What symbols and features increase the chances of winning

0) What it means to "improve the odds"

Under "chances" we distinguish three metrics per spin:

• p (win) is the hit frequency.
• p (bonus) - probability of entering the bonus (frispins/respins).
• P (≥N×) - chance of winning at least N × bet (20 ×/50 ×/100 ×).
• Features work in different ways: some increase the frequency of events (p (win), p (bonus)), others - the size of rare outcomes (P≥N×), others - both. RTP remains a given game; changes distribution.

1) Characters that increase p (win) and/or P (≥N×)

1. 1. Wild (character substitution)

Regular Wild - + p (win) due to the completion of lines/ways.
Sticky Wild (sticky on X spins/until the end of the bonus) - sharply ↑P (≥N×) in bonuses, increases volatility.
Expanding Wild (expansion to the entire drum/area) - ↑p (win) and ↑P (≥N×) due to "stripes" and multiple lines.
Walking/Shifting Wild (transition between drums) - a series of spins with increased p (win).
Multiplier Wild (×2/×3/… per line) - almost does not touch p (win), but strongly ↑P (≥N×); in combination (× 2 × 3...) the effect is explosive.
Check in Paytable: on which reels are available (the entire grid or only 2-4), whether Scatter/Bonus replaces (usually not), whether summation/multiplication of multipliers is possible.

1. 2. Scatter

Gives a bonus (frispins/respins) with N pcs. anywhere - increases p (bonus).
Sometimes it pays on its own "in xTotal Bet" → ↑p (win) even without lines.
Check: where it falls (all drums or limited), minimum threshold (3/4/5), alternative trigger paths (modifiers, collection).

1. 3. Mystery/Reveal

"Mystery" symbols turn into one common symbol → ↑p (win) and sometimes ↑P (≥N×), if top-symbol/mults are possible.
Check: whether it can turn into Wild/Scatter, whether it works in a bonus.

1. 4. Symbol Upgrade / Remove Low

Upgrading/deleting low characters in the database/bonus reduces garbage → ↑p (win) and ↑P (≥N×).
Check: actuation conditions (cascades, counters), duration of the effect.

1. 5. Stacked/Super Symbols (stacks/giant blocks)

The correlation of hits → ↑P (≥N×) is increased, but p (win) may not change.
Side effect: higher volatility.

2) Features that raise p (bonus) and control the rhythm

2. 1. Cascades/avalanches (Cascading/Tumble/Avalanche)

Winning symbols disappear, new ones fall → a series of wins is possible for one paid spin.
↑p (win) to spin; at progress multiplier in bonus - ↑P (≥N×).

2. 2. Ways/Cluster Pays/Both Ways

Ways (243/1024/...): ↑p (win) due to payments without fixed lines.
Both Ways → ↑p (win).
Clusters: often ↑p (win) and synergy with cascades/removal low.
Check: whether Wild/mults act the same for ways/cluster, whether there is a low deletion.

2. 3. Respin/Locking

Hits/special characters are fixed and give 1-3 respin → ↑p (win) and ↑p (bonus )/P (≥N×) in Hold mechanics.
Check: extension condition (each new fixation resets the counter?).

2. 4. Ante Bet / Double Chance

Bonus to the ↑p rate (less than BF).
Important: RTP can grow, or it can remain the same - see "i." Without RTP growth, Ante is buying "pace," not "returns."

3) Bonus mechanics that strengthen P (≥N×)

3. 1. Global/Progress Multiplier Freespins

Each win is multiplied; with progression (over cascades/retryggers), the right tail of the distribution thickens → ↑↑P (≥100×).
Better settings: More spins at progression; high starting × - for the "skid hunt."

3. 2. Sticky/Expanding Wild in Bonus

The growing grid of Wild-s revives lines/ways → high P (≥N×), high volatility.
Tactics: the rate is closer to 0.5-1% of the bank, hard stop limits.

3. 3. Hold & Win / Coin / Collect

A series of respins with fixing coins/cells, frequent mini-wins (↑p (win)), and with upgrades/jackpot cells P (≥N×) grows.
Check: value upgrades, local/network jackpots, retrigar rules.

3. 4. Reel Multipliers / Multiplier Reels

Individual multiplier reels that apply to all round wins → ↑P (≥N×) even with modest lines.

3. 5. Retrigger-friendly design

Simple retriggers (2 Scatter in bonus) extend the length of the feature → ↑shans reach large ×.

4) Drum modifiers (Random Features)

Random inserts in the database: adding Wild/Scatter, expanding reels, nudge, upgrade symbol.

Effect: ↑p (win) and/or ↓BF; sometimes point boost P (≥N×) (wild-multi).
Check: response frequency, availability in bonus.

5) Jackpots and Must Drop - the rise of the chance of a major event

Fixed/Progressive/Must Drop: do not increase the p (win) base, but increase the chance of very large outcomes (P (≥1000×)).
Practice: Assess pool (overlay), bid threshold for participation/bid weight; Must Drop closer to the deadline actually improves the math.

6) How to quickly evaluate the benefits of Paytable feature/demo

6. 1. What to watch in Paytable

Where Wild is available, is there multi-Wild and its stacking/multiplication.
Scatter: appearance drums, threshold, alternative triggers, whether it pays itself.
Cascades/multi/delete low/upgrades: yes? in the base and/or bonus?
Respin/Hold: renewal condition, value upgrades, jackpot cells.
Ways/Cluster/Both Ways: payout type; whether they are combined with modifiers.
Ante/Buy: surcharge, separate RTP for purchase.

6. 2. Mini-metering in the demo (500-1000 spins/20-50 bonuses)

HF (p (win)), BF (spin/bonus), ABP (average bonus payout, xBet).
Spin Bonus EV ≈ ABP/BF.
P (≥20×/≥50×/≥100×) - tail.
Max drawdown - required bank.

7) How to use strong symbols/features in practice

If the target is an even session (more events):

• Look for: ways/clusters, cascades, random modifiers, frequent respin/mini-features, Scatter, which pays itself.
• Keep maximum lines; rate of 0.8-1.5% of the bank; Ante - only after BF/RTP A/B check.

If the target is "skid hunt" (large factors):

• Look for: progress-mults in freespins, sticky/expanding Wild, reel multipliers, stacked/super-symbols, retiggers.
• Bank rate 0.3-1%; short/medium sessions; fix stop wines.

If the goal is to provoke bonuses more often:

• Look for: low Scatter threshold, multiple trigger paths, meters/collection, respin hooks.
• Consider Ante, but check that RTP is not falling.

8) Pitfalls (so as not to overestimate the feature)

Limited special character positions (Wild only 2-4 reels) dramatically reduce the potential of the lines.
"Only the older combination on the line" - two small lines do not fold into one large one.
Mystery does not turn into Wild/Scatter - the impact on P (≥N×) is limited.
Ante without RTP growth - pay for speed; Check BF/ABP
Buying a bonus with RTP below base is faster, but mathematically worse.
Max Win-cap limits the tail: with a hard cap, super-multipliers are less likely to be achieved.

9) Check list of the "strong" slot in 1 minute

1. RTP of your version ≥96% and suitable volatility.
2. Wild is available widely (whole grid), is there a multi-Wild/stack/expand.
3. Scatter: low threshold, pays itself, multiple trigger paths.
4. There are cascades/removal of low/upgrades/mults (better - progress).
5. Payout type: ways/clusters/Both Ways (for frequency) or line + stacked (for peaks).
6. Respins/Hold with renewals and upgrades.
7. Retryggers in a bonus without a hard limit.
8. Jackpot/Must Drop (if hunting for major events).
9. Ante/Buy: Benefit confirmed by BF/RTP, not "feel."

Conclusion

Symbols and features enhance different sides of the odds: Wild/ways/modifiers raise the hit rate; Scatter/respins/Ante - bonus frequency; multipliers/sticky Wild/stacked/retrievers - the size of rare payments. Read Paytable for appearance zones and rules, confirm the effect with short demo statistics (HF, BF, ABP, P≥N×), and adjust the rate/limits to the volatility of a specific feature. This way you don't "break" RTP, but choose slots and modes where the odds profile better matches your goal and bank.