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Scatter symbols have become a core feature of almost every modern online slot. They’re often the most exciting symbols in the entire game because they hold the key to the bonus rounds, and that’s usually where the biggest wins are hiding.
In this guide, you’ll learn precisely what scatter symbols on slot machines are, how they work, and the different types you’ll see in today’s games. We’ll also cover the massive winning potential these symbols can unleash, highlight the top real-money scatter symbol slot games to play online, and share expert gameplay tips to help you enjoy your sessions more responsibly.
What Are Scatter Symbols & How Do They Work?
Almost all modern slots at the top online slot casinos feature these symbols, and many players won’t even consider a game without them. But what exactly do they do?
In most slots, scatters don’t usually have a direct payout (although some do), but instead trigger a bonus feature when the required number lands on the reels. This is most commonly a free spins bonus round, and in modern slots, this is often where the most significant wins happen due to multipliers, stacked wilds, or other boosted mechanics inside the feature.
Scatters are different from regular symbols because they don’t need to land on a specific payline. Other symbols must line up across a payline to count as a win, but scatters trigger their feature simply by appearing anywhere on the reels, even if the scatter pattern is random and not aligned. This is why they’re called “scatter” symbols; they can be scattered across the grid and still activate the bonus.
Do Special Scatter Symbols Need to Land on Specific Paylines?
Special scatter symbols do not need to land on specific paylines. While regular symbols need to line up from left to right in a row across a payline to activate, scatters are triggered simply by appearing anywhere on the screen across any reel. Their position doesn’t matter at all; the only thing that matters is if you have the required amount to activate the bonus feature.
Identifying Scatter Symbols on Slots
The easiest way to identify scatter symbols on slots is to open the paytable or info screen. Every modern slot displays the scatter symbol, along with the number of them required to trigger the bonus and the feature it unlocks.
On the reels themselves, scatter symbols in slots often have the word “SCATTER” printed on them, or they stand out visually with unique artwork, gold borders, larger icon sizes, or animated effects that differ from those of regular symbols.
Types of Scatter Symbols on Slot Machines
When you play a slot with scatter symbols, they don’t all work the same way. While they all share similarities, there can be key differences between games in terms of scatter types and their mechanics. Here we take a closer look at the five main types of scatter symbols in slot machines.
- Free Spins Scatters: Free spin scatter slots symbols are the most common type you’ll find at online and in-person slot machines. When you receive a set number, you will receive a predetermined number of free spins. In many cases, the more scatters you land, the more free spins you trigger.
- Paying Scatters: Paying scatters trigger an instant payout, much like standard pay symbols. The big difference is that they activate wherever they are on the reels; you don’t need them to line up on a payline, and the payout is awarded simply for the symbols appearing on the screen.
- Bonus Buy Scatters: Some more modern slots allow you to purchase direct entry into the bonus round rather than waiting to land scatters from spins. In this case, you don’t actually receive the scatters, but the symbols define which bonus feature you are buying entry to.
- Wild Scatters: In some slot machines, a scatter can also act as a wild, meaning it can substitute for regular symbols to help form winning combinations. This makes the symbol extremely valuable.
The Difference Between Wild and Scatter Symbols
Wild and scatter symbols are often the most exciting icons in a slot game because they can boost your winning potential or unlock special features. However, the two serve different functions, and knowing the difference helps you understand how wins and bonus rounds are triggered.
A Wild symbol substitutes for most other symbols (except scatters) to help complete winning lines. You don’t need a set number of wilds; they simply act as the missing symbol in a payline. For example, if you land two Aces and a Wild, the Wild counts as a third Ace, and the win pays out as if you matched three Aces naturally.
Scatters, however, are usually used to trigger bonus rounds when you land a specific number of them on the reels. This is most commonly a free spins bonus, but some games use special scatters to unlock mini-games or other bonus mechanics. In certain modern slots, both functions can be combined into special scatter symbols, known as Wild Scatters, which substitute for other symbols and trigger the bonus feature.
The Best Slots With Scatter Symbols
Although not every game features scatter symbols, the majority of slots at the top online casinos do nowadays, and there are literally thousands of options available. We’ve highlighted five of the best scatter symbol slot machines below, all of which offer an all-around quality gaming experience.
Piggy Riches Megaways
The Piggy Riches Megaways slot by Red Tiger (in partnership with NetEnt) takes the original Piggy Riches concept and upgrades it with the Megaways engine for far bigger win potential. Released in 2020, this high-volatility slot uses a 6-reel Megaways system with up to 117,649 ways to win per spin, making it far more dynamic than the original.
Landing three Lady Pig scatters anywhere on the reels triggers the free spins bonus round. The excitement of the bonus round lies before the round even begins, as rather than a set number of free spins, you instead spin a wheel to determine both your starting number of free spins and your starting multiplier. During the bonus, every scatter adds more spins, and every winning spin increases the multiplier with no maximum limit, meaning there’s potential for absolutely huge wins.
Montezuma
The Montezuma slot is a classic Aztec-themed game based on the ninth Aztec emperor of Mexico. Developed by Light & Wonder and released online in 2014, it uses a 5×3 layout, has a 95.86% RTP, and offers a maximum win of up to 3,000x your bet.
The scatter in Montezuma is the shield, and landing three or more triggers the free spins bonus round. There isn’t a fixed number of free spins; a wheel determines how many you get, and during the bonus, each spin also triggers a second multiplier wheel worth 2x to 10x, which is where most of the slot’s big win potential comes from.
Book of the Dead
The Book of the Dead slot is an iconic ancient-Egypt themed game featuring the adventurous explorer Rich Wilde. The 5×45 slot game was released in 2016 and is one of the most popular Play’n GO slots thanks to its high-volatility yet straightforward gameplay. It offers a 96.21% RTP, a maximum win of 5,000 times your stake, and a gamble feature after each win where you can win 2 or 4 times your payout.
The Book symbol acts as both the Wild and the Scatter in the Book of the Dead slot. Landing three Books triggers the free spins bonus, and one symbol is randomly selected to become an expanding golden symbol during the feature.
Full-screen expansions can lead to huge payouts, especially on premium symbols. You start with 10 free spins, but the round can retrigger indefinitely if more Book scatters land, meaning there’s no hard limit on how many total free spins you can end up with.
Jumanji
The Jumanji slot released in 2018 is one of the most played NetEnt slots around. It is themed around the iconic 1990s movie starring the late great Robin Williams. The game stands out immediately because of its unusual reel layout. Instead of a standard grid, the game uses a unique 3-4-5-4-3 reel pattern. Jumanji is a low-to-medium volatility slot with a 96.33% RTP, and offers a truly immersive slot experience.
The exciting bonus round is triggered by landing three or more scatters, which activates the iconic Jumanji Slot Board Game feature. Players roll dice to move a token around the board and unlock one of four free spins modes, each based on different jungle hazards, such as Monsoon Free Spins or Monkey Free Spins. The different bonus rounds can offer things like increased wilds, wild reels, reshuffles for guaranteed wins with every spin, and sticky symbols.
300 Shields
The 300 Shields slot machine from NextGen Gaming is themed around ancient Sparta and the legend of the Battle of Thermopylae and the hit movie from the 2000s. Released in 2012, this 5×3, high-volatility slot has 25 paylines, sharp comic-style visuals and fast gameplay.
The free spins round is triggered by landing three or more shields anywhere on the reels. You start with five free spins but can retrigger further spins during the round. Each set of scatters collected during the bonus not only gives you more spins but also increases your stage level, and if you make it to the final tier, wins involving warrior symbols are boosted by a staggering 300× multiplier which can result in huge payouts.
Tips for Playing Slots With Scatter Symbols
Slot machines with scatters are purely luck-based, and there’s no way to influence the outcome of any individual spin. However, there are smart steps you can take to protect yourself from risky play, manage your bankroll better, and give yourself a more enjoyable overall slot experience. Here are our top five expert tips for playing scatter slots.
Tip #1: Have Adequate Spins to Activate Scatters
Scatter-triggered bonus rounds can take time to hit, and most of the big wins in scatter slots happen inside the bonus. Therefore, it’s essential to start with a sufficient balance to maintain a solid session and realistically reach the free spins feature.
A good approach is to have enough for at least 100 spins with low and medium-volatility machines, but aiming for 120-150 is better when playing high-volatility symbols slot machines.
Tip #2: Get to Know the Scatter Symbol
Not every slot with scatter symbols works the same and there are several different types of scatters. Some scatters just trigger free spins, some add multipliers, and some act as wilds as well. Checking the game info panel and familiarizing yourself with exactly what your scatters do, the number of scatters required and whether any other symbols contribute to bonus progress is essential.
Tip #3: Take Breaks
Playing slots with scatter symbols can be very exciting and captivating because you are waiting for that “one bonus trigger”, but this also makes it easy to tunnel-vision and keep spinning without stopping. Taking small breaks every 20-30 minutes helps keep focus, avoid chasing losses, make better decisions, and makes your overall gaming experience more enjoyable.
Tip #4: Know If Free Spins Can Retrigger
Some scatter slots allow unlimited free spin retriggers, while others only allow a limited number of retriggers, or even none at all. Slots with higher or unlimited retriggers have much better long-term bonus potential. Checking this detail first lets you prioritise slots with this feature and gives you a better long term potential of profit.
Tip #5: Avoid Using the Max Bet Option Constantly
Betting the maximum per spin is tempting, as when you do win, you’ll achieve a much higher payout. However, betting the maximum is necessary to trigger scatter bonus features, and if you continually bet the max, you can deplete your bankroll quickly. It’s a better idea to bet a medium stake, which will allow you to stay in the game for longer.
The Bottom Line
Slots are the most popular form of gambling, and scatters appear in almost every modern slot because, for most players, they’re the feature that matters most. While all scatters share the same general purpose of activating a special bonus round, the way they work and the features they trigger can vary massively from game to game.
There’s now such a huge range of free spin mechanics, multipliers, bonus modifiers, and special features that it can be hard to know which scatter slots are worth playing. If you love scatter-focused games, it’s wise to test them in demo mode first before signing up to a safe online casino and wagering real money. This gives you a feel for the bonus round style and volatility before committing your bankroll.
