Other Terms For Slot Machine
Slot machine, byname one-armed bandit, known in Great Britain as a fruit machine, gambling device operated by dropping one or more coins or tokens into a slot and pulling a handle or pushing a button to activate one to three or more reels marked into horizontal segments by varying symbols. The definitive list of slot machine terms you encounter when playing online slots games for real money. It is also useful to learn these phrases and their meanings if you ever go to a brick-and-mortar casino. It helps have a great casino experience. Save this list and come back to it when you see a new term on a slot review.
- Bank of Slot Machines – A bank of slot machines is a group or row of machines sitting beside each other. Some of them may be physically connected, but they don’t have to be. The machines may share a common name or theme or they may be entirely different. Basic Slots or One Line Slots – The simplest slot machines are one line or basic slots.
- Gambler's Oasis was founded on the principal of providing top quality casino slot machines and gaming devices to your home at the most reasonable price. Whether you want one slot machine or twenty slot machines, your home game room can become an oasis, a refuge, a haven for fun for you, your family and friends.
Whether you’re a newbie or a slots expert, the rapid and insane growth of slot machine terms in recent times means there is always something new for everyone to learn. Just like bingo, slots have their own language and thanks to us, you can get one step closer to becoming a native speaker. With this definitive slot glossary, you’ll never feel out of place at the casino again. Prepare to impress your friends with your slot machine slang!
Now don’t fret, you don’t have to memorise them all at once. We suggest picking one or two you like the sound of or that are particularly relevant to you and the slot games you like to play. And of course, most importantly, to have fun while you read!
The Definitive Slot Glossary
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With the surge in popularity of slot machine games, we felt it was about time players of all experience levels had access to the one-stop definitive guide to slot machine terms. It’s got everything you need to know and more. The slots glossary is arranged alphabetically, however, if you’ve come to find out what a specific word means, we would suggest using the Ctrl+F function to type in the word to save you time scrolling down. Right, let’s dive in!
| Slots Glossary | |
|---|---|
| 3D Video Slots | Slot games with 3D video involve animation-heavy graphics which provide added depth to gameplay by bringing the symbols to life upon hitting a payline. |
| 3-Reel | A typical online slot that has three reels in addition to three rows of symbols. |
| 5-Reel | A typical online slot with five reels in addition to three or four rows of symbols. |
| 243 Ways to Win | Slot games that don’t consider just one payline to determine winners are known as 243 Ways to Win. Instead, winners are based on any winning combination of symbols that appear on all the reels on the screen. For example, of this type of game, check out the Game of Thrones slot machine. |
| Action | Slot action refers to the total amount played in addition to other amounts they’ve won or lost during a session. This information is generally kept track of on the players’ slots club card offered by most casinos. |
| All Ways | An online slot that has hundreds of possible paylines, both running left-to-right and right-to-left. |
| Annuity Winner | When slot machine jackpots are offered in yearly instalments as opposed to a lump sum. Winnings can be collected all at once, however, there is usually a significant tax involved in this. |
| Autospin | A feature that enables plays to automatically set the number of spins within a game. |
| AWP | AWP is an acronym which stands for ‘Amusement With Prizes’. They are typically the classic-style slots with fruit symbols. To be classed as an AWP, the slot machines must provide some level of player interaction. That can be via a game board in the head of the machine with different buttons and options creating the feeling of playing a board game. The games do not, however, depend on skill. Skill-driven games that provide cash prizes are referred to as SWP machines. Both AWP and SWP began as trade terms but have since seeped into the general slots player’s vocabulary. The most common AWPs in the UK were Cherry Master and Pot-o-gold, if you remember those. Sadly, today, most AWPs are redundant following the rise of online slots technology. |
| Basic Slots | Basic slots, or straights as they are sometimes known, are slot machines that have one single payline and a static jackpot or a jackpot amount that does not change as progressive jackpots do. |
| Bet | The total amount of money wagered on any spin. |
| Bet Max | The bet max refers to the maximum number of credits on a slot game that a player can bet on each spin. There is usually a button on the slot machine that enables the player to bet the maximum number of credits. Typically, the highest payout amounts are calculated for the bet max spins. |
| Bet Min | The bet min refers to the minimum number of credits that can be bet on a slot machine during each spin. |
| Bet One | The bet one means to only bet one unit or credit per spin of the slot machine. |
| Betting Units | Betting units are the units used to wager. The value of the betting units is determined by the denomination slot machine that you are playing. Betting units are the same as credits. |
| Big Bertha | In slot machine slang, a Big Bertha refers to the really large machines that are usually used in casinos as attention getters. These games are much bigger than the regular ones and usually have multiple reels. The term Big Bertha is euphonious for anything large and has been used to describe several things throughout history. In the first World War a heavy mortar-like howitzer gun built by Germany was named Big Bertha. Callaway Golf also uses the term to describe its largest club – the driver. The term has also been popular in fiction. In the Great Lakes Avengers series of Marvel Comics, Big Bertha was a member. Also, Big Bertha appeared as a large enemy character in Nintendo’s Super Mario Bros. 3 video game. |
| Big Hit | The big hit is a slots term for when the player hits the jackpot combination. |
| Bonus Feature | Bonus features include wild cards, symbols and free spins. |
| Bonus Multiplier Slot Machines | Bonus multiplier slots are slot machines offering larger jackpots to entice players to bet the maximum number of credits. |
| Bonus Round | A special feature which offers free games or instant cash wins. |
| Branded Slots | An online themed based slot game typically with famous movies or TV programmes with added features and attractive gameplay graphics. |
| Candle | The ‘candle’ is slot machine slang for the light at the top of the game. When change is required, the player can push the ‘service’ or ‘help’ button which will flash the light to alert the operator. |
| Carousel | A carousel is the name for a group of slots, typically in an oval or circle formation. Slots carousels are famous for sharing a common feature such as the denomination of betting units. In Las Vegas, in particular, players can find a carousel for penny slots, or dollar spins etc. Not only does this allow casinos to better organise the gaming floor, but it allows for easy navigation to their desired slot machines too. One of the most famous slot machine carousels in the world is at Circus Circus’ hotel and casino in Las Vegas. This slot machine carousel is also an actual, spinning carousel as well, allowing players to spin the machines whilst simultaneously spinning around themselves. |
| Cascading Reels | A bonus feature where winning-combos disappear from the reels to be replaced by the symbols above creating the opportunity to accumulate more wins on a single spin. Also known as Tumbling Reels or Rolling Reels. For example, of this type of game, check out the Gonzo’s Quest slot machine. |
| Cashback | A reference to rewards given to slots club card players. |
| Certified Slots | Certified slots are those machines that casinos guarantee have a payout of 98%-100%. These are well advertised within land-based casinos. |
| Classic | The classic as the name suggests is a certain vintage-style slot based on the old-school slot machines with minimal paylines and no bonus features. Classic slots usually feature the famous fruit, bell, seven and BAR symbols. The symbols themselves have roots as far back as the 19th century. Early machines would give out fruit-flavoured gum as prizes, and the fruit on the reels represented the flavour of the gum. The bell comes from one of the first-ever slot machines, The Liberty Bell, launched in 1895. The BAR symbol was derived from an early logo for the Bell-Fruit Gum Company that provided the prizes for classic slots back in the day. |
| Coin In / Coin Out | Coin in and coin out refer to the number of credits or units both played and paid out. Coin in is the number of units played and coin out is the number of units won. |
| Coins | Coins for slots come in many denominations from a one penny to one pound or more. |
| Coin Hopper | The container where the coins that are immediately available for payouts are held. The hopper is the mechanical device that rotates coins into the coin tray when a player collects credits/coins (by pressing a “Cash Out” button). |
| Coin Size | The set amount of money a player must put in order to play that specific game. Different machines will have different betting amounts per payline. |
| Cold Slots | Slot machine slang for games that do not pay out very often. |
| Collect | Collect is usually a button or an option on the slot that enables the slots player to convert their credits/coins into cash. |
| Comps | Slot club members may be entitled to ‘comps’ or complimentary rewards in the form of free accommodation, meals or other gifts for playing often. |
| Console Slot Machines | Console slots are machines that are angled down towards the player with the idea of making the playing experience more enjoyable and comfortable. The most famous of all the console slot machines is probably the Jennings & Company series from the 1930s and 40s. The machines were striking in design and featured huge levers or handles to activate the spins. Today, these machines are very rare and change hands through antique dealers for large sums of money. Very few of the machines are still functional but serve as striking conversation pieces in ones home. Part of the appeal of these antiques is the knowledge that slots machine will never be manufactured in this way ever again, that’s for sure. |
| Credits | Coins are converted into credits to once they are in the game. For example, on a penny slot machine, when a pound is inserted, the player will then have twenty credits on that game. |
| Credit Meter | A visual display of the amount of credits in the machine at any given time. These can be shown by video, LED lights or an animation based on the design theme of the game. |
| Denomination | The denomination is the value of each credit played on a particular slot machine. For example, pound slot machines are one-pound denomination. |
| Doubles | Doubles (also triples) refer the rare occasion when symbols on the slot machines come up two or three at a time which results in double or triple the winning amount being won. |
| Dragonfish | Dragonfish is a famous online slot game manufacturer established in 2007. |
| Drops | A new feature of online slots where symbols fall into place on the reels. |
| Drop Bucket | The container where excess coins are diverted from the hopper usually located at the base of slot machines. A drop bucket is mostly used for low denomination slot machines. |
| EGM | An EGM is an acronym for ‘Electronic Gaming Machine’. |
| Expanding Wilds | A special type of wild (see below for description of ‘wilds). When this symbol appears on the screen, it will expand to cover the entire reel, creating larger chances of wins. Famous mobile slots with this feature include Starburst and Thunderstruck II. |
| Feature | A feature in slots can consist of bonuses, free spins among other things. |
| Fixed Value Slots | Fixed value slots are games where the betting amount and coin size cannot be altered. They tend to be one denomination, one coin per spin. |
| Five Liner | A five liner is a slot game that contains three reels where players have the chance to win on up to five payout lines. There are two diagonal payout lines as well as the traditional three horizontal payout lines on a five liner. |
| Freeplay / Free-to-play | Slots that can be played for enjoyment without risking any money. |
| Free Spin | An additional spin offered for free usually as part of a bonus feature on a bonus slot machine. |
| Fruit Machine | A nickname coined by British people during the first introduction of slot machines in the UK which all contained fruit symbols. |
| Gamble | A common feature which allows you to try and double your winnings on a spin. |
| Games Per Hour | On average, slots players can play about five hundred games per hour on a standard coin-operated slot machine. This can vary depending on the style of the machine and the player. |
| Hammer a Machine | To hammer a machine is slang for playing the same slot for a long period of time, usually in an attempt to win a large progressive jackpot. |
| Hit and Run | Hit and run refers to a player that plays a single payline slot at max credit bets for only a few spins, moving on to another machine if it doesn’t payout any credits. |
| Hit Frequency | How often a particular game pays out on average. The lower the number the better, as a game with a hit frequency of three can be expected to payout on average one out of three spins. |
| Hold Percentage | The hold percentage refers the amount of the players’ money the casino keeps. For example, a 99% slot machine keeps one pound while returning ninety-nine pounds back to the player. |
| Hot Slots | The opposite of cold, hot slots refers to machines that payout more often than others. |
| Icons | Icons is another way of referring to the slot symbols, for example, the fruit icons. The symnbols used to have meaning in the sense that represented what the player had won. However, over time, the fruit icons became purely symbolic and were eventually replaced with a wide variety of themed icons unique character symbols.Today, almost anything can be used as an icon thanks to digital technology. Icons are even not longer static, and we’re starting to seen animation come into the icons as well, with characters moving and interacting with the reels during the spins. What a time to be alive! |
| IGT | IGT is a famous slot game manufacturer founded in 1990. |
| Instant Winner | An instant winner is a jackpot that is paid on the spot as opposed to an annuity winner where the jackpot is paid out over a number of years. |
| I-Slot | An immersive online slot which allows players to save their position in a bonus round and return to the game later on. |
| Jackpot | A jackpot is the top prize or the highest amount of winnings that a slot machine can pay out. |
| Line Bet | A line bet refers to the activated paylines on multiple payline slots. Usually, max bets must be played to activate all the paylines on these types of games. |
| Linked Progressive Jackpot | A linked progressive jackpot or wide area progressive is two or more slot machines whose progressive jackpots are all linked together. |
| Loose Slots | A loose slot refers to how often a particular game typically pays out. A player can expect to win more from a loose machine as opposed to a tight one. |
| Max Bet | The same as the bet max, the max bet refers to the maximum number of credits on a slot machine that a player can bet on each spin. There is usually a button on the machine that enables the player to bet the maximum number of credits. |
| MEAL book | The MEAL book is an acronym for the machine entry authorization log which keeps track of the casino employees’ entries into the game. |
| Megabucks | The famous Megabucks slot is land casino machine developed by IGT which holds the record for a progressive jackpot payout at $37 million. The jackpot is paid in installments over 25 years, making it subject to income tax. The machine and its inner-workings are still a bit of mystery, but several slots experts have estimated its RTP to be 88.6%. The payot rate is based on data for wins on the Megabucks slot machine between 1994 and 2009. The massive progressive jackpot has been reset multiple times over the years, to $7,000,000 in 2005, and then $10,000,000 in 2010. A total of 11 jackpots have been paid out since then, totalling more than $167,000,000. |
| Mega Fortune | Mega Fortune is the record holder for an online slot payout at $17 million. The game was developed by Net Entertainment and has been a hit among online casino fans since its launch. It has become famous for it’s multi-million pound jackpot payouts and seems to be paying out all over Europe. In 2005, a Finish player won £6,155,505 on the game, and there has been jackpot wins recorded at £6,668,735 (United Kingdom), £7,690,874 (Sweden) and £10,522,881 (Norway). The popularity of this slots title has resulted in a number of spin-off games being developed – the most notable being Mega Fortune Dreams, themed on the high-life and all things luxurious. |
| Mega Moolah | Also known as the ‘millionaire maker’, Mega Moolah is an African savanna themed game that has become known for delivering the biggest progressive jackpots online. There’s not much that can be said about this game that hasn’t been said before. It is probably the single most famous online slot in the world, a title it has earned by shovelling out buckets of money in ridiculously sized jackpots. The game might be much to look at, but it’s most loyal player don’t care. It remains the go-to game for players looking to become overnight millionaires. It’s RTP suffers as a result, but those chasing the dream don’t seem to care about that either. |
| Microgaming | Microgaming is an online slot game manufacturer famous for delivering one of the first genuine online casinos in 1994. |
| Mobile Slots | Slot games optimised for your mobile phone or tablet devices. These games are usually created using HTML5 and JavaScript and are compatible with most operating systems. If you are interested in mobile gaming, check out our guide to the best mobile casinos in the UK. |
| Multi-Line Bonus Slot Machine | Multi-line bonus slot machines offer more than one payline. Some multi-line bonus slots have as many as fifty. |
| Multiplier | A multiplier is a bonus feature where the payouts can be multiplied up to ten times on a bonus spin. |
| Multi-way | An online slot betting system that can see hundreds or thousands of paylines. |
| Near Miss | When you just miss out on a winning combination at a slot machine, it is referred to as a near miss. |
| NetEnt | Developing online slot machines for over 20 years, NetEnt is one of the biggest manufacturers of online casino games in the industry. |
| NextGen | NextGen gaming is a games developer specialising in both land-based and online slot machine games. |
| Nudge Slot | A nudge slot machine allows the user to move or ‘nudge’ a key line up or down to help create a winning combination. |
| One Armed Bandit | The one-armed bandit is nickname for a slot machine that has been around since they were first introduced. For more information, check out the history of slot machines. The name is derived from a combination of two things.One-armed refers to the machine itself, which on traditional slots features a large lever – or arm – which is pulled to trigger the reels at the start of a new spin. The lever appears on only one side, giving the appearance of being ‘one-armed’. Bandit refers to the term given lawless marauders of the Southern States of the United States where slot machines were popular. |
| One-Liner | A one-liner is a slot machines term that refers to games with only one reel where players line up three symbols to win. |
| Onesies | Onesies is slot terminology for a player who only plays one coin or one credit at a time for each spin of the slot reels. |
| Optimal Play | Optimal play is the return-to-player rate for a gambler using the optimum strategy in a skill-based slot game. |
| Payback Percentage | The payback percentage is a reference to the amount of money a slot game should return to players over a period of time. |
| Payline | The payline is the line at which winning combinations on the slot reels must land in order to win the payout amount. |
| Payout | The payout is the amount won for a winning a specific combination of symbols on the slot machine. For more information on this topic, check out our guide to slot game payout ratios. |
| Pay Table | The pay table is the sign on the slot machine that tells what all the different winning combinations are and how many credits they each win, as well as any specific game or bonus rules. |
| Penny Slots | A slot machine game that accepts one penny for credit specifically designed for low-stakes players. The term comes from the terms ‘penny’ to mean one pence, the lowest possible coin denomination in pounds sterling. The same term is used to describe one cent in American dollars. Low-stakes slot machines are still popular all over the world as it gives players the opportunity to play for longer time periods without spending too much money. Given that a spin takes somewhere between 3-5 seconds, the cost of chasing a jackpot can really stack up quickly if the minimum bet is too high. If you’re low stakes player, check out our guide to the best low stakes casinos sites in the UK. |
| Pick Me | A bonus feature round where players have a choice of icons or symbols to pick which reveal hidden cash prizes. |
| Playtech | Founded in 1999, Playtech is one of the biggest and well-known gambling software and online slot game manufacturers in the industry. |
| Pokies | An Australian term for online slots (pokie machines). |
| Primary Jackpot | The primary jackpot is the highest payout prize that a player can win on a particular slot game. |
| Progressive Slot Machines | Progressive slots have a jackpot that continues to grow until it is won. |
| Reel Stop | A reel stop is one single position on the reel of the slot machine. |
| Reels | The reels are the disks that spin inside the slot machine window with the symbols on them. By matching the appropriate symbols, players can win money. |
| RNG or Random Number Generator | The random number generator is a computer program that selects the slot machine results at random from all the possible sequences. |
| Rows | The rows are the horizontal lines of symbols. |
| Scatter Pay | Slot machines with the scatter pay bonus feature have specific symbols on the reels that payout no matter what other symbols are with it. |
| Second Screen Bonus | Some video slots that offer bonus features will have a second screen bonus. Certain winning combinations will activate the second screen bonus, and wins can really build quickly. The advatnage of a seceond screen bonud round with modern, online video slots is that it gives developers a chance to add more interaction into their games.Typical actions include selecting prize boxes, higher or lower-style actions with playing cards or similar, and rapid-click opportunities. Some bonus rounds play out automatically and require no further clicks but display animations and video content instead. |
| Select Lines | Select lines are the number of paylines selected on the slot game. |
| Short Pay | Short pay occurs when a payout is only partially made due to insufficient coins in the machine. In this happens, the rest of the payout will be paid in hand to the player. |
| Short Win | A short win occurs when a player hits a large jackpot with very little playing. |
| Signature Slots | The signature slots are the casinos own brand of machines. |
| Skill Bonus | A skill bonus is typically a bonus feature with a skill game, for example, target shooting. |
| Skill Stop | A skill stop refers to games that allow the player to stop the reels manually. |
| Slant Top | A slant top is a slot machine that includes a stool or chair so the player has sit-down access. |
| Slot Club | Slots clubs are member programs offered to players by casinos where prizes and rewards are offered in exchange for playing. The more you play, the more complimentary gifts you receive. |
| Slot Host | The slot host is an employee at the casino who is there to assist in serving customers as well as handling slots club member issues. Often also referred to as a ‘casino host’, the role requires generally making sure slots players are having a good time. The slot host may also have the power to distribute ‘comps’ – complimentary meals, drinks, shows or accommodation to players staking a lot of money or displaying general high-roller behaviour. Casinos do this to keep wealthy players from moving onto to other venues. Hosts often develop a relationship with all levels of gamblers from VIPs and big-spending customers to first-time players and penny slots enthusiasts. They are key to keeping the casino floor a pleasant place to play. |
| Slot Schedule | The slot schedule or paytable is the winning payout combinations and their payout amounts posted usually on the front of the slot machine. |
| Slot Talk | Slot machine slang for the trading of information between players and hosts. |
| Slot Testing | Slot testing is a reference to a form of player evaluation of a slot game where they will play an entire roll of coins to determine the payout ratio for that machine. |
| Slot Tournament | A tournament where slots players play for a specific prize at a pool of slots. |
| Slot Type | Refers to the slot machine type being either a basic, progressive or bonus slot. |
| Slots | If you still don’t know what this is, you should probably check out our slots overview page! |
| Slots Drop | Slots drop refers to the amount of money being played through the slot machine. |
| Slots Hold | Slots hold refers to the amount of money that a slot machine does not pay back in winnings to the player. |
| Sound of Rain | The sound of rain is slot terminology for the sound of the coins dropping when a slots player cashes out. |
| Spin | The spin button or pulling the lever on the side of the machine activates the spinning of the reels to kick off the slot game experience. |
| Stacked Symbols | When the same symbol is on top of each other, either covering most or all of the reel. |
| Stacked Wilds | Alternating wild symbols that appear on top of one another. |
| Streaky Slots | Streaky slots are games that have a reputation for having hot and cold moments. |
| Symbols | The symbols are the different pictures or graphics on the various slot reels. These symbols include cherries and pound signs as well as sevens and money bags. They can also include images of movie or game characters based on the theme of the machine. |
| Taste | The taste refers to the often-small amount paid out to keep a player seated and continuously betting. Very rarely will machines fail to pay out over the course of several pulls. |
| Theoretical Hold Worksheet | A manual provided by the manufacturer, which suggests the theoretical percentage that the slot machine should hold based on the amount paid in. It also indicates the reel strip settings, number of coins that may be played, the payout schedule and the number of reels. |
| Three Liner | The three liner is a slot game with three reels where players must line up three identical symbols in order to win. |
| Tilt | The tilt is a failsafe that can detect when a slot game is being tampered with or has any operating issues. If a tilt is detected, an alarm is triggered. |
| TITO: Ticket In / Ticket Out | TITO slots insert coins and payout using printed tickets. At the end of the session, the player can cash out with the leftover tickets. |
| Tight Slots | Tight slots are considering stingy and are expected to payout less frequently than loose slot machines. |
| Total Bet | The total bet is the number of credits played on a machine at one time. |
| Trail | The trail is a bonus feature where players progress around a track or ladder to gain more prizes. |
| Tumbling Reels | A bonus feature where winning-combos disappear from the reels to be replaced by the symbols above creating the opportunity to accumulate more wins on a single spin. Also known as Cascading Reels. |
| Two Liner | A two-liner refers to slot machines that have two reels where players not only have to line up three symbols but line up six symbols. |
| Up / Down Slot Cycle | The up/down slot cycle refers to the fluctuations that occur with the payout percentage of a slot machine as these are calculated as an average over time. |
| Variance | The variance of a slot refers to the risk associated with a particular game. For example, a low variance machine has smaller wins that occur frequently and a high variance machine has fewer but bigger wins. |
| Video Slots | Video slots use a computer screen to display virtual reels. Unlike traditional machines which used gears and moving pieces to generate the gameplay, modern online slots are all digital. Most games today are video slots, even on land. Use video technology to provide reels opens the door to a lot of creativity and possibility in terms of variety of gameplay, the number of paylines that can be calculated and the potential for bonus rounds and extra features. The introduction of the video slot is really the starting point for the massive boom the industry has seen over the last 10 to 15 years. The slots you can find and play at online casinos today simply wouldn’t be possible without video slot technology. |
| Virtual Reel | Virtual reels are the reels that are rotated based on computer programs. This technology is supported by RNG to ensure a randomised combination is returned. |
| Wager Management | A system of managing your bankroll while playing on slots. By breaking your bankroll into smaller amounts, you can assign each to a specific playing session and hopefully cash out with a profit. |
| Well | The well is the box at the bottom of the slot machine that holds all the coins when a player decides to cash out. |
| WAP or Wide Area Progressive | WAP slots have progressive jackpots that are all linked to one another but are located in different casinos. |
| Weight Count | Coined in the USA, the weight count refers to the dollar amount of coins or credit removed from a slot’s drop bucket which is weighed using a scale to quickly determine how much is there is. |
| Wild Symbol Slots | Wild symbols that substitute for winning symbols in the event that they land in their place. |
| Wild Multiplier | The wild multiplier is a bonus win feature applied to wilds. |
| Win | If you don’t know what this means, you probably shouldn’t be playing. |
| Win Both Ways | Win both ways refers to slots that award wins for paylines running left-to-right and right-to-left. |
| Zig Zag | Zig zag is a term used to describe the line that can be created on many multi-line payout slots. Instead of the line going straight across the screen or diagonal, the line is zig zag. |
Roundup
The definitive slots glossary of its time was crafted with much time and effort. If you know of a word that isn’t on this list (related to slots) then you are probably thinking in another language. Alas, the English language is ever-changing and more words and phrases will come and go. We will continue to update this slot glossary so that it will remain relevant to you and stand the test of time. Keep track of the evolution, bookmark this page and keep it open as you play your online games. You will never fail to understand a slots term again. If you are interested in learning more about online slots, check out our guide to the best online slots sites in the UK.
Slot Machine Glossary – Slot Terms and Definitions
Slots are one of the easiest things to play in the casino but you need to understand all the terms and options before playing.
The goal for the slot machine glossary was to put together one of the most extensive slots terms documents online. I feel the goal has been accomplished. See if you agree when you finish reading.
Take a look and see if you can learn any new slot machine terms.
Action or Play – Action or play is the total amount of money wagered on a slot machine in a session or over a different time frame. Player’s club benefits are usually based on total action. When you put your club card in the slot machine it tracks your total play or action.
Bank of Slot Machines – A bank of slot machines is a group or row of machines sitting beside each other. Some of them may be physically connected, but they don’t have to be. The machines may share a common name or theme or they may be entirely different.
Basic Slots or One Line Slots – The simplest slot machines are one line or basic slots. Usually using only three reels, these slot machines are what dominated casino floors before all of the video slots became popular. Most of these machines have a simple pay out structure and only use a few symbols. Rarely will a basic slot machine have any type of jackpot because of the limited number of possible combinations.
Bet Max or Bet Max Button – Pay out charts are almost always based on a maximum wager. The bet max button automatically places a wager of the maximum amount based on your coin size. If the maximum bet is 10 coins per line and you set your coin size to 10 cents, the bet max button will bet $1 per line.
Bet One or Bet One Button – This button places a bet of a single coin when pushed. I don’t recommend using the bet one button because most of the top pay outs give a bonus based on a max bet. If you can’t afford to place a max bet find a slot machine that offers a smaller coin size.
Betting Units or Credits – A betting unit or credit is based on the size of coin you’re using and how much money you have in the machine. If you have $100 in the machine and are using a quarter coin size you have 400 betting units or credits.
Big Bertha Slot Machine – A Big Bertha slot machine is a marketing gimmick in the form of a huge slots game. Usually placed near a main entrance to the casino floor, these machines can have multiple reels (even more than normal slots) and take up as much space as a regular bank of machines.
Big Hit or Big Win – A big hit is simply a big win. One slots player may tell another they had a big hit after hitting a top pay out or jackpot.
Bonus Feature – A bonus feature is one of the new things that became available after the introduction of video slot machines. A common bonus feature is unlocked by hitting a certain combination of symbols and opens in a new screen. A bonus feature can be a different game entirely or include a mini movie or just be a different area with reels like the main game. Usually players have the chance at larger wins during a bonus feature than during normal game play.
Bonus Multiplier or Bonus Modifier – A bonus modifier or multiplier is a symbol or series of symbols that multiply a win by a certain amount. Common multipliers are two times (2X) and three times (3X) but they can be any amount the game is programmed for.
Branded Slots – Branded slot machines are themed after popular television shows or movie franchises. Examples include Wheel of Fortune Slots and Lord of the Rings slots.
Cashback or Cash Back – Cash back is exactly what it sounds like. Some player’s clubs offer cash back on slot machine play. Others only offer non cash comps, but if you look around you can find cashback slots offers both online and in land based casinos.
Certified Slots – Some casinos run promotions featuring certified slots. A certified slot machine has a payback percentage that’s been certified and is then advertised by the casino. Most certified promotions feature slots or groups of slot machines that pay out 97% or higher. Occasionally you may even be able to participate in a promotion that offers certified slots that have a 100% pay back percentage.
Coin In and Coin Out – Coin in is the total amount of coins or credits played in a machine and the coin out is the total amount of coins paid out of the machine.
Coins – Coins are the size of the base wager on a slot machine. In the past you could play with actual coins or tokens, but most slot machines today are played with cash or slots vouchers or tickets.
Coin Size – The coin size is the amount each coin is worth. Some machines only have one coin size but some allow you to adjust the coin size. Coin sizes include penny, nickel, dime, quarter, fifty cents, dollar, and five dollar.
Cold Slots – A cold slot machine is one that hasn’t paid out in a long time. Many players believe machines run hot or cold, but mathematically machines simply pay out the percentage that they’re programmed to pay out over time.
Comps – Comps are earned through a player’s club for playing slot machines and other casino games. Comps can include free hotel stay, free meals, free flights, cash back, coupons, special deals, and just about anything else of value the casino may give you in exchange for your play.
Credits – When you put money into a slot machine it’s divided by the coin size to get the total number of credits you have to play with. If the machine has a coin size of 50 cents and you put in $60 you have 120 credits.
Denomination – The denomination is the size of the coin for the slot machines. Some machines let you change the denomination but some have a set coin size.
Fixed Value Slots – A fixed value slot machines has only one size bet available. You can’t pick how many lines, coins per line, or the coin value. These machines aren’t as rare as many think. Some players prefer a simple playing decision and these machines fit the bill. All you do is put money in and hit the spin button.
Five Line Slot or Five Liner – A five line slot machine simply has five possible pay lines. This isn’t a term used often now because of the explosion of availability of 25 line and higher machines
Free Spins – Free spins are exactly what they say. Most free spins are part of a bonus situation or game or a multiplier or other special feature.
Other Terms For Slot Machines
Hammer A Machine – Hammering a slot machine is a slang term used to describe playing a single machine for hours on end. The most common reason for hammering a machine is when a progressive jackpot is high and the player is hoping to hit it.
Hit and Run – Hit and run describes a slots player who plays a few spins on a machine and then moves on to the next machine. These players usually are looking for a hot machine so if a slot doesn’t hit in a few spins the player moves on until she finds a machine that hits a win in the first few spins.
Hit Frequency – Hit frequency is how often a slot machine pays out a winning hand. Some machines pay out less on a greater number of hands while others pay out fewer times but larger amounts when they do pay. You’ll find players who like both types of machines, but generally they like to win more often, even if the wins are smaller than on tighter machines.
Hold Percentage – The hold percentage is how much the slot machine keeps as a percentage of total play or action for the casino. If a slot machine pays back 96%, the hold percentage is 4%. This means that in the long run the machine earns $4 for every $100 that’s wagered.
Hot Slots or Hot Slot Machine – A hot slot machine is the opposite of a cold one. A hot machine seems to be paying out at a higher than average rate. Many players jump from machine to machine in hopes of finding a hot machine.
Jackpot – The jackpot is the top pay out amount on a slot machine. Sometimes the jackpot is a progressive top prize that climbs with each spin until a player wins it.
Line or Pay Line – A line is usually from left to right and is the plane or area where you need to line up matching symbols to win a pay out. You activate one or more lines on most slot machines and if a line isn’t activated you can’t win for combinations on that line.
Linked Progressive Jackpot – Some progressive slot machines are linked to other machines. Most of the time the machines are all the same brand, but they don’t have to be. This helps progressive jackpots climb faster because more machines are feeding the top prize. The machines don’t have to be in the same casino to be linked. Online casinos often offer progressive games shared by hundreds of different casinos.
Loose Slots –A loose slot machine is one that is paying out more often than normal, or one that appears to be doing so. Loose slots is another name for hot slots.
Multiplier – A multiplier is an amount a winning spin is multiplied by. Multipliers usually are associated with free spins, scatter symbols, or another special feature or symbol.
Near Miss – A near miss is when a symbol lands just above or below a line that would have made a nice pay out.
Nickel Slots – Nickel slot machines are ones using a 5 cent coin size. While you can generally play for only a nickel a spin, most of these machines require a larger bet size per spin to have a chance to win the top amount. The coin size is still five cents but you have to bet more than one coin per line and / or more than one line.
Nudge Slot – A nudge slot machine moves a symbol that’s close to making a winning combination the little extra it needs to line up for a win. This is just a gimmick on how a winning spin is displayed, but some players enjoy the thought of nudging the machine to make a losing spin a win.
One Armed Bandit – A one armed bandit is a term for a slot machine with a lever on the side. Many slot machines don’t have levers now, but in the old days they all had arms on the side you had to pull down to activate the reels.
One Liner or One Line Machine – A one line slot machine only has a single pay line. Fewer and fewer one line slots are available as multi line video slots games have become more popular.
Payback Percentage – Payback percentage is the amount of money the slot machine pays back as a percentage of the amount wagered trough a machine. A slot machine that has a 93% payback percentage pays back $93 out of every $100 on average to the player. In the short run the percentage will vary a great deal, but in the long run it’ll average out correctly.
Pay Line or Payline – A pay line is a line where matching symbols must line up to match winning combinations listed on the pay table. Most machines have multiple pay lines that must be activated to be eligible to win.
Payout or Pay Out – A pay out is how much you get for a specific winning combination of symbols. For example, you might get a payout of 25 coins for lining up four matching symbols from left to right on any pay line.
Pay Table – The pay table is the screen or card that explains which matching symbols pay and how much they pay.
Penny Slots – Penny slots are set for a coin size of one cent. Rarely can you actually play for a penny a spin because you have to activate multiple lines and play more than one coin per line.
Primary Jackpot – A primary jackpot is the top paying jackpot on a machine that has more than one jackpot. Some machines have a secondary or group of secondary jackpot amounts.
Progressive Slot Machines – A progressive slot machine has a top payout that grows with each spin. Most progressive jackpots are tied to multiple machines so the jackpot grows quickly. A percentage of each spin is added to the progressive amount.
Quarter Slots – A slot machine with a set coin amount of 25 cents.
Reels – Reels are the wheels that spin inside the machine or appear to spin on the screen of a video slot machine. The most common machines have three or five reels, but other sizes are sometimes available. I’ve seen seven and ten reel machines, but they aren’t common.
Random Number Generator or RNG – The computer program that controls the outcome of the slot machine is called a random number generator. Each possible outcome has a number or numbers assigned to it and the RNG picks a number at random for every spin. A particular losing combination may have hundreds of numbers attached to it and the top pay out may only have one number assigned to it.
Scatter Symbol – A special symbol that can land anywhere on the reels and still pay out or unlocks a bonus of some sort without landing on particular lines. The symbol is scattered all over the screen instead of lining up.
Second Screen Bonus – Video slot machines sometimes have a bonus round that launches after certain combinations are hit. A second screen bonus is one that opens on a second or different screen from the regular game play screen.
Secondary Jackpot – Some slot machines have more than one jackpot. The highest jackpot is called a primary and all of the others are called secondary jackpots.
Select Lines – Used to select the pay lines you want to activate for the next spin. Most players either play the maximum number of lines or a single line.
Slots Club or Player’s Club – The slots club or player’s club offers rewards or comps for your slots play. The more you play the higher the possible rewards.
Slots Host – The casino employee who takes care of slot machine questions or issues is called a slots host.
Slots Schedule – A slots schedule is another name for a pay chart or pay out chart. Most players don’t use this terminology now.
Slot Machine Tournament – A slot machine tournament is when you pay a set entry fee and play for a set period of time for the chance to win cash and prizes. The players with the highest amount at the end of play win the listed prizes.
Sound of Rain – The sound of rain is an old saying that slots players used when actual coins were used in the slot machines. The sound of rain was the sound of coins hitting the metal tray at the bottom of the machine after a big win.
Spin or Spin Button – The spin button is used to start spinning the reels. The spin button replaced the lever on the side of the slot machine.
Streaky Slots – A streaky slot machine is one that players believe runs hot or cold in streaks. A machine is usually believed to run both hot and cold at different times if it’s streaky.
Symbols – The symbols are the pictures of different items on the reels of the slot machine. You need to line matching symbols up on an activated pay line to win. Symbols can be anything from a bar to an elaborate portrait. Popular symbols include cherries and pictures that match the theme of the slot machine.
TITO Ticket In / Ticket Out – Slot machines have mostly stopped accepting coins and use cash and tickets to accept money and pay out money. You may put cash or a ticket in the machine but when you cash out the machine prints a ticket. You take the ticket to the cage when you’re ready to cash out.
Tight Slots – A tight slot machine is one that seems to be paying out at a lower than expected rate. It may be paying out fewer times than expected or fewer coins than expected.
Total Bet – The total bet is the total amount of coins or money wagered on a slot machine for the current spin.
243 Pay Lines Machine – Some new slot machines have 243 pay lines, claiming to cover every possible pay line. They simplify things in one way, but if you try to figure out all the possible pay lines you’ll probably end up with a headache.
Video Slots – A video slot machine has a picture of reels on the screen, like a video game. You won’t find any actual reels inside the cabinet of a video slots game.
Voucher or Ticket – A voucher or ticket is the same thing I described in the ticket in ticket out section above. A ticket is printed when you take money out of the slot machine and you can exchange the ticket for cash in the cage or use it at a different slot machine.
Wide Area Progressive or WAP – A wide area progressive is one with slot machines from different areas connected for a single progressive jackpot. Any player on one of these machines can win the jackpot and all the players are making the progressive amount go up as they play.
Another Term For Slot Machines
Wild Symbols – Wild symbols, usually found on video slot machines, are used in place of other symbols to help you form winning pay line combinations. Some wild symbols offer a multiplier bonus when used in a winning pay line. See the pay chart on your machine for more details.