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Slot Machine Slang and Terms

Slots Slang Around the World

The slot machine Since the inception of the first coin-operated machine crafted by Charles August Fey in 1894, slot machines have evolved significantly. Whether through a lever, a button, or a digital click, the operation of these games has progressed with technology. Naturally, the language we use has evolved as well!

In our exploration of the assorted colloquial terms for slot machines, we investigate their historical roots and the stories behind their playful nicknames.

Different Names for Slot Machines

The various nicknames for slot machines serve as a fun way to refer to this popular casino game. To keep you in the loop whenever slots come up in conversation, we've highlighted the most frequently used terms.

Big Bertha

Big Bertha is known as a hefty slot machine or one that catered to high-stakes players, particularly prominent in casinos during the 1970s and 1980s.

Fruit Machines

The name fruit machine Originating from the UK, the term 'Fruit Machines' comes from the fruit symbols like cherries, lemons, and plums that adorn their reels.

Pokie

The term 'pokie' has its roots in Australia, stemming from 'poker' alongside the diminutive suffix '-ie' commonly used in Australian vernacular. While there isn't a definitive reason behind this nickname, one theory suggests that it emerged because video poker was favored over video slots by an older generation of Australian players.

One-Armed Bandits

In the United States, slot machines are often referred to as one-armed bandits. This nickname derives from the characteristic design of traditional slots equipped with a lever, which resembles an arm.

Tiger Machine

During your slot play time, you might want to express gratitude towards your lucky stripes, particularly when engaged with a slot known as a Tiger Machine in Mandarin. This stems from the Chinese cultural belief in the auspicious nature of tigers—symbolizing power, bravery, and good fortune—thus naming a machine after one is thought to enhance luck for players.

Other Slot Machine Terms

When diving into the world of slots, there are numerous other terms to familiarize yourself with. Therefore, we have compiled a list of essential terminology to help you navigate the game more easily.

3 reel slot

A slot machine that features only three reels is termed a classic one. It's the original format established in brick-and-mortar casinos. three-reel slot The development of five-reel slots was a game changer, offering players a broader range of opportunities compared to the traditional three-reel setups.

5 reel slot

Five-reel slots also come with increased chances of winning compared to their three-reel counterparts. Five-reel slots Rather than adhering to fixed paylines, slots offering 243 ways to win present 243 unique winning opportunities with every spin. This total refers to the variety of combinations that can yield a win.

243 Ways to Win

Cascading reels are a popular function in online slots, where winning symbols fade away from the game board and new ones take their place.

Cascading Reels

Cascading reels While often not an option in slots, some casinos may occasionally offer a

Cashback

that recoups a designated amount lost in slot machine play. cashback promotion Complimentary gifts or perks given to players are often known as comps. Casinos provide these incentives to encourage patrons to spend more time at the slots.

Comps

The total sum returned to the player at the conclusion of a gambling session is referred to as a coin-out. Essentially, it's the funds you receive after playing slots.

Coin Out

The idea of 'cold slots' is a common misconception that suggests certain machines provide minimal or no payouts, typically rooted in player belief.

Cold Slot

After inserting cash into a slot machine, your funds are transformed into credits, which are then utilized to engage in gameplay. land-based casinos Slots with a set betting amount and coin size are labeled as fixed value slots. In this type of machine, you cannot adjust the wager or coin size.

Credits

A hit and run strategy is a widely adopted tactic among slot players that involves establishing limits for profit and losses; once you reach either limit, you switch to a different machine.

Fixed Value Slots

Hit frequency refers to the regularity with which a slot machine yields wins. However, this doesn't ensure profitability since it's not linked with the Return to Player rate.

Hit and Run

The term 'hold' describes the percentage of each wager that the slot keeps. This amount indicates how much the machine retains from every bet.

Hit Frequency

The house edge reflects the percentage advantage that the casino holds over the player in various games, with slot machines typically having a house edge ranging from 2% to 15%.

Hold

Instant Winner or Instant Win slots are fast-paced games that quickly reveal the outcomes of the game, functioning similarly to traditional slots.

House Edge

Certain slot games feature jackpots, which can be either progressive or fixed in nature.

Instant Winner

Wins accumulated across a network of slots are considered linked jackpots.

Jackpot

Slots with a Return to Player (RTP) of over 96% are deemed loose slots, offering better long-term return potential than the majority of other slots.

Linked Progressive Slot

Progressive slots Every slot game comes with a defined betting range, where the maximum bet indicates the top amount you can wager.

Loose Slot

Megaways is a reel modification system created by Big Time Gaming that alters the number of symbol positions on the reels with each spin.

Maximum Bet

In slot machines, multipliers serve as an exciting feature that enhances player winnings, with the multiplier value varying based on the specific slot and its features.

Megaways

A near miss happens when a player almost achieves a winning combination but falls just short.

Multiplier

A payline is made up of matching symbols that form a winning combination and defines how payouts are calculated.

Near Miss

Payout refers to the monetary reward a player receives from winnings while playing slots, which is influenced by the Return to Player rate of the game.

Payline

The paytable acts as a reference that lists all winning combinations and their corresponding payouts. Each slot has its individual paytable.

Payout

The largest prize available from a jackpot slot machine is referred to as the primary jackpot.

Paytable

In a slot with a progressive jackpot, a small portion of each wager contributes to a growing jackpot pool, which resets after a winner is declared.

Primary Jackpot

The outcomes of casino games are determined by an algorithm known as the Random Number Generator (RNG). This system generates a series of numbers that dictate the game's outcome randomly.

Progressive Jackpot

Within the layout of a slot game, reels are organized in vertical columns, filled with symbols that spin when the player activates the machine.

Random Number Generator (RNG)

Slot machines are designed with a fixed Return to Player (RTP) percentage, indicating the long-term returns players can expect from the game.

Reels

A common feature found in slot machines may appear randomly on the reels, capable of activating a bonus round or payout.

Return to Player (RTP)

A short win is when a player quickly secures a substantial win or jackpot without a lengthy wait.

Scatter

A scatter Slot clubs function as loyalty programs aimed at rewarding members and frequent visitors to land-based casinos.

Short Win

In casinos, a dedicated staff member oversees all aspects related to slot machines, addressing player inquiries, complimentary services, and any machine malfunctions.

Slot Club

The sound of coin drops that resembles rain is produced when a player wins, adding to the excitement of the payout.

Slot Host

Slots that display unpredictable payouts, such as a pattern of wins followed by gaps without payouts, are referred to as streaky slots.

Sound of Rain

The essential component of a slot machine is the spin action. When we mention a spin, we are referring either to triggering the spin button or the action of spinning the reels.

Streaky Slots

A three-liner is a slot machine that consists of only one payline and three reels, where players must align three matching symbols on that line to achieve a win.

Spin

Slots that offer infrequent wins are known as tight slots, and they often reward players with rare but larger payouts.

Three Liner

The total bet reflects the amount of money wagered on a single spin of a slot machine.

Tight Slots

Variance describes the frequency and size of payouts over the long term in a slot game, classified into three categories: low, medium, and high. This term is often used interchangeably with volatility, which pertains to a similar concept.

Total Bet

Unlike traditional slots featuring physical reels and internal mechanisms,

Variance

are powered by software and displayed visually on a screen.

Video Slots

A virtual reel technology simulates a physical slot reel and can produce more intricate and diverse outcomes compared to an actual reel. video slots online In contrast to variance, volatility measures the typical amount and frequency of payouts a slot provides, reflecting the expected fluctuations within the game. Volatility is categorized as low, medium, or high.

Virtual Reel

A collective of slots with interconnected progressive jackpots is labeled as wide area progressive slots. These slots may be found in various casinos or even across different regions and countries.

Volatility

Wild symbols are designed to act as substitutes for other symbols, helping to create winning combinations and thereby increasing the chances for greater payouts.

Wide Area Progressive (WAP)

Standard paylines create winning combinations from left to right or vice versa. Conversely, 'Win both ways' slots allow winning combinations to form in both directions.

Wild

The term zigzag refers to a non-linear payline resembling a zigzag pattern rather than a straight or diagonal line.

Win Both Ways

Possessing a degree from the University of Latvia, combined with extensive experience in the areas of affiliate marketing, content management, and quality assurance.

Zig Zag

The second quarter results of Ontario's iGaming industry remain consistent.

Gerda Grinova
Chief Editor
University of Latvia
BCLC has reported record annual net income figures for the fiscal year 2022-23.
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The evolution of slot machines has been remarkable since the invention of the very first coin-operated machine by Charles August Fey in 1894. From pulling levers to clicking buttons and now interacting through a mouse, not only has the technology advanced, but so has the vocabulary associated with these games!
In our detailed exploration of the different informal names used for slot machines, we delve into their histories and the reasons behind their colloquial designations.cookies policy page.