Scatter Symbol

Scatter symbols are the most important symbols in most slot machines—they're your ticket to the bonus round where life-changing wins happen. Unlike regular symbols that must align on specific paylines, scatters work anywhere on the reels. Land enough of them, and you trigger free spins, bonus games, or other high-value features. Since bonus rounds typically contribute 60-80% of a slot's total win potential, understanding scatter mechanics is essential for any slot player.

How Scatters Work
Scatter vs. Wild
Types of Scatter Features
Scatter Mechanics
Scatter Probability
Game Examples
Strategy and Tips

How Scatters Work {#how-it-works}

The Basic Concept

Scatters break the normal rules of slot machines:

Normal Symbols	Scatter Symbols
Must be on a payline	Pay/trigger anywhere
Need specific positions	Position doesn't matter
Left-to-right required	Anywhere on reels
Complete combos	Activate features

What Scatters Do

Function	Description
Trigger bonuses	Land 3+ to start free spins
Direct payouts	Often have own paytable values
Multiplier pays	Usually multiply total bet, not line bet
Retrigger features	More scatters during bonus = more spins

Example Scatter Mechanic

Reel 1   Reel 2   Reel 3   Reel 4   Reel 5
  🍒      ⭐       🍋       ⭐       🍒
  🍋      🍊       ⭐       🍋       🍊
  🍊      🍋       🍊       🍊       🍋

⭐ = Scatter symbol
3 Scatters anywhere = BONUS TRIGGERED!

Payout Calculation

Scatters typically pay based on total bet, not per-line bet:

\text{Scatter Win} = \text{Total Bet} \times \text{Scatter Multiplier}

Scatters	Multiplier	$2 Total Bet
2	2x	$4
3	5x	$10 (+ feature trigger)
4	20x	$40 (+ more spins)
5	100x	$200 (+ max spins)

Scatter vs. Wild {#scatter-vs-wild}

Key Differences

Feature	Wild	Scatter
Main function	Substitutes for symbols	Triggers features
Position matters	Yes (payline required)	No (anywhere works)
Substitutes for scatter	No	N/A
Direct payout	Sometimes	Usually
Payout base	Per-line bet	Total bet
Quantity needed	Part of combo	3+ for trigger

Visual Comparison

Wild helping win:

🍒 WILD 🍒 🍋 🍊 = 3-of-a-kind Cherry (Wild substitutes)

Scatter triggering bonus:

⭐ anywhere + ⭐ anywhere + ⭐ anywhere = Bonus Triggered!

Working Together

Scenario	Result
3 Scatters + Full wild reel	Scatter triggers bonus, wild helps base wins
Wild lands with 2 scatters	Still need 3rd scatter (wild won't substitute)
Scatter on payline	Only scatter value, doesn't help other combos

Types of Scatter Features {#types}

Free Spins Trigger

Most common scatter function:

Scatters	Typical Award
3	10-12 free spins
4	15-20 free spins
5	20-25 free spins
6+	25-30+ free spins

Bonus Game Trigger

Bonus Type	Example
Pick and click	Choose items for prizes
Wheel spin	Spin for multipliers
Board game	Progress for rewards
Trail bonus	Advance through levels

Multiplier Scatters

Scatters that add win multipliers:

Mechanic	Description
Scatter multiplies wins	All wins during bonus multiplied
Stacking multipliers	Multiple scatters = higher multiplier
Progressive multiplier	Increases with each scatter

Expanding Scatters

Type	Effect
Scatter expands to wild	Covers reel after bonus trigger
Symbol selection	Scatter picks expanding symbol
Full reel scatter	Entire reel becomes bonus

Collecting Scatters

Mechanic	Description
Accumulator	Collect scatters over many spins
Meter filling	Progress bar triggers bonus
Scatter collection	Build toward feature

Scatter Mechanics {#mechanics}

Trigger Requirements

Requirement Type	Examples
Any position	3 scatters anywhere on 5 reels
Specific reels	Scatters on reels 1, 3, 5 only
Left-to-right	Start from reel 1
Adjacent	Consecutive reels
Minimum reels	At least 3 different reels

Scatter Stacking

Some slots feature stacked scatters:

Stacking Type	Effect
Stacked on reels	Multiple scatters per reel possible
Full reel scatter	Entire reel of scatters
Random scatter add	Extra scatters added randomly

Retrigger Mechanics

Landing scatters during bonus rounds:

Retrigger	Typical Award
2 scatters in bonus	+2-3 free spins
3 scatters in bonus	+5-10 free spins
4+ scatters	+10-15 free spins

Slot Type	Retrigger Limit
Capped	Maximum 100-200 spins
Uncapped	Unlimited retriggers
No retrigger	Fixed spin count

Scatter Pays During Bonus

Behavior	Description
Pays + triggers	Cash prize plus feature
Triggers only	Feature activation, no cash
Enhanced pays	Higher multipliers in bonus

Scatter Probability {#probability}

Typical Scatter Frequency

Result	Approximate Odds
0 scatters	80-90% of spins
1 scatter	7-12% of spins
2 scatters	2-5% of spins
3 scatters (trigger)	0.5-2% of spins
4+ scatters	0.1-0.5% of spins

Feature Trigger Rates

P(\text{3+ Scatters}) \approx 0.5\% - 2\% \text{ per spin}

Trigger Rate	Spins Between Bonuses
1 in 80	Frequent
1 in 150	Average
1 in 250	Rare
1 in 400+	Very rare

Calculating Scatter Probability

For a 5-reel slot with scatter probability p per reel:

P(\text{3+ Scatters}) = \sum_{k=3}^{5} \binom{5}{k} p^k (1-p)^{5-k}

Scatter Density by Slot Type

Volatility	Typical Trigger Rate	Bonus Impact
Low	1 in 60-100	Lower average wins
Medium	1 in 100-200	Balanced
High	1 in 200-400	Higher average wins

The Math Behind Scatter Rarity

Why are triggers relatively rare?

\text{Bonus Contribution} = P(\text{Trigger}) \times \text{Average Bonus Win}

If bonuses contribute 60% to 96% RTP:

Frequent triggers = smaller bonuses
Rare triggers = larger bonuses

Game Examples {#examples}

Book of Dead (Play'n GO)

Scatter Feature	Detail
Symbol	Book
Trigger	3+ anywhere
Award	10 free spins
Special	Random expanding symbol
Retrigger	Yes, +10 per 3 scatters

Starburst (NetEnt)

Scatter Feature	Detail
Symbol	None (no traditional scatter)
Trigger	Expanding wild feature
Special	Wild-driven respins
Note	No scatter bonus round

Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)

Scatter Feature	Detail
Symbol	Lollipop
Trigger	4+ anywhere
Award	10 free spins
Special	Tumble + multiplier bombs
Retrigger	Yes, with 3+ scatters

Gonzo's Quest (NetEnt)

Scatter Feature	Detail
Symbol	Free Fall symbol
Trigger	3+ on consecutive reels
Award	10 free falls
Special	15x multiplier in bonus
Retrigger	Yes

Comparison Table

Slot	Scatters Needed	Average Bonus Win	Trigger Rate
Book of Dead	3	80-100x	1 in 150
Sweet Bonanza	4	100-150x	1 in 200
Gonzo's Quest	3 (consecutive)	50-70x	1 in 120
Wolf Gold	3	50-80x	1 in 100

Strategy and Tips {#strategy}

Choosing Slots by Scatter Features

Preference	Choose Slots With
Frequent bonuses	Low scatter threshold (3)
Bigger bonuses	Higher scatter requirement (4+)
Extended play	Retrigger potential
Simple mechanics	Standard free spins

Reading Paytables

Check For	Why It Matters
Scatter requirements	Know how to trigger
Scatter payouts	Direct wins plus features
Retrigger rules	Can bonus extend?
Max win in bonus	Ceiling on feature

During Gameplay

Tip	Explanation
Don't chase scatters	Each spin is independent
Note trigger rate	Set expectations
Budget for dry spells	May need 200+ spins to trigger
Celebrate triggers	That's where value lies

Bankroll Considerations

\text{Minimum Bankroll} = \text{Bet Size} \times \text{Average Spins to Trigger} \times 1.5

Trigger Rate	Bet	Recommended Bankroll
1 in 100	$1	$150
1 in 200	$1	$300
1 in 300	$1	$450

Common Myths {#myths}

Myth 1: Scatters Are "Due" After Dry Spell

Reality: Each spin has identical scatter probability. After 500 spins without a bonus, the next spin has the same odds as spin 1.

P(\text{Scatter on spin 501}) = P(\text{Scatter on spin 1})

Era	Scatter Innovation
1990s	First scatter symbols introduced
2000s	Scatter-triggered free spins standard
2010s	Multi-level scatter features
2020s	Complex accumulator mechanics

Modern Innovations

Innovation	Example
Scatter collection	Accumulate over spins
Variable scatters	Different scatter = different bonus
Scatter multipliers	Land more = better bonus
Mystery scatters	Reveals value when landed

Provider Approaches

Provider	Scatter Style
NetEnt	Classic scatter triggers
Pragmatic Play	High scatter count (4+)
Play'n GO	Book-style special symbols
Big Time Gaming	Megaways integration
Nolimit City	xWays/xNudge variations

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Scatter Symbol

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Frequently Asked Questions

Evgeny Volkov

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