Slots Terminology: A Complete Glossary

Numbers

1,024 Ways to Win –This is a slot with 5 reels, each with 4 rows. Winning combinations can be formed on every possible path through the reels, of which there are a total of 1024.

243 Ways to Win –This is a slot with 5 reels, each with 3 rows. Winning combinations can be formed on every possible path through the reels, of which there are a total of 243.

3D Video Slots –These are games designed with three-dimensional graphics.

3 Reel – A slot with 3 columns of spinning symbols.

5 Reel –A slot with 5 columns of spinning symbols.

6 Reel – A slot with 6 columns of spinning symbols.

A

Action –The total amount a player bets over a period of time. You can usually see this in your account. This is sometimes used to calculate wagering requirements or whether a player is eligible for bonus offers.

Active Payline –A Payline upon which a bet has been placed.

All Ways –Machines whose paylines run in every direction, both from left to right and right to left.

Annuity Winner – A player who takes their winnings over a period of years not as a lump sum.

Autoplay/Autospin – The game is set to automatically play a certain number of spins without player input.

B

Bars – The classic slot machine symbol. They come in single, double and triple versions.

Basic Slots – The simplest game with 3 reels, a single payline and a fixed jackpot.

Bet – The amount wagered on a spin.

Bet Max – The maximum amount a player can bet per spin.

Bet One– This sets the bet to be a single coin per spin.

Betting Units– The units used to wager. These are set by the game.

Big Bertha – A large machine designed to grab the attention as you enter a land casino.

Big Hit – A large payout or jackpot.

Bonus Feature –Extras such as payout multipliers or free spins etc. Details can be found in the game’s paytable.

Bonus Multiplier Slot Machines– Machines that offer larger payouts if you bet the maximum number of credits.

Buy a Feature – The option to purchase a bonus feature such as extra spins.

C

Candle –The light on top of a machine in a land casino used to call for assistance or signal a large payout.

Carousel – A group of similar machines on a casino floor.

Cascading Reels – The winning symbols in a game are removed allow others to fall, or cascade down to give the possibility of further winning combinations.

Certified Slots – Slots with a guaranteed payout percentage.

Coin In – The amount wagered.

Coin Out – The amount won.

Coin Size – The value of each coin or credit. The total bet is calculated by multiplying the coin size, the number of coins bet and the number of paylines.

Cold Slots – Machines that payout rarely.

Collect – The button used to withdraw the players remaining credits.

Columns – The vertical lines of spinning symbols, these are also known as reels.

Credits – A single betting unit. In a dollar machine it will be $1, in a quarter machine it would be 25c.

D

Denomination – The value of each credit.

Demo Mode – This allows you to try a machine without using real credits. The player won’t need to spend real money but also will not receive any winnings.

Doubles– Symbols that will double the amount won.

E

Expanding Wilds – A special type of wild symbol that grows to fill additional rows.

EGM – An acronym for “Electronic Gaming Machine”.

F

Feature – When the game offers extras such as Free Spins, Multipliers, etc.

Fixed Value Slots – The bet amount or coin size cannot be changed.

Fixed Jackpot– The amount won with a jackpot combination is fixed.

Five Liner– A slot with 5 reels and 5 paylines.

Free Play – The opportunity to play a slot with free coins and still receive any winnings.

Free Spin– An extra spin or second chance to win without paying for the bet.

G

Gamble – A chance for a player to increase the payout on a spin but with the risk of losing the initial winnings.

Games Per Hour– The total number of games playable in an hour, usually around 500.

H

Hammer a Machine– A slang term for playing a machine for a long time.

Hit – Getting a winning combination on a payline.

Hit and Run– A strategy where a player will play each machine only for a short time with the intention quickly making a win and then moving on.

Hit Frequency – How often a machine will payout on average.

Hold Percentage – The average amount of money retained by a slot and not paid out as winnings.

Hopper – The tray at the bottom of a physical machine where coins are collected after a payout.

Hot Slots – Slots which are paying out more than the average.

J

Jackpot – The top prize from a particular slot.

L

Line Bet – The amount bet by a player on a single payline.

Linked Progressive Jackpot– A jackpot pool contributed to by many different machines, sometimes in different casinos.

Loose Slots –A slot that is paying out more than the average.

M

Max Bet – The maximum amount it is possible to bet on a single spin.

Mechanical slots– Traditional machines using physical reels and levers.

Min Bet – The smallest amount it is possible to bet on a single spin.

Mobile Slots– Slots designed to be played on mobile phones or tablets.

Multi-Line– Slots with more than one payline.

Multiplier –A feature that will increase the payouts by a set amount. For example x2 or x3.

N

Near Miss– When a winning combination almost lands.

Nudge Slot – A slot which allows players to move symbols up or down on the reel after spinning.

Numbers – Reels have a variety of symbols including numbers. The number 7 is a traditional symbol for slot reels.

O

One Armed Bandit– An old fashioned physical machine with a lever on the side which the player pulls to spin the reels.

One Liner – A machine with just one payline.

Onesies – A slang term for a player who only ever bets a single coin at a time.

P

Payback Percentage – The average amount of money a machine pays out over time. Also known as RTP or return to player

Payline – The position in which matching symbols need to appear in order to win. On classic slots this is a straight line across the centre of the reels but can also be in other positions such as diagonally or even in a zig-zag pattern.

Payout – The amount won on a spin. It will depend on the symbol value, the bet and any bonuses or multipliers.

Paytable – Information explaining the financial features of the slot such as max/min bets, the maximum jackpot, bonus features and rules.

Penny Slots– Slots that accept small bets of €/$0.01.

Pokies – An Australian slang term for slot machines.

Primary Jackpot– The largest possible jackpot from a slot.

Progressive Jackpot/Progressive Slots – A game in which the jackpot pool is contributed to by every bet placed.

R

Reel Array – How the reels are displayed on a slot. Classic slots have three reels side by side but they can be more complex with greater numbers of reels or even wheels and grids.

Reel Stop – A single position on the reel of a slot machine.

Reels – The vertical strips of symbols which spin around.

Random Number Generator (RNG) – Software that generates numbers at random. These are used to determine the position of the symbols in digital slots.

Return to Player (RTP) – The average amount that a machine will return to a player in winnings over a period of time.

Rollover Requirements –Also known as wagering requirements. The amount needed to be bet before being eligible for a bonus offer.

Rows – The horizontal line of symbols displayed across the reels.

S

Scatter – A special symbol which triggers a payout if enough are displayed on the reels even if they are not positioned in sequence along a payline.

Second Screen Bonus– An added bonus feature that appears as a mini-game on a separate screen to the reels.

Select Lines– The button that allows the player to select which paylines will be active on a particular spin.

Shifting Wilds– Wild symbols that change position with every spin.

Short Win– When a player wins a large payout after only a few spins.

Skill Based Bonus– A bonus that relies on the player’s skill rather than chance.

Signature Slots – A casino’s own brand of slot machines.

Slot Host– An employee in a land casino whose job is to assist players.

Slot Lever– The handle on the side of a physical slot machine.

Slot Schedule – An alternative term for the slots paytable.

Slot Testing– When a slots player tests a machines payout percentage, usually by betting a whole roll of coins.

Slot Tournament –A competition where players compete to see who can secure the biggest win within a set period of time. The winner will receive a cash prize or free credits for the casino.

Slot Type – The category of the slot machine, 3D, video, classic, bonus, basic, etc.

Slots Drop – The total amount of money played through a machine.

Slots Hold – The amount of money that a machine retains and does not pay out as winnings.

Sound of Rain – A slang term referring to the sound of coins falling from a physical machine after a large win.

Spin – A single round on a slot machine.

Staggered Payout – A machine that offers a larger payout when more coins are bet.

Symbols – the images, numbers, and bars on the reels of a slot machine.

T

Tight Slots – A slot with a lower than average payback percentage.

Three Liner – A three reel slot that requires the player to line up three identical symbols.

TITO (Ticket In/Ticket Out) – Machines that print a ticket detailing the players winnings which can then be entered into another machine.

Total Bet– The total number of coins bet on a single spin.

U

Unique Reels –A game in which the reels are displayed in an unusual layout such as a grid or wheel.

Up/Down Slot Cycle – The variations in a slots payout percentage over a long period of time.

V

Variance/ Volatility – The variability in a slots payout for each spin. A low variance machine will payout small amounts regularly while high variance means a greater jackpot but less frequently.

Video Slots – Machines where the reels are displayed on a screen as opposed to on physical reels. However, today the term is also be used to describe five reel slots, with three reel games referred to as classic slots.

W

Ways to Win– Refers to the number of paylines or different ways that a win can be formed across the reels. Usually the greater the number of reels the greater the number of possible ways to win.

Wager Management – How a player manages their bankroll in order to plan how much they will bet over a playing period.

Well– The part of a slot machine that the coins fall into on a physical machine.

Wide Area Progressive (WAP) – Slot machines in several different casinos that all contribute to the same progressive jackpot.

Wild Symbol– A symbol that can substitute for any of the standard symbols to give a greater chance of a winning combination.

Wild Multiplier– A wild symbol that also multiplies the winnings by a set amount.

Win– When the correct combination of symbols appears on a payline.

Win Both Ways – When a machine awards a payout for combinations displayed both left to right and right to left on a payline.

Z

Zig Zag – A payline that doesn’t just go in a straight line across the reels but goes up and down across the reels in a zig-zag pattern.