Rows in Online Slots: a Complete Guide

Online slots are a hugely popular game, and for good reason. They're fast-paced, exciting games that can make you feel like a Las Vegas high roller! The rows in online slots range from 1 to 7 reel symbols wide in most cases - but how do these different configurations impact your chances of winning? In this blog post we'll take a look at the different types of slot machines and what they mean for your bankroll.

As a rule of thumb, rows impact in a big way how many paylines an online slot has. The more rows a slot machine has the higher number paylines is to be expected due to layout mechanics.

Quite often, players come across an explanation for the reels of slots, being silent about what the rows are. At the same time, rows, along with reels and RNG, are an important part of any slot machine. Many people confuse this concept with paylines, but this is fundamentally wrong.

Together with the reels, the rows make up the playing grid on which the symbols are dropped. Previously, it was quite common to find single-row slots. Today, the number of rows has increased, and with it the chances of luck. Along with them, the providers have also added many visual effects when a winning combination falls on the grid.

What are rows on Slots?

Slot rows are the horizontal lines on which symbols are dropped during a spin. It is not uncommon to think that rows in slots are paylines. To understand the difference between the two, you need to know how rows and prize lines work. Paylines are rows of winning combinations. They can be zig-zag, V-line, vertical and horizontal.

Another difference between rows and paylines is that a slot cannot be released without rows, as opposed to lines. Recently, it has become increasingly common for providers to announce the release of slots (such games already exist, though) without paylines. Such games feature so-called ways to win. It's mainly concerned with innovative slots that feature Megaways. What does that mean? It means that when you create a winning combination, the symbols do not form a line, but must be present on every reel in any row.

This way, the difference between the two concepts becomes apparent and you will no longer confuse rows with prize lines. In addition to this misconception, there is an opinion that the number of rows and reels is directly related to RTP and volatility. This is the same misconception.

The point is that the RNG is responsible for the fallout of those or other symbols in the rows. This is a special program that randomly selects and displays symbols for the playing field, whether it is 33 or 95. The RNG works separately from the RTP and volatility, which are built into the slot. From this, you can conclude that changing the number of rows does not affect changing other parameters.

How many rows on slots normally

The first slots could not boast of variety. Players were offered slot machines with 3 reels and 3 rows. It was also common to find slots with 1 row. However, advances in technology and the desire to surprise their users have led to modern providers inventing not only new features and winning algorithms, but also modifying the game grid. On the standard field of yesteryear, all this was difficult to implement due to the lack of the necessary technology. The most advanced studios did find solutions to make changes to the slots.

The rows are the first to be affected. Even though the absolute majority still have 3 rows, providers continue to experiment with this part of the game grid. Modern slots have 4, 5 rows, and some even have 6, 7 rows. That said, there are games with a changeable number of rows during the game. This happens automatically during gameplay.

It is worth clarifying that the current trend is still towards machines with 3 rows. They account for about half of all existing games. More and more players have expressed a desire for developers to create slots with a customisable grid, but so far no studio has been able to technically make that a reality.