What is scatter symbol?
Definition and example from our casino glossary.
Definition
A scatter is a slot symbol that pays or triggers a feature wherever it lands, without needing to sit on a payline.
Scatter symbols ignore paylines. Landing a set number of them, most often three or more anywhere on the reels, typically triggers a bonus round such as free spins, or pays a multiple of the total stake. Because scatters are evaluated across the whole grid, their probability is set separately from line wins, and they are a major driver of a slot's volatility: in many games a large share of the RTP comes from features that scatters unlock. That is why some sessions run for hundreds of spins without a trigger. Scatter wins are usually calculated on the total stake, while line wins use the line bet. Many games show near-misses, with two scatters landing and a third just out of view. These are random outcomes like any other, and they do not indicate that a feature is due on the next spin.