The scatter symbol is considered a reel spinner’s best friend for good reason: it unlocks remarkable bonus features and offers the most generous rewards. Moreover, if you combine scatter symbol perks with promotions like the Ice Casino promo code no deposit offer, you’ll collect rewards twice over.
Unlike other gameplay icons that must line up on a payline to reward you, the scatter only needs to appear to activate mini-games, free spins, and other game-specific bonuses. You can get the most out of scatters by understanding their collection mechanics. This is precisely what you’ll learn in our quick read. However, first thing first: let’s start with the basics!
How Do Scatter Symbols Work?
You’ll find scatter symbols in many slot games. They’re usually among the special icons, alongside their wild counterparts that replace other symbols to form winning combinations. Their primary role is to activate bonus features like extra rounds, mini-games, and FS.
Most games require you to land three or more bonus characters to trigger these such features. Moreover, in case they are paying symbols, scatters do not need to align with a specific payline. Instead, they will earn you their associated wins irrespective of where they appear on the gameplay grid.
Sometimes, for bonus-triggering scatters, you may be required to gather them over multiple spins, with each one you collect added to a tally or meter displayed on the screen. The objective is to collect the predetermined number to trigger extra features. As you collect more symbols, you’ll advance closer to unlocking the bonuses.
Such symbols don’t have a specific, standard image. Instead, they’re typically a special graphic that matches the slot machine’s theme. For example, a Sphinx statue represents one in IGT’s Egyptian-themed Cleopatra slot.
What Types of Scatter Can You Collect?
Scatter symbols are classified based on the feature or award they trigger. You’ll collect the following types while playing different slot machines online:
Free Spins Scatters
Most slot games require you to match more than three icons to unlock between 5 and 10 FS, but the precise number can vary depending on the game. When free spins scatter triggers the bonus feature, the active paylines and bet amounts for each extra spin are the same as on your last regular spin.
Bonus Game Scatters
Slot games that don’t offer the free spins feature have bonus mini-games instead. You’ll activate these mini-games with three or more scatter symbols on the reels. The awarded bonus game will depend on the slot you’re playing. Some slot machines offer gamble rounds, while others have mini-games like the Wheel of Fortune.
Paying Scatters
Some scatter symbols are the highest-paying symbols in a slot game and give payouts when you land three or more. You might get 20x, 50x, or 100x cash multipliers when three, four, or five icons grace your screen without following standard paytable rules.
Scattered Wilds
Some slot games have scatters that also serve as wilds and replace other symbols. This change reduces the number of useless symbols on the reels. You’ll find it easier to hit a winning combination.
Bonus Buy Scatters
If the bonus buy is among the features availed in an online slot, you can pay a premium to get 3-5 bonus symbols immediately. You’ll instantly enter the bonus round without waiting for luck. However, the bonus buy option may not be available in some jurisdictions due to regulatory restrictions.
Games With Scatters Worth Collecting
The following video slots offer scatter symbols with excellent bonuses:
- Immortal Romance: This vampire-themed slot by Microgaming unlocks the Chamber of Spins when you land three, four, or five scatters. The bonus feature grants ten FS with a 5x multiplier and can be re-triggered to activate even more exciting elements: Amber, Troy, Michael, and Sarah;
- Big Bad Wolf: The Wolf scatter in this Quickspin 5×3 slot triggers 10 free spins. You can get more free spins if you land three more scatters during the extra round. Besides the scatter, three moon symbols on the last reel help the wolf blow down the wood house to unveil two extra free spins;
- Robin Hood: Join Robin and his merry men in ambushing guards throughout Sherwood Forest to win cash. Four moneybag scatters award ten free spins in NetEnt’s Robin Hood slot. The title offers five extra free rounds if you land at least two more triggering icons in the bonus game. Three free spin symbols grant ten extra rounds.
Play Slots and Land Scatters!
There are many reasons to play slot games with scatters. The primary, most prominent attraction is the feature’s ability to trigger extra rounds with unique features. These icons also reward the highest payouts in most games’ payables. You can quickly tell whether a slot machine has the scatters symbol by viewing the paytable or sampling out the demo versions of your favorite titles.