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All Ways Pay vs Win Both Ways — which is better??
Payline count versus symbol coverage
| Mechanic | Win condition | Typical reel layout | Direct effect on hit frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Ways Pay | Matching symbols on adjacent reels, left to right | 243, 2430, 1024 ways are common | Higher than fixed paylines with the same reel set |
| Win Both Ways | Matching symbols left to right and right to left | Usually 20, 25, or 243 paylines | About double the directional win opportunities of the same payline set |
All Ways Pay usually beats a standard 20-payline game on raw line coverage. A 5-reel, 3-row layout gives 3^5 = 243 ways, while a 20-line game gives 20 fixed paths. That is a 12.15:1 ratio in available combinations before reel weighting is applied. Win Both Ways can partially close that gap, but only by paying in two directions on the same lines.
Probability structure in plain numbers
On a 5-reel slot with 3 visible symbols per reel, All Ways Pay counts every left-to-right symbol position combination. If each reel shows 3 positions, the total is 243. If matching symbols appear on reels 1-3, any top, middle, or bottom alignment can qualify. Win Both Ways does not change the number of line paths; it duplicates the evaluation direction.
Direct comparison: a 20-payline game with Win Both Ways has 40 directional line evaluations. A 243-ways game has 243 symbol-position combinations. The raw ratio is 243:40, or 6.075:1. The gap is larger if the line game has fewer than 20 paylines.
RTP is separate from mechanic type. Two slots can both publish 96.00% RTP and still behave differently in hit distribution. The mechanic changes how often small wins appear and how often symbol clusters miss by one reel.
Where Tonybet lists these mechanics
The Tonybet portal is a reference point for checking whether a slot is marked as All Ways Pay or Win Both Ways before play starts. Game info panels usually identify the pay structure, RTP, volatility, and provider. That matters for direct comparison because the same studio can release both mechanics in the same year.
Example providers that have used these models include Aristocrat, Scientific Games, and Playtech. A title such as Buffalo often uses All Ways Pay-style structures in some versions, while classic reel games with mirrored direction use Win Both Ways in several older and modern releases. The label in the rules screen is the only reliable source.
Example: a 243-ways slot with 96.10% RTP and 96.10% hit rate? No. RTP and hit rate are different. A slot can return 96.10% over time and still have a 28% or 35% session hit frequency, depending on volatility and prize distribution.
RTP, hit rate, and volatility by mechanic
| Measure | All Ways Pay | Win Both Ways |
|---|---|---|
| RTP range | Commonly 94.00% to 97.00% | Commonly 94.00% to 96.50% |
| Hit frequency | Often 25% to 40% | Often 20% to 35% |
| Volatility | Medium to high | Low to medium in many classic titles |
The myth that Win Both Ways always pays more is false. If a 20-line slot pays both directions, the number of evaluation paths rises from 20 to 40, but the paytable often reduces the value of reverse-direction wins or limits them to specific symbols. The net RTP may stay near 96.00% while the win pattern changes. All Ways Pay usually increases the number of qualifying symbol arrangements more than Win Both Ways does, but not always the average payout size.
Which mechanic gives the stronger math edge?
On pure structure, All Ways Pay is usually stronger for frequency. A 243-ways slot has 243 possible left-to-right symbol paths on a 5×3 grid. A 40-way directional game has 40. The probability that at least one line or way hits rises with each extra evaluation path, although reel strips and symbol weights reduce the simple count into a weighted probability.
For a neutral player comparison, the better mechanic depends on the target metric:
- More frequent small wins: All Ways Pay
- Mirror-direction line coverage: Win Both Ways
- Higher raw combination count: All Ways Pay on 243-ways or 1024-ways layouts
- Classic line-game feel: Win Both Ways
In practice, a 1024-ways slot with 96.20% RTP will usually produce more qualifying outcomes than a 25-line game with Win Both Ways at 95.80% RTP. The exception is a special paytable with strong reverse-direction multipliers, which can narrow the gap in payout value but not in combination count.
Game examples and lab testing signals
iTech Labs certification appears in many slot releases and confirms that RNG outcomes are tested independently. The lab does not rank All Ways Pay above Win Both Ways; it validates fairness, not mechanic strength. A certified 96.00% RTP slot remains 96.00% whether it uses 243 ways, 40 lines, or mirrored lines.
Common examples help separate the models. Starburst is not All Ways Pay; it uses expanding wilds and fixed paylines. Lightning Link uses a ways-style structure in many editions. Queen of the Nile variants have appeared with line-based rules, while mirrored-direction games remain closer to the Win Both Ways model. The label in the paytable is the deciding factor.
Bottom-line numbers: All Ways Pay tends to offer 243 or more combinations on a 5-reel game, while Win Both Ways doubles a fixed line set from 20 to 40 or from 25 to 50 directional checks. For combination count, All Ways Pay is usually ahead. For classic line symmetry, Win Both Ways is the exact match.