Slot game meaning
New casino sites to play real money
This type of prize rewards a fixed number of credits, the opposite of a progressive jackpot. Theoretical hold worksheet
Slots terms & definitions
Slots terms and definitions have evolved over the years among gamblers, game manufacturers, and casino employees. Like other groups sharing a common interest, machine gamblers have a set of slang used to talk about the games they love. The words and phrases below are those most common to slot machine players around the world.
A statistical representation of the amount of money wagered which the casino will win, usually expressed as a percentage or ratio; players can work out the casino’s edge for a given game by subtracting the theoretical payout percentage from 100%.
This term refers to a group of gambling machines, usually games thatshare a common feature.Slots may be in banks with other games of a similar style, made by the same designer, or with similar wager varieties.
A gambler’s budget; money set aside for a specific duration of casino gambling.
A game feature activated by a specific sequence or number of symbols which rewards the player with prizes like credits or free spins.
This is a light or other signal placed on top of a slot machineused to alert casino staff in case of a need for maintenance or a hand pay.
A game with few modern features designed in imitation of early mechanical titles. Classic games usually have a single pay line and three or five reels.
An internal part of a gambling machine where coins used for payout are stored.
Coin size (also credit size)
An amount of money representing the cost of a single credit bet for a specific slot machine.
Sometimes called a drop box, this part of a slot machine’s internal mechanism stores an amount of coins that don’t fit in the hopper, normally only used when a machine is full. This feature is less common now that slots paying coins are disappearing from casinos.
British slang for slot machines, named for the heavy use of fruit symbols in early versions of the game.
The name for a payment made directly to a gambler by casino staff, used when a jackpot is too large to be paid automatically.
This is a slang term commonly used to describe anyslot machine pay out.
An estimate (not a hard and fast figure) of the ratio of winning spins to losing spins for a particular machine; slots with a high hit frequency pay out more often than those with a low one. ( more info on slots odds & hit frequency here )
A number representing the portion of player bets that a particular machine is designed to win; the opposite of payout percentage.
Machines with a stool or chair attached allowing players to sit while they gamble.
This number represents the largest amount that can be wagered on a single spin; most modern games have a button on the display that automatically places a wager of this size.
This symbol increases a payout by a fixed amount, indicated by a number and the letter x, as in “5x.”
Slot machines with more than one pay line; bettors can choose to activate one line or additional ones, each with a separate wager.
Slang for slot machine; the game itself is the bandit while the lever used to set the reels in motion is the bandit’s “arm.”
A theoretical number indicating what portion of bets placed on a machine gets returned to players as winnings given an infinite amount of time.
An imaginary line on which reel symbols appear used to determine pay outs. These lines may be vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or laid out in any pattern as described by the machine’s pay table and rules.
An amount won for a specific combination of symbolsusually displayed in credits.
The name for the list of winning combinations, payouts, bonus rewards, rules for progressive jackpots, wilds, and other jackpots. This table is usually located on the front of a game’s case or displayed on the main screen.
The largest fixed jackpot listed on a game’s pay table.
A prize amount that grows over time as gamblers place bets on other machines in the same network; rather than rewarding a fixed amount, this jackpot gets larger and larger until it is won then resets to a fixed minimum amount and starts to grow larger again. ( check out the top 20 progressive jackpots online right now )
Random number generator (also RNG)
The part of the computer brain of modern games which selects random numbers that determine the position of the game’s reels.
A horizontal line that spins and displays symbols; these symbols are used to determine winnings.
A collection of sound and light effects occurring after a win; as the prize amount is counted on the game’s meters or player interface, lights and sounds may indicate a player has won a big jackpot.
Any reel symbol used in a game that rewards a player without any requirement in terms of where it appears on a reel or pay line; sometimes also used as wild symbols.
Any partial payment of a jackpot; common with older games, this occurs when a machine’s coin hopper is empty or close to empty.
Phrase used by most of the world for games known as pokies or fruit machines in the UK and oceania.
This type of prize rewards a fixed number of credits; the opposite of a progressive jackpot.
Images on specific positions on a slot machine’s reels; combinations of these images are used to determine wins.
Theoretical hold worksheet
This document created by game manufacturers lists information like a machine’s payout percentage, specific reel settings, payout schedule, accepted wager sizes, and other data necessary for operation and certification.; a statistical blueprint used by auditors and government regulators to verify that a machine is legal for play in a given jurisdiction.
Slang for stealing from gambling machines by pushing or shaking them. Mechanical slots were vulnerable to this form of cheating because of flaws in design.Modern manufacturing methods basically preventtilt.
This is a bin at the bottom of a slot machine where jackpots are paid to players in coins or credits.
Wilds are symbols which substitute for other reel symbols to form winning combinations. Wilds are sometimes also used as multipliers or bonus round triggers.
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All you need to know about slots betting
It' s long been said that the players who get the best deal on the offline and online slots are those who bet bigger. Casinos generally put higher payback percentages on slot machines with higher coin denominations, and at least on three-reel games, payback percentages usually are highest with maximum bets.
One former casino company even had a cartoon character called "max coins" to remind players that bigger bets brought increased returns.
Players have tried to read extra meaning into that information for decades and have come up with many recurring questions about slots betting. They ask how casinos make sure bigger bets pay more, whether increasing or decreasing bets changes combinations they see on the reels, and more.
The big question, of course, is "can bigger slots betting improve my chance of winning at slots?"
Let's look at some questions and answers, with one big caution: you can get a higher payback percentage and still lose more money. If you're betting 40 cents per spin with a 90-percent return, your average loss is 4 cents per spin. If you get 95 percent but bet $4 per spin, then your average loss is 20 cents per spin.
Make sure you keep your bets in a range you can afford. Don't bet outside your comfort zone for the sake of a higher payback percentage.
How do casinos make sure higher slots betting brings higher payback percentages?
Casinos usually put higher payback percentages on higher denomination games, so that games with base betting units of $1 pay more than 25-cent games, which pay more than 5-cent games, which pay more than 1-cent games.
That can be done by increasing the pay table on higher denomination machines, by mapping numbers from the random number generator onto more higher paying symbols, or by mapping the random numbers so that winning combinations appear more often on higher-denomination machines.
Some machines have disproportionately higher payoffs when you bet more.
Three-reel games with a jump in the top jackpot are good examples of this. When you look at the pay table, you might see the top jackpot at 500 coins if one coin is wagered, 1,000 if two coins are wagered, but leaps to 2,500 coins if three are wagered.
That disproportionate rise in the top jackpot leads to a higher overall payback percentage when more coins are wagered.
That includes machines with progressive slots jackpots if only players who bet at a qualifying level are eligible for the progressives.
Do I get a higher payback with higher slots betting while staying at the same machine?
Only if there is a disproportionate rise in the pay table, as described above. That's rare on multiline video slots or online slots.
If all payoffs are proportionate to wager size, the payback percentage almost always is the same regardless of whether you bet one coin per line, 20 coins per line, or any other available multiple.
There are exceptions. On some machines, betting more unlocks paying symbols. If, for example, bells are losing symbols if you bet one coin per line but are winners if you bet at least five coins per line, then the extra winners increase the payback percentage for those who make qualifying wagers.
If I bet $5 per spin and at a 1-cent game and $5 per spin at a 25-cent game of the same type, am I getting the same payback percentage?
In most cases, the higher payback will be on the 25-cent game, even if the bets are equal.
Most players at the 1-cent game will be betting considerably less than $5 a spin. For example, if the game has 50 paylines, a player betting one coin per line bets only 50 cents per spin while raising bets to 10 coins per line brings the total to $5 per spin.
Without disproportionate payoffs, progressive jackpots or buy-a-pay features, betting 50 cents or $5 on the same $1 machine brings the same payback percentage. But since higher-denomination machines usually are set up with higher payback percentages, someone making similar-sized bets on a 25-cent machine usually gets a higher percentage back.
I have noticed lately when I bet the minimum I have won way more frequently than when I bet max on a machine. Is the RNG programmed to hit more on minimum bet and less on maximum bet?
That's an illusion of small sample size that would even out with extended play and observation. In this case, slots betting patterns make no difference.
The random number generator that determines what you see on the reels doesn't know how much you've wagered. It just goes on generating random numbers.
Your wager size doesn't change the random numbers or the probability of winning combinations landing on the payline. Streaks happen, both good and bad, with big bets and small, but the probability of seeing winning combinations on any given machine is the same regardless of how much you bet.
Do the reels change in any way if bet more or fewer coins per line? Is there a change in the number of symbols on the reels or the number of high-paying symbols in the reels?
No, slots don't change the assignment of random numbers to make some symbols come up more often when you bet more, or some symbols to come up with.
There are ways to accomplish what this question suggests, but slots don't change the assignment of random numbers to make some symbols come up more often when you bet more, or some symbols to come up with.
There are ways to accomplish what the reader suggests, but they are not permitted by regulators in any american jurisdictions.
One way would be to use the same set of random numbers with large bets as with small, and change the way the numbers are mapped. For example, if you bet one coin per payline, random no. 1 could be assigned to a low-paying 10 symbol if you bet one coin per line but a high-paying jackpot symbol if you bet five per line.
Another way would be to change the set of numbers the RNG has to work with.
Imagine the RNG works with 1,000 numbers when you bet one coin.
Now imagine you bet five coins, that the RNG works with 800 numbers instead, and that the 200 numbers that have been eliminated all had been mapped onto low-paying symbols. The result would be more higher-paying combinations.
Either could be done, but both are illegal within any one game in U.S. Gaming jurisdictions.
If you change games in a multi-game machine or change machines, it's a different matter. If you move from a 1-cent version of a game to a 5-cent version of the same game, they may work with different random number sets or have the numbers mapped differently.
But if you stay at the same game, betting more or less does not change the probability of landing winners on the reels.
Can increased slots betting help you win more?
That, of course is the heart of the matter. As detailed earlier, bigger bets can bring bigger payback percentages if the pay table is disproportionate, if you move to a higher-denomination machine, or if there are buy-a-pay symbols to unlock.
But bigger bets also bring the risk of bigger losses. It's up to you to decide if betting more is worth that risk, but smart players NEVER bet more than they can afford to lose.
Slots games explained
Did you know slot machines are the most popular casino game in the world? While these games of chance certainly have their detractors, many brits make fruit machines their first and final stop at the casino. You can’t blame them once you consider that slots are available in low denominations, require no skill to play, and often feature colossal jackpots. Even though slot machines are straightforward, it’s worth taking a few minutes to understand how they work. Continue reading as our experts reveal everything you need and want to know about slot machines.
Games for all tastes
When you play a casino game like blackjack, you can count on fairly consistent gameplay no matter where you enjoy the game. Sure, there are twists on classic blackjack and some casinos have their own house rules, but at the end of the day there are only so many ways to play twenty one. In contrast, you can find thousands of different slot machines with various themes, payouts, symbols, soundtracks, and special features. Some slots give you just one opportunity to win on a spin, while other games might offer 1024 ways to win. You can find classic fruit machines that pay homage to a bygone era and innovative video slots loaded with stunning animation and interactive bonus features. In other words, if you grow tired of a game all you have to do is slide over for an entirely new experience.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a film buff, music fanatic, sports fan, or student of history, you’ll find thrilling slots that feel like they were custom-tailored for you.
At the same time, slots aren’t complicated. As the ultimate game of chance, there isn’t much to learn or know. Most games operate on the same fundamental principle. You insert your money, adjust the size of your bet, and press the spin button to set the reels into motion. If any of the winning combinations appear across your active paylines, you’ll win. Yet even if you don’t understand what’s happening right before your eyes, you’ll still get paid if you win. Then again, you’ll have more fun if you fully understand what’s happening.
Slot machine mechanics
Early slot machines relied on players to pull a lever, which would set three mechanical reels into motion. When playing these classic slots, the correct combination of symbols would need to intersect the single horizontal payline running through the centre of the playing area. Of course, applying physical force isn’t technically possible when playing online, which is why contemporary slots use random number generators or rngs to control where the reels end up stopping. Yet even if you play at a live venue, you’ll encounter video slots, which use computer screens and are identical to the games you’ll find on the internet. If you do play slots with physical reels, the action is still motorized and where the reels end up is wholly dependent on an RNG, which is a computer program that ensures every outcome is random.
Even though it’s possible to create slots with any number of reels, 3 reel and 5 reel configurations are fairly standard.
Paylines
Thanks to technological advances, today’s games are far more sophisticated and fun than their predecessors. The biggest change is the number of ways to win. Every game has at least one payline, which is the line that cuts across the gaming area. When a qualifying set of symbols passes through one of the active paylines then you’ll win. While early games had just a single payline, the newest video slots have dozens of paylines. Some slot machines have more than 100 paylines. Generally, games pay you for symbol combinations that appear from left to right, but there are exceptions, so read the rules before you play for real money.
Modern slot machines are a huge departure from early games, which had a single payline that cut horizontally through the centre of the reels. The latest releases feature straight, diagonal, and zig-zag paylines that give you more ways to win. Before you spin the reels, it’s important to realise that having the correct symbol appear across the reel isn’t always enough to win. You’ll need to bet on a payline for it to be active. Some games do have fixed paylines, which means you’ll be covered on every spin.
Placing your bets
Slot machines can generally accommodate any budget. Before placing your bet, you may be able to adjust the coin denomination, quantity of coins per payline, the number of paylines, and the total bet. Not all games let you control all of these elements, but make sure you pay attention to the total bet so you aren’t surprised at the cost per spin. Some slot machines do require you to play the maximum number of lines if you want to be eligible to win a progressive jackpot.
Even if pressing the spin button a few times in a row hardly seems like a hassle, most titles now offer an autoplay feature that lets you enjoy dozens and sometimes hundreds of spins in a row with a single click. All you have to do is sit back and watch the money roll in, assuming you win.
The slot machine pay table
The first slot machines had only a few symbols, which made it possible to display the winning combinations and directions right on the cabinet. Newer games feature many more symbols, free spins, bonus rounds, and other special features. As a result, the pay table and other instructions are out of sight until you click on the appropriate icon. If you take the time to browse the pay table, you’ll learn about the symbols, scatters, wilds, winning combinations, how bonus rounds are triggered, and the RTP.
Key slot machine symbols
Wilds
As the name suggests, wild symbols can take the place of most other symbols to help you complete a winning payline. Since every slot machine is a game of chance, when and where wilds appear is effectively random.
When playing slots, you’ll likely encounter several types of wilds including sticky wilds, which stay in their place for multiple spins, and stacked wilds, which appear on top of each other on a reel. Expanding wilds grow in size to help you complete even more paylines. Random wilds can appear seemingly out of nowhere after the reels come to a halt. Transferring or nudging wilds can move from one reel to another. Shifting wilds remain in the game for more than one spin but move around on every turn.
Scatters
Scatter symbols serve different functions depending on the game. Sometimes scatters trigger a bonus game or yield a prize, but as the name suggest you can still win when these symbols are scattered about. In other words, the appearance of a scatter symbol on a single spin may be all you need since lining up across a payline isn’t generally a requirement.
Bonus symbols
Many video slots feature bonus symbols, which can launch bonus games, free spins, and other special features. Bonus games may involve spinning a prize wheel, playing a match game, or choosing an object such as a treasure chest to reveal how much cash you’ve just won. Sometimes you’ll win free spins.
Multipliers
Multipliers increase your winnings by a specified factor. You may find 2x or 3x multipliers that will double or triple the usual prizes.
Special features
Cascading and tumbling reels
When you play a game with cascading or tumbling reels, the symbols used to complete your winning payline will disappear and new symbols will fall into place, making it possible to win again and again before you spin again.
Gamble features
Many slots give you a chance to double your money by playing a bonus game. You usually need to guess the suit or colour of a facedown card that’s about to be flipped. The only catch is that if you lose, you’ll generally lose it all.
Free spins
When you win in-game free spins, you can have another go at the game without placing another bet. It’s possible to win free spins and then use those free spins to win even more free spins and so on.
Playing for progressive jackpots
While most slots have a top prize that’s fixed, progressive jackpot slots grow over time. Whenever a player places a real money bet on a progressive slot machine, a portion of the bet gets added to the prize pool. Since progressive slots are networked across multiple sites or live venues, the most popular games grow rapidly and have prizes worth millions.
Slot machine tips
slot machines are games of chance and winning is completely random. Always glance at the pay table before playing so you’ll know what to expect. When comparing games, examine the payouts to improve your odds. Make use of sign up bonuses and loyalty programmes to boost your overall returns. You may be required to place a maximum bet to be eligible to win a jackpot. Manage your bankroll effectively to insulate yourself against losing streaks. Try playing games for free to discover new favourites without breaking the bank.
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SLOT (slotted, slotting)
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: what does slot mean?
1. A position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
2. A small slit (as for inserting a coin or depositing mail)
3. A time assigned on a schedule or agenda
4. A position in a hierarchy or organization
5. The trail of an animal (especially a deer)
6. (computer) a socket in a microcomputer that will accept a plug-in circuit board
7. A slot machine that is used for gambling
Familiarity information: SLOT used as a noun is common.
Familiarity information: SLOT used as a verb is very rare.
A position in a grammatical linguistic construction in which a variety of alternative units are interchangeable
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
He developed a version of slot grammar
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Position; spatial relation (the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated)
A small slit (as for inserting a coin or depositing mail)
Nouns denoting man-made objects
He put a quarter in the slot
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "slot"):
Coin slot (a slot through which coins can be inserted into a slot machine)
Mail slot (a slot (usually in a door) through which mail can be delivered)
A time assigned on a schedule or agenda
Nouns denoting time and temporal relations
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Interval; time interval (a definite length of time marked off by two instants)
A position in a hierarchy or organization
Nouns denoting stable states of affairs
She beat some tough competition for the number one slot
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Position; status (the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society)
The trail of an animal (especially a deer)
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)
He followed the deer's slot over the soft turf to the edge of the trees
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Trail (a track or mark left by something that has passed)
(computer) a socket in a microcomputer that will accept a plug-in circuit board
Nouns denoting man-made objects
The PC had three slots for additional memory
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Receptacle (an electrical (or electronic) fitting that is connected to a source of power and equipped to receive an insert)
A slot machine that is used for gambling
Nouns denoting man-made objects
They spend hours and hours just playing the slots
Hypernyms ("slot" is a kind of. ):
Coin machine; slot machine (a machine that is operated by the insertion of a coin in a slot)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "slot"):
Fruit machine (a coin-operated gambling machine that produces random combinations of symbols (usually pictures of different fruits) on rotating dials; certain combinations win money for the player)
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting
Slot a television program
Hypernyms (to "slot" is one way to. ):
Schedule (plan for an activity or event)
Slot (a time assigned on a schedule or agenda)
So far he had found only the latter slot.
(martin eden, by jack london)
One slot brought checks and the other brought rejection slips.
(martin eden, by jack london)
It depended upon which slot one dropped the penny in, whether he got chocolate or gum.
(martin eden, by jack london)
It was like the slot machines wherein one dropped pennies, and, with a metallic whirl of machinery had delivered to him a stick of chewing-gum or a tablet of chocolate.
Slots dictionary: definitions of slot machine related terminology & lingo
Action- slot action refers to all of the slot machine playing time accumulated by a slots gambler. This information is generally kept track of on the players slots club card offered by most casinos.
Annuity winner- some slot machine jackpots are offered in installments over a number of years. The winnings may be collected in one lump sum but there is usually a significant tax when this is done.
Basic slots- basic slots, or straight slots are slot machines that have only one single payline and a static jackpot or a jackpot amount that does not change as progressive jackpots do.
Bet max- bet max refers to the number of credits on a slot machine that a player can bet per spin. Bet max is usually a button on the slot machine that enables the player to bet the maximum number of credits or units allowable per spin of the slot machine. Usually the highest payout amounts are calculated for the bet max spins.
Bet one- bet one means that the slots player only bets 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- big bertha is slots lingo for the really big slot machines that are usually employed in casinos as attention getters. These slot machines are much larger in size than the regular slot machine and usually has multiple reels.
Big hit- big hit is a slots reference to hitting the jackpot combination on the slots.
Bonus feature- bonus features are offered on many slot machines in casinos today. Bonus features include wild cards or 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.
Carousel- A carousel is a group or bank of slot machines, usually of a common denomination of betting units, like dollar slots or nickel slots.
Cashback- cashback in slots is a reference to rewards or comps given to slots club card players.
Certified slots- certified slots are those slot machines that casinos guarantee have a payout of 98%-100%. These slots are usually very well marked as such.
Coin in / coin out- coin in and coin out refer to the number of credits or units both played and paid out. Coin in are the number of units played and coin out are the number of units won.
Coins- coins for slots come in many denominations from a penny to five dollars or more.
Coin size- there are some slot machines that allow the player to vary the amount of money they want to wager in increments of. These machines can be penny slots all the way up to five dollar slots.
Cold slots- cold slots is a reference to slot machines that do not pay out very often or tight slots.
Collect- collect is usually a button or option on the slot machine that enables the slots player to convert their credits into cash.
Comps- slots players who are members of the slot clubs in casinos are generally rewarded with free rooms, meals and other gifts for the amount of slot machine playing they do.
Console slot machines- console slots are designed to be more comfortable for the player by angling the machine down towards the player.
Credits- credits are what the coins are converted to once they are in the machine. For example, on a nickel slot machine, when a dollar is inserted into the machine, the player will then have twenty credits on that machine.
Denomination- denomination is the value of each credit played on a particular slot machine. Dollar slots are one dollar denomination slots.
Doubles- doubles (also triples) are usually references to symbols on the slot machines that when they come up two or three at a time, double or triple the winning amount is won.
Fixed value slots- fixed value slots are slot machines where the betting amount and coin size cannot be altered. These slot machines are one denomination, one coin per spin.
Five liner- A five liner is a slot machine that contains three reels where players can win on up to five payout lines. There are two diagonal payout lines as well as three horizontal payout lines on a five liner.
Free spin- free spins are usually offered as a bonus feature on bonus slot machines.
Games per hour- on average, slots players can play about five hundred games per hour on a standard coin operated slot machine. Depending on the style of slot machine and the player, the games per hour can fluctuate.
Hammer A machine- to hammer a machine is slot player 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 slot player that plays a single payline slot at max credit bets for only a few spins, moving on to another slot machine if it doesn’t payout any credits.
Hit frequency- the hit frequency of a slot machine is a reference to how often a particular slot machine pays out on average. The lower the number the better, as a slot machine with a hit frequency of 3 can be expected to payout on average, one out of three spins.
Hold percentage- hold percentage is a term referring to how much of a players money the casino keeps. As an example, a 99% slot machine keeps one dollar while returning ninety-nine dollars back to the player.
Hot slots- hot slots is a reference to slot machines that are loose or payout more often that other slots.
Instant winner- an instant winner is an on the spot jackpot rather than an annuity jackpot where the jackpot is paid out over a number of years.
Jackpot- A jackpot is the top prize a slot machine can payout.
Line bet- A line bet refers to the activated paylines on multiple payline slot machines. Usually max bets must be played to activate all the paylines on these kinds of slot machines.
Linked progressive jackpot- A linked progressive jackpot or wide area progressive is two or more slot machines whose progressive jackpots are linked.
Loose slots-loose slots is a reference that refers to how often a particular slot machine pays out. A loose slot machine can be expected to win more often than a tight slot machine.
Multi-line bonus slot machine- A multi-line bonus slot machines are slots that offer more than one payline. Some multi-line bonus slots have as many as fifty paylines.
Multiplier- multiplier refers to a bonus slot machine feature where payouts can be multiplied up to ten times on a bonus win.
Near miss- A near miss is when a winning combination on a slot machine almost lands.
Nudge slot- A nudge slot machine will move the winning combination up or down that little nudge that it needs.
One armed bandit- the one armed bandit is a slots players slang for a slot machine.
One liner- one liner is a term that refers to a slot machine with only one reel where players line up three symbols to win.
Onesies- onesies is slot player slang for a slots player who plays only one coin or one credit at a time for each spin of the slot machine reels.
Payback percentage- payback percentage is a reference to the amount of money a slot machine should return to slots players over a period of time.
Payline- the payline is the line at which winning combinations on the slot machine reels must land in order to win the payout amount.
Payout- the payout is the amount won for a winning combination on the slot machine.
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.
Primary jackpot- the primary jackpot is the highest payout prize that a player can win on a particular slot machine.
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, slots 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.
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.
Select lines- select lines are the number of paylines selected on the slot machine.
Short win- A short win is when a player hits a large jackpot with very little playing.
Signature slots- signature slots are the casinos own brand of slot machines.
Slot clubslots clubs are member programs that casinos offer to slot players where prizes and rewards are offered in exchange for playing the slots. The more you play, the more comps 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.
Slot schedule- the slot schedule or pay table is the winning payout combinations and their payout amounts posted usually on the front of the slot machine.
Slot talk- slot talk is slots player slang for the trading of slots information between players and slots hosts.
Slot testing- slot testing is a reference to a form of player evaluation of a slot machine where the player will play an entire roll of coins to determine the ratio or percent of payout for that machine.
Slot tournament- A slot tournament is a tournament where slots players play for a specific prize at a pool of slots.
Slot type- slot type refers to the slot machine either being basic slots, progressive slots or bonus slots.
Slots drop- slots drop refers to the amount of money played through a slot machine.
Slots hold- slots hold refers to the amount of money that a slot machine does not pay back as wins.
Sound of rain- sound of rain is slots player slang 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 slot machine activates the spinning of the reels to determine if you won or not.
Streaky slots- streaky slots are slot machines that are reputed as having hot moments and cold moments.
Symbols- symbols are the different illustrations on the various slot machine reels. These symbols include cherries and dollar signs as well as sevens and money bags. There are many different symbols on slot machine reels today.
Three liner- A three liner is a slot machine with three reels where players must line up three identical symbols in order to win the cash prize.
TITO : ticket in / ticket out- TITO slot machines will print a ticket with the winning amount on it when players cash out a machine. The player can then insert that ticket into another machine and play with it there.
Tight slots- tight slot machines can be 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.
Two liner- A two liner is a reference to a slot machine that has two reels where players line up three symbols and win, but line up six symbols and win double the original win.
Up / down slot cycle- the payout percent of a slot machine fluctuates at any given time because the average payout percent is calculated over a long period of time. The up / down slot cycle refers to the fluctuations that occur during that period of time.
Video slots- video slots are slot machines that do not have physical reels inside but are rather a computer screen ran by a computer program. Most of the slot machines today are video slots.
Virtual reel- virtual reel technology is what enables the RNG (random number generator) to randomly select more non winning combinations than winning combinations without having to add extra reels or larger reels. In effect, the odds of winning had to be decreased in order to offer larger jackpots and the virtual reel was the solution that the slot machine developers came up with.
Wager management- wager management is a method of managing your slot playing bankroll. Breaking your gambling bankroll into smaller amounts for a specified number of gambling sessions and cashing out while your ahead.
Well- the well is the bin at the bottom of the slot machine that catches the coins when a player cashes out.
WAP or wide area progressive- wide area progressives are slot machines that are located in different casinos that have the progressive jackpot linked together. As players play these slot machines in the different locations, the jackpot increases in each machine.
Wild symbol slots- wild symbol slots have wild symbols that will substitute for winning symbols in the event that they land in their place.
Zig zag- zig zag is a term used to describe the line that can be created on many multi-line payout slot machines. Instead of the line going straight across the screen or diagonal, the line is zig zag.
Slot volatility
The word volatile as applied to a slot machine basically refers to the amount of risk inherent to a specific game. It is used to describe how often and how much you can expect to win during your playing sessions. Some games can present long dry spells with occasional big wins. Likewise, these games can often feature a large number of big wins in a short period of time. These are known as high volatility slots. The opposite is true of low volatility slots. In these, you'll score winning paylines frequently, but more often than not, the payouts will be on the smaller side.
High volatility slots
Higher volatility equates to higher risk. Because payouts, while larger, are fewer and farther between, you can sometimes end up clicking the "spin" button, watching your balance dwindle, with not a lot to show for it. That is, until everything lines up perfectly and bam! You've won an enormous payout that made the long dry spell worth it. These are popular with players who prefer games that offer the chance for big wins. One of my favorite slots with high volatility is the book of ra slot by novomatic.
When should you play a high volatility slot?
It's best to choose high volatility games only when you have a lot of time and a lot of cash on your hands. You have to be rather patient, satisfied with not seeing a lot of action while you wait for the big bonus features to hit at just the right time to replenish your bankroll.
It's also good if your budget has a lot of cushion and you don't mind walking away from the game once you've spent the amount you intended to. For a lot of people, the thrill of chasing the huge win is worth the satisfaction of finally landing it, and this requires patience. High volatility games were designed for just that kind of slot experience.
The last thing to mention is that many of these games can offer huge wins and payouts. I've played numerous games where I've hit big wins several times shortly after sitting down to play. Obviously this doesn't happen all the time, but for players can afford it, higher volatility games are generally going to be a bit more fun.
The book of ra slot by novomatic is infamous among slot players for it's high volatility
Low volatility slots
On the opposite side of the coin, lower volatility games equate to lower risk. The payouts on low volatility slots are smaller but alot more frequent, and there's not a lot of boredom in this type of game. Little wins seem to pop up every couple of spins, and the time slips away because you're so entertained by all the bonus features and animations holding your attention. That's not to say that large wins are impossible on these games - they can and do happen. It's just not on the same scale as the wins available on higher volatility games.
How to determine volatility
Casino game designers aren't eager to give out this information, but volatility usually becomes obvious after spending some time playing a particular slot. Most slot enthusiasts find that they're more drawn to one type over the other, so one isn't necessarily "good" while the other is "bad". Whether you like high or low volatility slots is truly a matter of personal preference and gambling style.
Because volatility can be determined through play, it's recommended to play for free before jumping in and risking real money. Another way to have at least some idea of volatility is to look at the game's paytable. If really high prizes are offered, that's a sign that the game is medium-to-high volatility because it's certainly not going to award these huge prizes frequently.
Volatility vs variance
Sometimes you'll see the term slot variance instead of slot volatility. Don't worry that this is another term you'll have to learn about - the two refer to exactly the same thing, which is how often and how much a slot pays out and the player's total risk in choosing this game.
Volatility in a nutshell
Though personal preference is important, the bottom line in choosing high or low volatility slots should be one's slots bankroll. If there's money to spare, try your hand at the higher-risk slots. But folks with a lower bankroll looking to be entertained for longer with a smaller budget should probably stick to the quick rewards of a lower-variance slot.
Slot symbol and its meaning
Slots symbols
General info on symbols
The goal of all slots players is to gain money playing machines. Slot games always involve matching symbols no matter if a slot machine has mechanical reels or electronic screen. Slot machine symbols traditionally have bright colors and are easy to recognize. To win in most games a player need to get certain combination of symbols on the reels.
Slots symbols` history
Early times
According to slots history the first slots were based on poker. Thus, first slot games contained symbols from the card decks. With the lapse of time the initial version and features of the game was broaden and the renewed variant was supplied with a range of different symbols like liberty bell, horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and so on. Click for more.
Advertising
As slots trend caught on some companies considered it to be a good opportunity to use them for their products` advertising. Bell fruit gum company had decorated slots reels with symbols of various fruits for representing their gum flavors. They also inserted the widespread BAR symbol that used to be a logo of the gum company. Frankly speaking, those fruit slots are really time-tested and are still the most recognizable slots.
Symbols today
Since slot machines turn into famous entertainments at casinos the creators of games decided to add more interesting stuff to existing symbols. Marilyn monroe, elvis and a lot of other stars appeared on every casino floor together with various themed slot games.
Today players have a possibility to choose an appropriate theme of slots among thousands including game shows and movie characters. Games with an interesting theme is a key of success of particular type of slots as they are fun and give a player the meaning of his importance after choosing the theme. They also give the understanding of small market in the enormous one: the more games they have, the more clients will find their favorites.
Thus, nowadays slots software which is provided by many software operators is very qualitative, interesting and creative. They permanently develop unbelievable themes for slot machines that sometimes grow into the whole stories. Moreover, such companies always try to take into account the customer`s opinion and desires.
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Return to player (RTP) and hit frequency: what do these mean?
Return to player (RTP) and hit frequency: what do these mean?
Return to player (RTP)
You may have already noticed that RTP is really just the flip side of house advantage. If a machine has a 20% house advantage, then the average RTP will be 80%, meaning that over time the machine will keep about 20% of all money bet and will return the other 80% to players in wins.
Hit frequency
Among slots and vlts there can be great variation in the hit frequency. Some slots have a hit frequency as low as 3%, while other games, such as video poker, have a hit frequency of almost 45%. The video poker hit frequency might sound very appealing, but remember that in almost half of those “hits,” the player just wins back his original bet. A machine with a 3% hit frequency may sound very unappealing, but it likely offers players a chance to win a very large jackpot. (machines with large, progressive jackpots tend to have a lower hit frequency, but offer larger jackpots.)
Games with a low hit frequency are often perceived by players as “tight” because the wins can be so far apart, while games with a high hit frequency are sometimes perceived as being “loose” because there are so many small wins.
Remember, “hit frequency” is how often (on average) a winning combination will come up. “return to player” is how much or what percentage of all money wagered that a machine will return over time.
All you need to know about slots betting
It' s long been said that the players who get the best deal on the offline and online slots are those who bet bigger. Casinos generally put higher payback percentages on slot machines with higher coin denominations, and at least on three-reel games, payback percentages usually are highest with maximum bets.
One former casino company even had a cartoon character called "max coins" to remind players that bigger bets brought increased returns.
Players have tried to read extra meaning into that information for decades and have come up with many recurring questions about slots betting. They ask how casinos make sure bigger bets pay more, whether increasing or decreasing bets changes combinations they see on the reels, and more.
The big question, of course, is "can bigger slots betting improve my chance of winning at slots?"
Let's look at some questions and answers, with one big caution: you can get a higher payback percentage and still lose more money. If you're betting 40 cents per spin with a 90-percent return, your average loss is 4 cents per spin. If you get 95 percent but bet $4 per spin, then your average loss is 20 cents per spin.
Make sure you keep your bets in a range you can afford. Don't bet outside your comfort zone for the sake of a higher payback percentage.
How do casinos make sure higher slots betting brings higher payback percentages?
Casinos usually put higher payback percentages on higher denomination games, so that games with base betting units of $1 pay more than 25-cent games, which pay more than 5-cent games, which pay more than 1-cent games.
That can be done by increasing the pay table on higher denomination machines, by mapping numbers from the random number generator onto more higher paying symbols, or by mapping the random numbers so that winning combinations appear more often on higher-denomination machines.
Some machines have disproportionately higher payoffs when you bet more.
Three-reel games with a jump in the top jackpot are good examples of this. When you look at the pay table, you might see the top jackpot at 500 coins if one coin is wagered, 1,000 if two coins are wagered, but leaps to 2,500 coins if three are wagered.
That disproportionate rise in the top jackpot leads to a higher overall payback percentage when more coins are wagered.
That includes machines with progressive slots jackpots if only players who bet at a qualifying level are eligible for the progressives.
Do I get a higher payback with higher slots betting while staying at the same machine?
Only if there is a disproportionate rise in the pay table, as described above. That's rare on multiline video slots or online slots.
If all payoffs are proportionate to wager size, the payback percentage almost always is the same regardless of whether you bet one coin per line, 20 coins per line, or any other available multiple.
There are exceptions. On some machines, betting more unlocks paying symbols. If, for example, bells are losing symbols if you bet one coin per line but are winners if you bet at least five coins per line, then the extra winners increase the payback percentage for those who make qualifying wagers.
If I bet $5 per spin and at a 1-cent game and $5 per spin at a 25-cent game of the same type, am I getting the same payback percentage?
In most cases, the higher payback will be on the 25-cent game, even if the bets are equal.
Most players at the 1-cent game will be betting considerably less than $5 a spin. For example, if the game has 50 paylines, a player betting one coin per line bets only 50 cents per spin while raising bets to 10 coins per line brings the total to $5 per spin.
Without disproportionate payoffs, progressive jackpots or buy-a-pay features, betting 50 cents or $5 on the same $1 machine brings the same payback percentage. But since higher-denomination machines usually are set up with higher payback percentages, someone making similar-sized bets on a 25-cent machine usually gets a higher percentage back.
I have noticed lately when I bet the minimum I have won way more frequently than when I bet max on a machine. Is the RNG programmed to hit more on minimum bet and less on maximum bet?
That's an illusion of small sample size that would even out with extended play and observation. In this case, slots betting patterns make no difference.
The random number generator that determines what you see on the reels doesn't know how much you've wagered. It just goes on generating random numbers.
Your wager size doesn't change the random numbers or the probability of winning combinations landing on the payline. Streaks happen, both good and bad, with big bets and small, but the probability of seeing winning combinations on any given machine is the same regardless of how much you bet.
Do the reels change in any way if bet more or fewer coins per line? Is there a change in the number of symbols on the reels or the number of high-paying symbols in the reels?
No, slots don't change the assignment of random numbers to make some symbols come up more often when you bet more, or some symbols to come up with.
There are ways to accomplish what this question suggests, but slots don't change the assignment of random numbers to make some symbols come up more often when you bet more, or some symbols to come up with.
There are ways to accomplish what the reader suggests, but they are not permitted by regulators in any american jurisdictions.
One way would be to use the same set of random numbers with large bets as with small, and change the way the numbers are mapped. For example, if you bet one coin per payline, random no. 1 could be assigned to a low-paying 10 symbol if you bet one coin per line but a high-paying jackpot symbol if you bet five per line.
Another way would be to change the set of numbers the RNG has to work with.
Imagine the RNG works with 1,000 numbers when you bet one coin.
Now imagine you bet five coins, that the RNG works with 800 numbers instead, and that the 200 numbers that have been eliminated all had been mapped onto low-paying symbols. The result would be more higher-paying combinations.
Either could be done, but both are illegal within any one game in U.S. Gaming jurisdictions.
If you change games in a multi-game machine or change machines, it's a different matter. If you move from a 1-cent version of a game to a 5-cent version of the same game, they may work with different random number sets or have the numbers mapped differently.
But if you stay at the same game, betting more or less does not change the probability of landing winners on the reels.
Can increased slots betting help you win more?
That, of course is the heart of the matter. As detailed earlier, bigger bets can bring bigger payback percentages if the pay table is disproportionate, if you move to a higher-denomination machine, or if there are buy-a-pay symbols to unlock.
But bigger bets also bring the risk of bigger losses. It's up to you to decide if betting more is worth that risk, but smart players NEVER bet more than they can afford to lose.
What does a slot machine's payout percentage actually mean?
If you are a keen slots player then you will know that one of the most useful pieces of information about a slot that you can discover is the payout percentage for the game.
Unfortunately, the term is ripe for misunderstanding and novice slot players often misunderstand what the term actually means, which can lead to them having totally unrealistic expectations of how much they can expect to win on a slot from any given session.
This can then lead to them feeling frustrated, cheated even and less inclined to play the slot again, which is a shame as it is their misunderstanding that is the issue, not the slot or casino in question.
The problem often stems from misunderstanding what the term "payout percentage" actually means and how it is applied on the slot.
So in this article, we'll attempt to explain clearly what this means.
What is a payout percentage?
A payout percentage is simply the percentage of the total amount of money that the slot will take in over a typical amount of time, that it will pay out back to players in the form of winnings.
That percentage can range from as little as 75 percent up to around 98 percent.
In essence, that is what payout percentage is. There is nothing more to it, but unfortunately, many people choose to think that this means that out of all the money they spend, they will expect to receive back between 75 and 98 percent back in winnings.
That is indubitably not the case and this misunderstanding occurs because people do not understand how the payout percentage is worked out, nor how the winnings used to calculate that amount, are paid out to players.
Suffice to say that a payout percentage is absolutely NOT a statement of how much of your wagering money you can expect to receive back in payouts on average.
Payout percentage - the number of spins
The first thing to note is that when an organisation such as ecogra tests the veracity of the claim that a slot has a payout percentage of X per cent, then they run a series of tests to authenticate that claim.
This involves spinning the reels of the slot millions of times in order to generate what the actual payout percentage is of the slot.
It is only when the reels of the slot are spun a huge amount of times that the payout percentage shows any meaning. As such, it is a statistic which is only meaningful for the casino, rather than the player who is unlikely to have the funds or time to spin a slot the many hundreds of thousands of times needed in order to generate payouts of the percentage levels of the slot.
On fewer spins, numbering 10,000, 1,000 or less, there can be a huge difference to the stated payout percentage. A slot may seem to run 'hot' and payout considerably more than the payout percentage (even run at a loss over that period of spins), whereas at other times it may seem to run 'cold' and pay out considerably less than the stated payout percentage.
The key thing to note here is that for a player, the number of spins they play is usually so small, that payout percentage is almost irrelevant. The more spins you play the more relevant the payout percentage becomes, but only if you spin the reels thousands of times over a sustained period.
Even then the payout percentage is still only an average mark. Sometimes the slot will pay out more over one million spins than the stated percentage, other times less, but usually these measures will average out to give a mean percentage level.
Therefore, it is best to view the payout percentage as simply a measure of how much the machine pays out over millions of spins and not really relevant to your chances of success.
Payout percentage - structure of payouts
The other key aspect to the payout percentage to understand is how the payouts of a machine are structured and that this is equally important to understanding why you are not likely to earn back 75 to 98 percent of what you spend.
The best way to do this is via a hypothetical example. So let's say I developed a slots machine that has a payout percentage of 95% and let's say that in a typical month, this machine generates 1,000,000 in revenue from players playing 1,000,000 spins in that period.
If my hypothetical machine then followed the payout percentages exactly, then 5 percent of that 1,000,000 (50,000) is the casino's operating profit from the machine. That leaves 950,000 to be shared between all the players.
However, slot machines are designed to offer a range of awards, paying out smaller rewards more often and the big jackpot prizes less frequently. Let's say that my machine has paid out one large jackpot prize of 500,000 in the last month, plus three other smaller jackpot prizes of 100,000 apiece.
That means just four lucky players have accounted for 800,000 of the payout percentage. Out of 1,000,000 spins, that means just 0.0004 percent of players have accounted for 84.2 percent of the total payout percentage.
That means the remaining 99.9996 percent of players have just 150,000 in winnings to share amongst them from 9,999,996 spins. You don't need to be a mathematics genius to realise that therefore the vast majority of players of this hypothetical slot would receive a payout that is nowhere near the stated payout percentage.
However, four lucky players have receive a payout well in excess of the payout percentage! Sounds a bit like a lottery, right?
The structure of how your slot pays out is key to understanding that payout percentage is not a figure of how much you will win on average, but simply how much the machine pays out on average over a massive number of spins. Furthermore, how often a machine pays out top prizes, will also mean that the vast majority of players will not experience a payout percentage anywhere near what is stated.
That isn't an error, or misleading, simply a fact that over small sample sizes, the averages stated in the payout percentage are irrelevant.
So while payout percentages may not be useful in letting a player understand how much of their stakes they'll win back, where they are useful to punters is in giving them a comparative measure to judge which machines are most likely to offer them a return.
In theory, you are more likely to win playing a slot with a 95 percent payout percentage than you are a slot with a 75 percent payout percentage.
However, once again, because the number of spins you play will be so small, the chances of you noticing a difference between the slots is negligible. It is entirely plausible that you will play the 75 percent pay out slot and win more than the 95 percent payout percentage slot.
So the key lesson to learn about payout percentages is not to think they are stating how much you will win back on average in your session, but that they are a simple, general tool to assess how profitable the machine is for the casino.
Playing games of chance, which includes lotto, keno, scratch cards, slots, and many other games, can bring massive wins for the lucky. Take these games for what they are. And remember, there's no harm in trying your luck!
So, let's see, what we have: slots terms & definitions slots terms and definitions have evolved over the years among gamblers, game manufacturers, and casino employees. Like other groups sharing a common interest, at slot game meaning
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