If you’ve ever played a slot machine, you know that each spin is an event that occurs randomly. But what you may not realise is that your decisions can still have an impact on the outcome of each spin. One of these decisions is how many paylines you choose to bet on. This will affect your chances of forming winning combinations, and therefore the payouts you can receive.

The first step in understanding paylines is to read the paytable. This will show you the prize values for each symbol combination, and which bet sizes correspond to each payout amount. Once you’ve understood this, you can make informed decisions about which machines to play and how much to bet per spin.

In addition to this, knowing which symbols to look for will help you maximise your wins. Generally, winning symbols will form straight lines running across all reels. The most common direction is left to right, which makes them easy to recognise. But the possibilities don’t end there – some modern games use diagonal and zigzag lines, too.

It’s also important to remember that you’re never guaranteed a win, no matter how many spins you make. As such, it’s vital to know your limits and stop when you’ve reached them. This can be easier if you play at an online casino that offers responsible gambling tools such as set deposit and loss limits. This way, you can set alarms on your phone or watch to remind yourself when it’s time to call it a day.