Published on March 20, 2026 by Nick Stone
Bothway slots activate paylines from left-to-right and right-to-left simultaneously. A standard payline slot evaluates combinations starting at reel one and moving right. In contrast, a bothway slot also checks for matching symbols starting at the rightmost reel and moving left. Therefore, a five-reel bothway game with 20 paylines effectively checks 40 win paths per spin. Consequently, hit frequency rises compared to a single-direction equivalent. However, the RTP distributes across both directions — the total certified return stays the same. Providers such as NetEnt and Yggdrasil build bothway logic into medium-volatility titles.
Regulatory jurisdiction affects whether bothway games appear in the casino lobby. The UKGC imposes no restriction on bothway mechanics themselves. However, combined features — a bothway game with a bonus buy — face additional scrutiny on UK-licensed platforms. Consequently, some bothway titles show a reduced feature set in regulated markets. MGA-licensed operators carry the full title library without modification. Curaçao and Isle of Man platforms impose minimal restrictions. As a result, the same bothway title may offer fewer tools on UK sites than on crypto platforms.
Crypto casinos that list bothway titles under Curaçao or no-KYC frameworks carry fewer game restrictions. However, withdrawal reliability varies significantly between operators. First, check for third-party audit reports from eCOGRA or similar bodies before depositing. Second, Bitcoin and Ethereum withdrawals on crypto-native casinos are faster and more transparent than fiat. Consequently, a bothway slot on a reputable no-KYC platform can settle payouts faster than on a restricted licensed site. Third, verify that the platform publishes its RTP source data. Unlicensed operators have no obligation to match certified figures.
First, compare the ways count. A 20-payline bothway game delivers 40 effective win paths. A 243-ways bothway game delivers 486 paths. More paths mean higher hit frequency but smaller individual payouts per win path. Second, check whether the title applies the same paytable to both directions. Some bothway implementations pay the higher-value direction only when both fire on the same spin. Third, compare the bothway RTP against single-direction alternatives at the same provider. Match ways count and RTP to your session bankroll and preferred hit-rate profile.