The Ultimate Guide to Slot Scatters & Bonus Triggers: How to Unlock Big Wins

No. By definition, Scatter symbols pay out or trigger features based on the total number visible on the screen, regardless of paylines.

In the vast majority of games, no. The Scatter is usually the only symbol a Wild cannot replace. The only common exception is "Book" style games where the symbol is designed to be both.

This is often called a "Near Miss." Most slots require a minimum of 3 Scatters to trigger a reward. However, some modern games will award a "Respin" or a "Second Chance" feature when only 2 land.

Yes, in many games they can. This is often referred to as a "Retrigger." If you land the required number of Scatters while the bonus is already active, the game will typically award additional spins (e.g., +5 or +10 spins) which are added to your current total. Some high-volatility slots even allow for infinite retriggers.

This is a specific genre of slot (popularized by games like Sweet Bonanza) where every symbol acts like a Scatter. In these games, there are no paylines at all. You simply need to land a certain number of identical symbols (usually 8 or more) anywhere on the grid to secure a win.

No. The "Scatter Tease" or "Anticipation Spin" is a visual effect. The Random Number Generator (RNG) determines the result the millisecond you press the spin button. If the third scatter is not going to land, the tease happens anyway to build excitement. It does not indicate that the game is "due" to hit.