Win both ways slots pay matching symbols from left to right and from right to left, so a combination that starts on the last reel counts just like one starting on the first. That roughly doubles how often short wins land, but the paytable is set lower to keep the slot’s RTP where the developer wants it.
Both-ways slots read each line from both ends, so three of a kind on reels 3–5 pays.
A full five of a kind is normally paid once, not twice.
More frequent wins are balanced by smaller line prizes; the RTP is unchanged.
Starburst is the best-known example, paying 10 lines in both directions.
Both ways is about direction; ‘pays anywhere’ and scatters ignore position altogether.
What it is
Lines pay from the left and from the right
Five of a kind
Usually paid once
Effect on hit rate
Short wins land more often
Effect on RTP
None: the paytable is adjusted
Best-known example
Starburst (10 lines, both ways)
Ways version
Siberian Storm: 720 ways, both directions
What win both ways means in slots
On a standard payline slot, a win must start on reel 1 and run along consecutive reels to the right. A win both ways slot also checks each line from the other end, starting on the last reel and running left. A line showing blank, blank, star, star, star now pays, because the three stars run from reel 5 towards the middle.
The feature is sometimes labelled ‘pays both ways’, ‘win both ways’ or ‘bi-directional paylines’. It is one of the simplest slot machine features to understand, but it changes the shape of a game’s maths more than its plain artwork suggests.
How a win both ways slot counts each line
Every spin is settled by the random number generator before the reels stop. The game then evaluates each active line twice:
Read the line from reel 1 to the right and find the longest run of matching symbols (wilds included).
Read the same line from the last reel to the left and find the longest matching run.
Pay each run that reaches the paytable minimum, usually three symbols.
If both runs are the full width of the reels (five of a kind), pay it once.
Add scatter wins and apply any multipliers to the total.
Step 4 matters. A five-symbol line is the same win read in either direction, so most games pay it once. On a 5-reel slot, a line can also hold two separate wins, for example three crowns from the left and three different symbols from the right, if reel 3 is a wild shared by both.
Worked example: how much more often both-ways lines pay
Take an illustrative symbol that has a 1-in-10 chance of appearing on any given reel position of a line, and treat the reels as independent. The table shows how often exactly three, four or five of that symbol form a win on one line.
Illustrative chance of a win on one line, symbol probability 0.1 per reel
Win
Left to right only
Both ways
Change
Exactly 3 of a kind
0.09% (0.1³ × 0.9)
0.18%
Doubled
Exactly 4 of a kind
0.009% (0.1⁴ × 0.9)
0.018%
Doubled
5 of a kind
0.001% (0.1⁵)
0.001%
Unchanged (paid once)
Short wins roughly double, while the rarest win stays the same. To keep the overall return on target, the developer has to trim the line prizes. If a left-only version paid 10× the line bet for three of a kind, a both-ways version might pay something nearer 5×. The RTP ends up where it was; the wins just arrive more often and smaller.
Starburst: the famous win both ways slot
Starburst from NetEnt is the game most players think of. Its 10 paylines pay both ways, and its expanding wild on reels 2, 3 and 4 respins the other reels. Because the wild only sits in the middle, a wild-filled reel 3 can feed wins in both directions on the same line.
Our spec sheet lists Starburst at 96.09% RTP, low volatility and a 500× max win. That profile, frequent small wins and a modest ceiling, is typical of the both-ways design. Starburst XXXtreme, by contrast, lists 9 paylines with a 200,000× max win and high volatility; its spec does not mention both-ways lines, so check its help screen.
Win both ways slots in our database
Both-ways slots (figures from our slot facts)
Slot
Developer
RTP
Volatility
Lines or ways
Max win
Starburst
NetEnt
96.09%
Low
10 paylines, both ways
500×
Ancient Fortunes: Zeus
Games Global (Triple Edge Studios)
96.02%
Medium
10 lines, pay both ways
1,399× stake
Siberian Storm
IGT
Varies by version (92.52%–96%)
Medium
720 ways, both directions
Not listed
Ancient Fortunes: Zeus uses both-ways lines on a 5×3 grid. Siberian Storm applies the idea to ways rather than lines on a 3-4-5-4-3 layout, giving 720 ways in each direction. Its RTP range is wide, so the version your casino runs makes a real difference: at 92.52%, 100 spins at 20p cost about £1.50 on average; at 96%, about 80p.
Cost per 100 spins and max win at UK stakes
Both-ways games tend to be gentle on volatility, which makes their long-run average cost a reasonable guide to a session. It is still only an average; any 100 spins can come out above or below it.
Starburst (96.09%) and Ancient Fortunes: Zeus (96.02%) at UK stakes
Classic three-reel fruit machines pay on a single win line, and a three-of-a-kind result reads the same in either direction, so ‘both ways’ makes no difference to it. Where direction matters is on partial wins: many fruit paytables pay a cherry on the first reel alone, or two cherries from the left. A both-ways version would also pay a cherry on the last reel.
Myth: both ways doubles your chance of profit. Fact: it roughly doubles short wins but cuts their size; the RTP and house edge stay the same.
Myth: a both-ways slot pays five of a kind twice. Fact: almost all games pay it once; check the help screen.
Myth: frequent small wins mean a slot is ‘loose’. Fact: hit rate and return are different things, as our page on hit frequency explains.
Myth: you can choose to play only the right-to-left direction. Fact: both directions are built into every line and cannot be switched off.
UK rules that shape both-ways slots
Both-ways slots offered in Great Britain follow the same rules as every online slot: no autoplay, no turbo or slam-stop, at least 2.5 seconds per spin since 31 October 2021, and stake limits of £5 for players aged 25 and over and £2 for 18–24s. The paytable must explain how lines are read, as required by the Commission’s standard on rules, game descriptions and the likelihood of winning (opens in a new tab). Our losses disguised as wins page explains why small both-ways wins no longer come with fanfare.
Where to play win both ways slots in the UK
No partner offer is tied to a both-ways slot. Coral gives new customers 100 free spins at 10p on selected games after depositing and betting £10 on slots, valid for 7 days; Ladbrokes gives up to 500 free spins at 10p, 50 a day for 10 days, after you play £10 on slots; PlayOJO gives 80 free spins at 10p on Big Bass Bonanza with a first deposit of £10 or more, with no wagering on winnings. All are 18+ and terms apply.
Search each casino’s lobby for Starburst, Ancient Fortunes: Zeus or Siberian Storm, as availability changes. Our casino pages cover licences and payment methods. If you need a break from online play, GAMSTOP (opens in a new tab) lets you self-exclude from every UK-licensed site for free.
Coral and Ladbrokes are both run by LC International Limited (Entain). If you already hold an account with one Entain brand, you may not be able to open a new account with another; check the terms before signing up.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only, from 14/11/25 until further notice. Certain deposit methods excluded. Deposit and spend £10+ on slots for 50 free spins a day during the first 10 days after first deposit and registration (max 500, £0.10 each, selected games, claim before 23:59 each day, valid 7 days). No wagering. Prepaid cards, PayPal, Paysafe, Neteller, Skrill and Moneybookers deposits do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Ladbrokes reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers (excluding Northern Ireland). First deposit only. Minimum deposit £10. 80 free spins on Big Bass Bonanza, £0.10 each. No wagering requirements; winnings paid in cash. Cannot be used with any other offer. Only available to players who arrive through the designated offer link. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the PlayOJO reviewLicence: Skill On Net Limited, UKGC account 39326. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Decide a budget before you play: plan a slot budget. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does win both ways mean on a slot?
It means each payline pays from left to right and from right to left. A run of three matching symbols on reels 3, 4 and 5 pays just like three on reels 1, 2 and 3. Five of a kind is normally paid once, not twice. The feature roughly doubles how often short wins land, and the developer lowers line prizes to keep the RTP the same. See our paylines guide for how lines are drawn.
Does Starburst pay both ways?
Yes, Starburst’s 10 paylines pay both ways. Combined with its expanding wild on reels 2, 3 and 4, this gives frequent small wins, which suits its low volatility. The slot lists a 96.09% RTP and a 500× max win, or £2,500 at the £5 stake limit for players aged 25 and over. Our Starburst page covers the full paytable, the wild respin and the game’s maths.
Is a win both ways slot better than a normal one?
Not in terms of return. Both-ways lines win more often, but the paytable is set lower so the RTP stays at the developer’s target. The choice is about style: both-ways games feel busier, with smaller, more frequent wins, while left-to-right games with the same RTP pay less often but more each time. Neither changes the house edge. What actually affects cost is covered in are high RTP slots better.
Does five of a kind pay twice on a both-ways slot?
Almost never. A five-symbol line is the same combination whichever end you start from, so games pay it once. A line can, however, contain two different wins: for example three of one symbol from the left and three of another from the right, sharing a wild on reel 3. The help screen states the rule for each game. Our guide on how to read a slot’s help screen shows where to look.
What is the difference between win both ways and 243 ways?
Direction is the difference: 243 ways is about which rows can form a win, while both ways is about which end a win starts from. A 243-ways slot pays matching symbols on adjacent reels in any row, but usually only from the left. A both-ways slot reads its lines from both ends. Some games combine the two, such as Siberian Storm’s 720 ways in both directions. Our page on what 243 ways means explains the ways calculation.
Do both-ways slots have lower volatility?
Often, but not always. Because short wins land about twice as often, both-ways games tend to feel smoother, and Starburst is listed as low volatility. Volatility also depends on features, multipliers and the max win, so a both-ways game with big bonus rounds can still be high volatility. The volatility rating is usually in the help screen. For background, see our page on slot volatility.
Are win both ways slots fair?
Yes, at UK-licensed casinos the result of every spin comes from a tested random number generator, and the game must pay according to its published rules. Fair does not mean likely to profit: the house edge applies, and losses are the expected result over time. Both-ways lines are simply part of how the game counts wins. Testing and fairness are explained in are slot machines rigged.
Do pub fruit machines pay both ways?
Most classic fruit machines pay on a single line from the left, and for three of a kind on three reels the direction makes no difference. It matters only for partial wins, such as a single cherry on the first reel. Category C pub machines have a £1 maximum stake and £100 top prize, and play is 18+ only. Our pub fruit machine guide explains how those machines pay.
Why do both-ways wins often feel smaller than my stake?
Because spreading wins across both directions means each line prize is smaller. On a 10-line slot at £1, a three-of-a-kind win on one line might return less than £1, leaving you down on that spin despite the win. UK rules stop slots celebrating such returns. Watching your net position, which UK slots must show, gives the real picture. Our page on the net position rule explains what you should see on screen.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Visit GamCare.org.uk and GamCare, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
This site contains adverts. We may earn commission when you sign up through our links. Advertiser disclosure.
We use no tracking cookies. We store one item in your browser to remember this notice. Casino sites may set their own cookies after you follow an advert link. Cookie policy
