How Multipliers Work
A multiplier takes a win and multiplies it by a number shown on the screen.
Example: You land a win worth $0.50. A 4x multiplier applies, so the win becomes $0.50 × 4 = $2.00.
Depending on the game, a multiplier might apply to:
- A single winning combination, such as one payline
- All wins on a single spin
- The total win of a cascade sequence
- Every win for the rest of a bonus round
The game's paytable explains exactly what each multiplier applies to. Multipliers only affect wins. If a spin does not win anything, a multiplier has nothing to multiply.
Types of Multipliers
Fixed Multipliers
A fixed multiplier always has the same value. For example, a game might triple all wins during free spins, or double any win that includes a wild.
Random Multipliers
A random multiplier is chosen from a range of possible values when it appears, such as anywhere from 2x to 100x. Games often use special multiplier symbols that land showing a value, which is then applied to the win.
Progressive Multipliers
A progressive multiplier increases as you play, usually with each win, each cascade or each spin in a feature. For example, it might start at 1x and rise by 1x after every cascade.
In some games, the progressive multiplier resets after every paid spin. In others, especially during free spins, it keeps growing for the whole round, which can lead to very large wins late in a feature. Bonanza Megaways is a well-known example of a game with a multiplier that increases with every cascade during free spins.
Multiplier Wilds
Wild symbols can carry a multiplier. A 2x wild substitutes for other symbols and also doubles any win it helps complete.
Multiplier Symbols
Some games use dedicated symbols, such as orbs, bombs or coins, that show a multiplier value. In "pay anywhere" and cascading games, these symbols often land during a tumble sequence and are added together and applied to the total win of that sequence. Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza are popular examples of games built around multiplier symbols.
Feature Multipliers
Some bonus rounds apply a multiplier to every win in the feature, or let you choose between options such as more free spins with a lower multiplier or fewer spins with a higher one. See Slot Bonus Features Explained.
How Multiple Multipliers Combine
When more than one multiplier is involved in the same win, games handle them in one of two ways.
Added Together
The values are added. A 2x and a 3x multiplier make 5x.
Multiplied Together
The values are multiplied. A 2x and a 3x multiplier make 6x.
The difference grows quickly with larger values. Two 5x multipliers make 10x if added, but 25x if multiplied. The game rules state which method is used.
Multipliers vs "Multiples of Your Stake"
Paytables often show prizes as multiples of your stake, such as "5x". This is not a multiplier feature. It simply means the combination pays five times your total bet. Some games also call the bet setting a "bet multiplier", which controls how much you wager per spin rather than boosting wins. Read the paytable carefully to tell these apart.
Multipliers, RTP and Volatility
Multipliers are built into a game's RTP from the start. To offer the chance of very large multiplied wins, a game has to make those multipliers rare or pay less elsewhere. That is why games with big multipliers usually have:
- Higher volatility
- Long periods of small or no wins
- A large share of their return concentrated in bonus rounds
Many games also set a maximum win, often shown as a multiple of the stake. If multiplied wins reach this cap, the feature may end early.
Common Misconceptions About Multipliers
"Multipliers make winning more likely."
No. Multipliers increase the size of wins, not how often they happen. Every spin is still decided by the random number generator.
"A big multiplier means a big win."
Not always. A 100x multiplier on a tiny win can still produce a modest payout. And if no win lands, the multiplier pays nothing.
"A growing multiplier means the game is about to pay."
No. A progressive multiplier only increases the value of future wins. It does not make the next win more likely. See Pokies Myths Explained.
Playing Responsibly
Large multipliers are designed to be exciting, and stories of huge multiplied wins can make them seem more common than they are. Set a budget and time limit before you play, and treat any big multiplied win as a rare bonus. 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.