Scatter Symbol

Scatter symbols pay or trigger features based on how many appear anywhere on the reels, not just on active paylines. Land 3 scatters on a 5-reel slot and you'll typically activate the free spins bonus round. Some games require 4 or 5 for the trigger, and extra scatters beyond the minimum often mean more free spins.

In many modern slots, scatters during free spins retrigger the feature, extending your bonus round. This is where the really big wins come from. A retrigger on a high-variance slot with an increasing multiplier can turn a moderate bonus into something special.

Scatters can also pay on their own as standalone symbols. Two scatters might not trigger the bonus but they'll still pay a small amount. Check the paytable for exact values because this varies wildly between games.