• Home »
• Blog »
• What is the highest-paying symbol in Starburst?

Written by: Filip Gromovic Reviewed by: Nashon Khamala

Read time: 6 minutes

---

Starburst stands as one of the most recognized slot games across global casino platforms. NetEnt’s space-themed creation delivers consistent payouts through its straightforward mechanics. The golden bar icon emerges as the highest-paying standard element in this 2012 release. Understanding payout values helps optimize betting strategies effectively. The game operates on a 96.08% RTP with low to medium volatility, making it accessible for various profiles. Maximum wins reach 800 times your bet, showcasing substantial earning potential. The expanding wild mechanic amplifies winning combinations significantly during gameplay.

---

---

Starburst Slot Symbols: Bonus Feature Value for Different Payouts

Complete Starburst Online Casino Symbol Overview

The game features a streamlined collection of icons positioned across five reels and three rows. Each element serves specific functions within the payout structure. The gem icons form the low-paying category, ranging from blue to red variants. Middle-tier elements include the lucky seven, which provides moderate returns. The bar occupies the premium position in the standard lineup. Additionally, the colorful jewel-studded star functions as the expanding wild element. This wild substitutes for all paying icons except itself.

Players encounter these icons consistently across the 10 paylines available in this online slot machine. The win-both-ways feature doubles chances for successful combinations by paying left-to-right and right-to-left simultaneously. This mechanic differentiates the game from traditional left-only paying slots. Understanding the complete hierarchy remains essential for effective bankroll management.

Symbol Type	Payout Level	Function
Colored Gems	Low	Regular symbols
Lucky Seven	Medium	Mid-tier symbol
Golden Bar	High	Premium symbol
Starburst Star	Wild	Expands and triggers respins

---

Highest-Paying Icon: The Golden Bar in Starburst Slot Game

The golden bar represents the premium standard icon in the lineup. This element delivers the strongest payouts among non-wild icons throughout gameplay. Landing five bars across a single payline generates substantial winnings relative to your bet size. The bar appears on all five reels, creating multiple opportunities during extended sessions. Its high-value status makes it the target for strategic enthusiasts seeking maximum returns from standard combinations.

When five bars align on a payline, you receive approximately 5 times the total bet amount. This payout structure maintains consistency across different coin values and bet levels available. The bar’s frequency balances with its worth — it appears less often than gem icons but more regularly than would be expected for such a high-paying element. This equilibrium ensures sustained engagement without excessive drought periods between wins.

Combining bar icons with the expanding wild mechanism creates the most lucrative scenarios possible. When a wild expands to cover an entire reel, it frequently completes bar combinations across multiple paylines simultaneously. This interaction produces clusters that exceed individual payline values. The strategic placement of bars across the middle reels heightens their importance during gameplay.

Professional enthusiasts frequently monitor bar appearance patterns during extended sessions. The icon’s prevalence on middle reels (positions 2, 3, and 4) increases chances of wild interaction. Understanding these positional mechanics helps identify optimal betting moments for real money play.

---

---

Complete Payout Table for Starburst Online Slot

Each icon in this casino slot carries specific monetary values that determine overall return percentages. The payout structure reflects industry-standard practices for five-reel slots. Lower-value icons — the colored gems — deliver returns when three, four, or five of them land consecutively. Blue gems typically pay around 0.2 to 0.5 times the bet, while red gems provide marginally better returns at 0.3 to 0.6 times the amount.

The lucky seven occupies middle-tier positions with payouts ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 times your wagered amount. Five sevens across a payline reward you with approximately 1.5 times the total bet — a respectable return that encourages continued play. This icon appears with moderate frequency, providing regular combinations without excessive clustering.

The golden bar dominates the payout hierarchy. Five bars deliver approximately 5 times the current bet. Four bars return around 2.5 times, while three bars provide 1 times the bet. This scaled payout structure encourages pursuing higher combinations rather than settling for partial matches.

Symbol	5 of a kind	4 of a kind	3 of a kind
Blue Gem	0.5x	0.2x	0.1x
Red Gem	0.6x	0.3x	0.15x
Lucky Seven	1.5x	0.8x	0.5x
Golden Bar	5x	2.5x	1x

The star wild triggers respins rather than fixed payouts. When wilds land, they expand to cover complete reels and activate automatic respins. Consecutive wild respins can continue up to three times maximum. Each respin provides fresh arrangements — creating entirely new combinations with bonus multiplier potential. This special mechanic produces some of the highest individual spin returns possible.

Combining icons across multiple paylines multiplies your total jackpot. The win-both-ways feature ensures that matching elements pay from both directions simultaneously. A single five-bar combination from left-to-right and matching from right-to-left doubles your base payout instantly. This mechanic transforms arrangement importance dramatically compared to traditional slots.

• Gem icons deliver consistent low-value wins (0.1x to 0.6x bets)
• Lucky sevens provide mid-range payouts (0.5x to 1.5x bets)
• Bar icons offer maximum standard returns (1x to 5x bets)
• Wild stars generate respin features with exponential potential
• Win-both-ways mechanic doubles payline completion rewards

---

---

Expert Tips: How to Play Starburst Slot Machine for Free Spins and Bonus Wins

Pursuing high-paying bar icons requires understanding their appearance frequency and strategic bet sizing. Maintaining consistent amounts helps capitalize when bars land. Betting the minimum bet during standard play, then increasing when bar-heavy reels appear, optimizes capital efficiency. This variance strategy balances risk across extended gaming sessions effectively.

The expanding wild presents the highest opportunities available. Triggering respins dramatically increases potential compared to regular spins. During respins, multiple paylines often complete simultaneously due to wild expansion across entire reels. Monitoring respin frequency during gameplay reveals patterns that inform future betting decisions at online casinos. Experiencing frequent respins should maintain elevated amounts to maximize rewards.

Win-both-ways payline mechanics reward careful attention to positioning. Tracking which reels display matching icons early during spins helps predict outcomes. When bars or sevens appear in consecutive positions, the likelihood of both-directions completion increases significantly. This visual analysis helps predict outcomes before final reel positions lock on desktop or mobile devices.

Bankroll management directly impacts long-term success with high-paying elements. Allocating larger portions of capital toward bar pursuit phases extends gameplay opportunities. The 96.08% RTP ensures mathematical advantage eventually favors consistent, patient enthusiasts. Setting targets and loss limits prevents emotional decision-making that undermines strategic efforts when you gamble with real money at any casino website in 2023 or beyond.

• Adjust bet sizes strategically based on current reels and distribution
• Maximize respin sequences by sustaining elevated amounts throughout
• Monitor bar clustering patterns across extended sessions
• Utilize win-both-ways by tracking early-spin placements
• Maintain disciplined bankroll allocation to extend high-paying pursuits

Understanding the relationship between volatility and appearance helps refine tactics. The low-to-medium volatility classification means regular smaller wins intersperse with occasional substantial payouts. Expecting this pattern prevents frustration during dry spells. Extended sessions statistically deliver bar completions and wild triggers that reward patient, systematic approaches. Always create an account at highly-rated platforms offering solid deposit and withdrawal options, welcome bonuses, and a great variety of casino games including poker and other magnificent virtual entertainment. Whether playing in browser mode or via mobile app, this nice online experience provides payment speed and deposit flexibility across all devices.

---

Best Online Casinos Where You Can Spin Starburst Slot with Bonus

---