing to slot fans for years to come.