SLOT TERMS — A GLOSSARY OF SLOT MACHINES TERMINOLOGY

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3D Video Slots: 3D video slots are typical video slot machines that feature 3D graphics.

5-reel Slot Machines: Land-based or online slots featuring five reels.

A

Active Payline: An active payline is found in slot machines that allow players to select the number of paylines they wish to bet on — even if it’s a single payline or more than one payline. 

All-ways Slots: These types of online slots do not have fixed paylines, so they allow players to form a winning combination in many different ways.

Autospin: The Autospin function is a mechanic whereby players can set the number of spins.

B

Bankroll: This refers to the amount of funds you have in your online casino account that you can use to spin slot machine reels. 

Bar Symbol: The bar symbol was traditionally found in classic slots. It resembled a pack of gum, which was what casinos often used as a prize before introducing the cash prize.

Base Game: The main gameplay that includes all the general mechanics and features of a slot machine. The base game does not include the bonus round.

Basic Slots: Basic slots are the most traditional form of slot games you will find. These video slots sport the lowest number of slot machine reels and have the simplest gameplay.

Bet Per Line: Represents the bet value per payline. This is generally found in slot games with adjustable paylines.

Big Hit: A ‘big hit’ is a phrase in slot machine terminology that is often used to refer to a huge payout. Forming a jackpot combination can be considered a big hit.

Bonus Features: A slot bonus feature is a game function generally activated during the base gameplay. A bonus feature is used to make a slot game more complex and entertaining by performing unique functions that help form winning combinations/ boost the number of ways to win. Bonus features are activated in different ways, depending on the rules. Examples of bonus features include Wild symbols, free spins, multipliers, etc.

Bonus Funds: A common casino bonus reward. Awarded to slot players to boost their bankroll.

Bonus Round: An additional minigame that is activated when landing a special sequence of bonus symbols. Also referred to as a bonus game, the bonus round awards a special bonus feature that players would not be able to access in the base game.

Bonus Slots: Bonus slot machines are slots that include bonus features. 

Bonus Spins: A phrase used in slot machine terminology to describe free spins.

Bonus Symbol: A symbol that performs a specific/special function. It can also trigger a bonus game.

Branded Slots: Online casino slot machines that are inspired by popular movies, TV shows, etc.

Bonus Wheel: A bonus feature inspired by the Wheel of Fortune bonus game. Here, slot players must spin the wheel for a chance to win a bonus. 

C

Candle: Traditional slot terminology used to refer to the blinking lights on top of a physical slot machine.

Carousel: A group of multiple slot games.

Cascading Reels: A special slot mechanic. Anytime winning symbol combinations form, those symbols will be removed from the slot reels. New symbols will then fall down from the top to fill the empty positions. 

Cashout: The act of withdrawing earnings after forming a winning combination.

Casino Floor: Slot terminology used when referring to the gaming area in a physical casino.

Certified Slots: Land or online slot games certified by Responsible Gaming authorities.

Classic Slots: A classic slot machine is a slot game that resembles the first slots in land-based casinos, often featuring a fruit or gem theme. Classic video slots are the simplest games offered at online casinos as they do not tend to have many features or bonuses. A classic slot game can also be referred to as a fruit machine. 

Cluster Pays: The earnings awarded in a cluster video slot game.

Cluster Slot Games: Cluster slot machines feature a grid layout of reels with no set paylines. Winning combinations pay out according to the pattern of symbols in one cluster. The winning patterns in a cluster slot are referred to as ‘ways to win’ or ‘win ways’.

Cold Slots: Award lower payouts infrequently and are also known as tight slots.

Colossal Symbol: One large symbol that covers multiple reel positions.

Console Video Slots: Slot games with added features.

D

Demo Mode: The demo is a gaming mode that allows players to spin the reels using virtual funds instead of dipping into their bankroll. The demo was designed to give players a sneak peek into the gameplay before putting down real cash. 

Denomination Slot Machine Units: Used to bet on a particular slot machine.

Developer: A term used to refer to the creator of a slot machine. The developer can also be called a provider.

Dragonfish: An online casino operator that develops video slots and Live Casino games. 

Drops: A modern slots feature whereby instead of spinning the reels, symbols will simply fall into place. 

E

EGM: Among the many slot terms to describe slot machines. It stands for ‘Electronic Gaming Machine’. 

Expanding Wild Symbol: A Wild symbol that substitutes for other symbols while also expanding to fill multiple positions on the reels to form even more winning combinations.

F

Feature: A mechanic that boosts entertainment and performs a specific function. Different slot machines have different features.

Fixed Jackpot: A prize pot that awards a fixed sum of cash when triggered. It is not like a regular payout but an additional prize that activates randomly during the casino game or when hitting a specific combination of symbols. The pot resets to a predetermined amount once it’s triggered.

Five-liner: A three-reel slot machine with five paylines. 

Fixed-value Slots: Slot machines with unadjustable bet levels.

Freeplay Mode: Also referred to as the demo mode, this version of the slot machine is a gaming mode that is free to play.

Free Spins: Free spins are a bonus reward that allows a slot player to spin the reels without putting down actual cash and collecting winnings. Free spins can often be spotted as a bonus round in many slot machines or awarded as a casino bonus prize. Free Spins bonus games also typically come with additional features that won’t be available during the base game.

Fruit Slot Machines: Slot machines with a fruit theme. 

G

Gamble Feature: An optional minigame that requires players to either guess the colour of the next card or time their click and climb up a ladder for a greater payout. Essentially, players would be risking their earnings for a chance to boost their payout.

Gameplay: The general experience players get when they play slot machines.

Gameplay Bet Max: The ‘bet max’ is the maximum wager made on a slot.

Gameplay-Linked Progressive Jackpot Slot Machines: Also known as ‘Linked Progressive Slots’, these types of slot machines would be linked by the same progressive jackpot.

Grid Slot Machine: Also referred to as a cluster slot machine, a grid slot machine is characterised by a grid of reels with no set paylines. 

H

High-Value Symbols: Game symbols that award a high payout when they form part of a winning payline. 

High Volatility: A slot machine with a low hit frequency but a high payout value.

Hit: When a winning combination forms on a slot machine reel.

Hit Frequency: How often a winning combination is paid out. 

Hot Slot Machine: Hot slots are games that pay out fast and often and can also be described as loose slot machines.

House Edge: Describes how much of an advantage the casino has over the player.

I

Icons: Another way of referring to symbols.

J

Jackpot: A large prize that is awarded on top of the general payouts that can be collected in the base game. 

Jackpot Slot Machine: A slot machine that includes a jackpot. This can be a fixed or progressive jackpot.

L

Land-based Slot: A physical slot machine found in land casinos. 

Line: Among the many slot machine terms that refer to payline.

Line bet: A line bet refers to the amount of money wagered per payline.

Locked Reels: Also called ‘sticky’ reels, these are reels that do not spin.

Loose Slot Machine: A phrase used in slot terminology to describe a game that is likely to pay out.

Losing Streak: A succession of losses.

Low-value Symbols: Symbols that award a low payout when forming part of a winning combination.

Low Volatility: A slot machine with a high frequency but small payouts. 

M

Max Bet: ‘Max bet’ is the maximum amount that can be wagered on a slot machine. 

Megaways™: Developed by Big Time Gaming, the Megaways™ mechanic randomises how many symbols land on the reels on any spin. This way, players are given far more ways to win.

Megaways™ Slots: Modern slot machines that feature the Megaways™mechanic. These slots can offer over 100,000 ways to win and have no set paylines.

Min Bet: The minimum amount that can be wagered in a slot machine. 

Mobile Slots: Mobile slots are specifically designed to perform best on mobile devices. Mobile slots offer the same gameplay but can only be accessed from a compatible device.

Multi-line Slots: Slots with more than a single payline. 

Multipliers: A feature that multiplies winning combinations by specific values. 

Multi-way Slots: Slots in which winning paylines go from left to right and right to left.

N

Non-winning Spin: A spin that does not result in a win.

Nudge Slot: A nudge slot gives players the ability to shift a reel up or down, changing the outcome of a spin.

O

One-armed Bandit: One of the many slot machine terms that players use to refer to slots found in land-based casinos.

Online Slot Machine: A slot machine that can be played online at online casinos. 

P

Paylines: Represents a pattern on the reels where a winning combo can form. 

Payout: The award players earn when they hit a winning spin.

Payout odds: The chances of earning a payout.

Payout Percentage: Also referred to as the Return-to-Player rate, the Payout Percentage refers to the amount of money returned to a player over a long period of time.

Payout Table: A table that shows the value of each symbol.

Paytable: One of the many slot terms used to describe the payout table.

Penny Slots: Found in brick-and-mortar casinos. They are slots with low bet levels. 

Pick-and-Click Feature: An on-screen bonus that requires players to select one of the mystery prizes displayed. Players would have many options to choose from, and the prize will only reveal itself once players have clicked it. This feature is often found in bonus games.

Prize Pot: The huge payout that is up for grabs in a jackpot slot machine. The value of this payout depends on whether the slot machine includes a fixed jackpot or a progressive jackpot.

Progressive Jackpot: A type of jackpot that grows over time. It accumulates by taking a portion out of every player’s bet every time they spin the reels. There is no limit to how big these pots can grow. Once hit, they will begin growing again.

Progressive Jackpot Slot: A particular slot that features a progressive pot. 

Progressive Multipliers: Multipliers whose value grows over time.

Provider: A gaming company that creates slots. Also referred to as ‘developer’.

R

Random Number Generator (RNG): A random number generator, or simply RNG, is a mechanic that randomises the symbols that land to ensure fairness when gambling.

Reels: The vertical spinning columns displayed on the slot machine window where symbols land.

Reel Swap: A feature that swaps one reel with another to help form more winning combos.

Respins: Similar to free spins, the Respin feature awards a free spin right after a paid spin. 

Return to Player (RTP): The Return to Player is a percentage used to describe the amount of money a player is expected to win back over a long period of time. For example, a slot machine with a 95% RTP is expected to return €/$0.95 on a €/$1 wager. Similarly, a slot machine with a 98% RTP is expected to return €/$0.98 on a €/$1 wager. Naturally, the slot machine with a higher RTP is one that is more favourable to the player than a slot machine with a lower RTP.

Rows: The number of horizontal lines in a slot machine.

S

Scatter Pays: ‘Scatter Pays’ is among the slot machine terms that refer to the payout awarded when hitting a Scatter symbol combination.

Scatter Symbol: A special symbol that performs a unique function and is unlike the regular symbols found in-game. The Scatter symbol is most commonly used to trigger Free Spins bonus games, but it can also activate other bonus features. For example, in Play’n GO’s Book of Dead, players must land three Scatters anywhere on the reels to earn bonus spins.

Second Screen Bonus: A second screen bonus is an alternative set of reels that players acquire when a special feature is activated. This often happens when bonus spins are triggered.

Shifting Wild: A Wild symbol that moves or ‘shifts’ between reels with every spin. It also performs the general function of a Wild icon by substituting for other symbols to potentially boost winnings. Developers may use the term ‘walking’ as slang.

Signature Slots: Signature slots refer to the select amount of games that are owned by the casino specifically.

Single Payline Slot: This type of slot machine is a game with only one active payline available.

Slot Club: Slot clubs are kind of like loyalty programmes offered by casinos where players earn points when playing the casino’s games. Then, players can exchange these points for exclusive prizes.

Slot Host: Land-based casino personnel whose job is similar to the card dealer in table games. 

Slot Schedule: This term is another way of describing the pay out table/paytable. 

Slot Tournament: Slot tournaments are online championships that players can compete in for a chance to win exclusive prizes. Each slot tournament has its own set of rules and Terms and Conditions, but generally, players would be required to spin select slots to earn points and land a top spot on the leaderboard.

Spin Button: The button that players click to spin the reels after adjusting their bet. This button is often found below or beside the reels.

Stacked Wild: A special Wild icon that substitutes for other symbols as a regular Wild does, but it also covers an entire reel or multiple reel positions, forming more ways to win.

Sticky Wild: A special Wild icon that substitutes for other symbols while also sticking to the reel position it lands on. This way, the symbol will remain in place for the duration of the feature, forming winning combos with every spin.

Streaky Slots: These slots are said to have both hot and cold moments.

Symbol: The icons that land on the reels on every spin. Symbols are used to form winning patterns and vary from low-valued symbols to high-valued symbols, special symbols, bonus symbols, etc.

Symbol Transformation: A feature that transforms low-paying symbols into higher-paying symbols. 

Synced Reels: When multiple reels spin together at the same time.

T

Tight Slot Machine: Tight slots are games that tend to pay less often than others. 

Total Bet: The total amount of money bet on every spin.

Tumbling Reels: Another term used to describe cascading reels.

Twin Reels: A linked set of reels.

U

Up/Down Slot Cycle: The term ‘up/down slot cycle’ refers to the shifts in a slot’s payout percentage over a period of time.

V

Variance: Describes how likely a player is to hit a winning combo and the size of that payout. The term ‘variance’ is also interchangeable with the term ‘volatility’.

Video Slot: The digital version of modern games. Every slot that is played at online casinos is a video slot. 

Virtual Funds: The funds used to spin the reels in the demo mode. Virtual funds are fake money that only exists within the game and cannot be withdrawn or credited to a player’s account. 

W

Wager: Also referred to as ‘bet’ or’ stake’, the wager is the amount of cash used to spin the reels once.

Walking Wilds: Wilds that move or ‘walk’ across the reels and change positions on every spin. They can also be referred to as Shifting Wilds.

Wild Icon: A special or bonus symbol that substitutes for other symbols on the reels to potentially form more winning paylines and ultimately boost winnings. It can sometimes offer its own payout as well and perform other functions on top of substitution. 

Winning Combination: A line of symbols that pays a specific amount of money, depending on the symbols that land and the paytable.

Win-Both-Ways: A mechanic that allows players to form winning paylines from the leftmost reel to the right and the rightmost reel to the left.

Win Streak: A succession of wins.

Win Ways: A term used when playing Megaways™ slots. It refers to the winning clusters or patterns that form as they do not conform to conventional paylines.

Z

Zig-zag: This term refers to the ‘zig-zag’ patterns created when playing modern slots due to the large number of paylines.