Scatter Symbol

Symbol on a video slots game which activates money prizes, bonus multipliers, bonus games or other features -- no matter where the symbol is located on the screen.

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Scatter symbols are so-called because they do not need to be on a specific pay line to help the player. Sometimes, one scatter pays more for a player. Other other games, players might need two or three scatters on the game screen at one. The key feature with the scatter symbol is that the symbol is "wild" in its own way, because it doesn't have to line up on the normal paylines to activate.

A common feature of the scatter symbol is to act as a multiplier. The symbol might read 2x, which multiplies whatever coin prize you won on that spin by 2. These scatters often act exponentially, so two 2x scatters will be 4x, whie two 3x scatter symbols would be 9x. Of course, if the player doesn't win any money on that spin, the scatter multipliers do no good for the player.

Another common use of the scatter symbol is to trigger a bonus game feature. Bonus games stand apart from the conventional reel game that slot machine games comprise. If you win a bonus game, the reel game is put on standby for a minute or two while the player plays the non-reel bonus game. Players don't have to pay for the bonus game, and can often win large numbers of bonus coins during the feature. Bonus games often have better graphics and unique music and sounds. Generally, it takes more than one scatter symbol to appear on the game screen to activate the bonus game feature.

Perhaps the most popular use of the scatter symbol is the bonus coins scatter icon. This doesn't trigger a bonus game or a multiplier scenario, but simply gives straight cash in addition to the money won by symbols on the paylines. In this case, you'll only need one scatter symbol to win.