What Is a Scatter Symbol?
Most symbols only pay when they land in a specific pattern, such as along a payline or on adjacent reels in a ways to win game. Scatters are different. They count wherever they appear in view, on any reel and in any row. This is where the name comes from: they can be "scattered" anywhere.
Scatters usually have a distinctive design that matches the game's theme, and are often labelled "scatter" or "free spins" on the symbol itself.
What Scatters Do
Trigger Features
The main job of most scatters is to trigger a bonus feature, most commonly free spins. For example, landing three scatters might award 10 free spins, four scatters 15 and five scatters 20. The exact numbers vary by game and are shown in the paytable.
Pay Prizes
Many scatters also pay a prize when enough of them land. Scatter prizes are usually calculated as a multiple of your total bet, rather than your bet on a single line, and are added to any other wins on that spin.
Retrigger Features
In many games, landing scatters during free spins awards extra spins, known as a retrigger. Some games set a limit on how many extra spins can be won.
How Many Scatters Do You Need?
Most traditional five-reel pokies need three or more scatters to trigger the main feature. Games with larger grids often need more. In Gates of Olympus, for example, four or more scatters trigger the free spins round.
Some games also limit where scatters can land. A game might only place scatters on reels one, three and five, so a maximum of three can land on a single spin. The paytable explains these rules.
Why Features Can Feel Rare
Because scatters need to land on several reels at once, features can take a long time to trigger. A simple illustration shows why.
Example: Imagine a five-reel game where each reel has a 1 in 10 chance of showing a scatter on any spin. The chance of landing three or more scatters on the same spin works out at about 0.86%, or roughly 1 in 117 spins. The chance of landing exactly two scatters is much higher, at about 1 in 14 spins.
Real games use their own probabilities, but the pattern is the same: landing two scatters is far more common than landing three, which is why "almost" triggering a feature happens so often. Two scatters do not make the next spin more likely to trigger the bonus. Every spin is decided independently by the random number generator.
Anticipation Effects
Many games slow down the final reels or play special sounds when two scatters have landed, building suspense about whether a third will appear. These effects are presentation only. The result was decided when you pressed spin.
Scatters vs Wilds vs Bonus Symbols
- Wild symbols substitute for other symbols to complete wins. In most games, they cannot substitute for scatters.
- Scatter symbols pay or trigger features wherever they land.
- Bonus symbols also trigger features, but some games require them to land on specific reels or along a payline, unlike scatters. See Slot Bonus Features Explained.
In a few games, one symbol plays more than one role. In Book of Dead, for example, the Book symbol acts as both the wild and the scatter.
"Scatter Pays" and "Pay Anywhere" Games
Some modern pokies apply the scatter idea to every symbol. In these games, often called "scatter pays" or "pay anywhere" games, a win is formed when enough matching symbols land anywhere on the grid, such as eight or more of the same symbol. Gates of Olympus is a well-known example. These games often combine pay-anywhere wins with cascading reels and multipliers.
This is similar to, but not the same as, cluster pays, where matching symbols must be touching each other.
Scatters, RTP and Volatility
A large share of many games' RTP is paid out through features triggered by scatters. That means:
- The base game may pay relatively little between features
- Results can swing widely depending on whether and when the feature triggers
- Games that need more scatters, or have rarer scatters, tend to be more volatile
Our Slot Volatility Explained guide explains what this means for your budget.
Common Misconceptions About Scatters
"Two scatters means the bonus is close."
No. Each spin is independent. Landing two scatters does not make the next spin more likely to trigger the feature. See Pokies Myths Explained.
"The bonus is due because it has not triggered for a while."
No. A long run without a feature does not change the chance of triggering it on the next spin.
"Wilds can help trigger the bonus."
Usually not. In most games, wilds do not substitute for scatters. Check the paytable to be sure.
Playing Responsibly
Waiting for scatters to land can keep players spinning far longer than planned. Decide on a budget and time limit before you start, and stop when you reach them, whether or not the bonus has triggered. Our guides on setting gambling limits and recognising gambling harm explain practical steps, and Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.