Slots Terminology
Slot machine terms are confusing to novice slot payers. Browse our comprehensive list of slot machine terminology and be familiar with slots lingo.
Slot machine terms are confusing to novice slot payers. Browse our comprehensive definitions of slots terminology and be familiar with the slot machine world's slang and lingo.
We prepare a definitive guide to the common words used in the world of video slots, online slots, and casino slot machines, so you can understand all of our how-to slots guides. From slots symbols and slots features to types of slot machines, it is important to understand what you read about this fascinating casino game.
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| Term | Definition | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 243 ways to win | A video slot with a fixed payline of 243. A win is triggered when 3 or more matching symbols appear on a payline. | Slot Machine Type |
| 3-reel slot | A slot machine type with a configuration of 3 vertical spinning reels. | Slot Machine Type |
| 3D video slots | An online video slot designed with 3D visual graphics effects. | Slot Machine Type |
| 5-reel slot | A slot machine type with a configuration of 5 vertical spinning reels. | Slot Machine Type |
| action | The cumulative amount of wagered money on a particular slot over a period of time. | Slang |
| active payline | The winning paylines that are active in play. | Gameplay |
| all-ways slots | Slots with no fixed payline. The beauty of all ways slot is the large number of ways you can win . | Slot Machine Type |
| annuity winner | A lottery annuity winner takes annual installment payments of the prize money overtime. This is opposed to a lump sum payment at once. | Advanced Concept |
| auto play | A function that allows you to automatically spin the slot reels continuously for a set amount of time. | Gameplay |
| autospin | Similar to autoplay. Autospin allows you set a predetermined number of spins per play. | Gameplay |
| AWP | AWP stands for Amusement with Prize. This is a british style slot machine often referred to as Fruit machines . | Slot Machine Type |
| bar | A traditional slot reel symbol. | Gameplay |
| basic slots | Single coin slot machines with one payline and a fixed jackpot, if any. | Slot Machine Type |
| bet | The wagered amount per spin. | Gameplay |
| bet max | The maximum amount you can bet per spin. | Gameplay |
| bet min | The minimum amount you can bet per spin. | Gameplay |
| bet one | Means that you can only bet one coin or credit per spin. | Gameplay |
| bet per line | The bet wagered per line for each spin. | Gameplay |
| betting units | Units or credits used to place bets. | Gameplay |
| big bertha | A huge casino slot machine with multiple reels. They are usually used for getting people's attention at the casino. | Slang |
| big hit | A huge win at the slots. A jackpot win can be termed a big hit. | Slang |
| bonus feature | Reward features that comes with game play. They include Free spins, re-spins, expanding wilds and many more. | Gameplay |
| bonus multiplier | A feature that multiples your win by a number during a bonus round. | Gameplay |
| bonus round | A reward feature that gifts a bonus game round. | Gameplay |
| branded slots | Slots whose themes are inspired by famous figures, movies, TV shows, and other franchises. | Slot Machine Type |
| buy a feature | A feature that allows you to buy your access into bonus games. | Gameplay |
| buy a pay | A slot machine type that requires you to insert more coins to unlock more winning combinations. | Gameplay |
| candle | Signaling blinking lights on the top of a slot machine. | Basic Concept |
| carousel | The arrangement or grouping of multiple slot machines. | Basic Concept |
| cascading reels | Also known as avalanche slot. Such slots feature more than one payline. | Gameplay |
| cash out | The act of withdrawing slot winnings. | Slang |
| cashback | A refund of a percentage of your bets regardless of a win or loss. | Basic Concept |
| casino bonus | Bonuses given by casinos to help your betting portfolio. | Gameplay |
| certified slots | Slots that has been certified by regulatory bodies to be provably fair. | Slot Machine Type |
| classic slots | Slots that make use of random number generators to output results. | Slot Machine Type |
| coin hopper | The part of the slot machine that dispenses won coins. | Advanced Concept |
| coin in | Refers to the total amount of bets made. | Advanced Concept |
| coin out | Refers to total winnings on the coins in. | Advanced Concept |
| coin size | The coin amount you need to play at a slot machine. | Basic Concept |
| coin slot | An opening in a physical slot machine for inserting of stacked coins. | Basic Concept |
| coins | The medium of wager on slot games. They are also referred to as slot credits. | Basic Concept |
| cold machine | >Slot machines that rarely reward players with winning. | Slang |
| cold slots | Slots that do not payout frequently. They are also known as tight slots. | Slang |
| collect | The act of converting coins or credits to physical cash. | Basic Concept |
| collect button | A button that is used to convert slot credits to cash. | Gameplay |
| comps | Rewards and benefits given to top slot players by the casino. | Advanced Concept |
| console slot machines | >Slot machine types with added features for players' comfort. | Advanced Concept |
| credit meter | A visual gauge that tracks the balance of the player's credits. | Basic Concept |
| credits | The converted coins or cash inserted into the slot machine. | Basic Concept |
| denomination | The unit of each coin or credit that can be used to wager on a particular slot. | Basic Concept |
| doubles | Multiplier symbols that double the pay table's winning. | Gameplay |
| dragonfish | A casino gaming company that deals with online casino games. | Advanced Concept |
| drop bucket | A bucket at the base of the slot machine used for collecting excess coins. | Advanced Concept |
| drops | The total amount of coins in a drop bucket. | Advanced Concept |
| EGM | Stands for Electronic Gaming Machines like slots. | Slot Machine Type |
| expanding wilds | Wild symbols that can substitute for all symbols on the reels at a go. | Gameplay |
| The elements of a slot like the paylines, symbols, bonuses, and more. | feature | |
| fill | Drawing a card to make a hand of 5 in video poker. | Advanced Concept |
| five-liner | A five-liner is a slot machine featuring 3 reels that allow players to win on up to five payout lines. | Slot Machine Type |
| fixed jackpot | A non-progressive jackpot with a fixed amount to be won. | Slot Machine Type |
| fixed-value slots | >Slot machines whose coin size or bet amount can't be altered. | Slot Machine Type |
| free spins | A free spin is a slot bonus feature that allows bettors to spins for free. | Gameplay |
| free-to-play | A scenario in which players can play without risking any amount. | Basic Concept |
| freeplay | A free slot game. | Slot Machine Type |
| fruit machine | A slot machine with a fruit-theme, or featuring fruit symbols. | Slot Machine Type |
| gamble | To gamble means to stake an amount of money or something of value in hope of making more if a predicted outcome of an event is correct. | Gameplay |
| gamble feature | A bonus feature that allows players to choose one of two outcomes. The right outcome doubles winnings, while the wrong outcomes lead to a loss of already existing wins. | Gameplay |
| games per hour | The number of slot games a player can play per hour. | Basic Concept |
| hammer a machine | To play a specific slot for a long time. | Slang |
| high volatility | A high difference between the maximum and minimum win amount. | Advanced Concept |
| hit | The rate a slot player is expected to get a winning combination. | Advanced Concept |
| hit and run | A hit and run is a player who plays one payline in a slot with the max bet for a few spins, then runs off to another slot machine. | Slang |
| hit frequency | The average amount of times a slot machine is expected to pay out. | Advanced Concept |
| hold percentage | How much of a bettors money is kept by the casino. It is also called the house edge. | Advanced Concept |
| hopper | Allows players to put the results of one or more reels on hold as they try to improve results by spinning the other reels. | Gameplay |
| hot machine | A hot slot machine is considered to have the highest winning frequency. | Slang |
| hot slots | Slots that are more likely to payout often. | Slang |
| i-slot | A new slot development by Rival Gaming spotting 5 reels and 15 paylines. | Slot Machine Type |
| icons | The symbols found in slots. Popular icons include fruits and card symbols. | Basic Concept |
| IGT | The acronym for the name of a leading casino game developer called . | Advanced Concept |
| instant winner | A jackpot that pays on the spot rather than those paid over a fixed number of years. | Advanced Concept |
| jackpot | The top prize payable by a slot machine. | Slang |
| lever | A slot lever is an arm attached to the right side of a slot machine. This is used for spinning the reels. | Basic Concept |
| line | Also referred to as a payline, it is the winning combination of symbols in a slot game. | Basic Concept |
| line bet | The active payline on the slot. | Gameplay |
| linked progressive jackpot | The linking of two or more slot machines with the same progressive jackpot. | Advanced Concept |
| loose slot | A slot that is assumed to pay out lots of money. | Slang |
| low level | A physical slot variant that can be played while sitting. | Slang |
| low volatility | Feature of a slots payout frequency. Low volatility means the slot pays out more but with smaller prizes. | Advanced Concept |
| max bet | The highest bet you can place per spin on a slot game. | Gameplay |
| maximum bet | The highest amount a player can stake. | Gameplay |
| MEAL book | Stands for Machine Entry Authorization Log. This is an entry log of casino employees into the slot machine. | Advanced Concept |
| mechanical slots | Physical slots with mechanical configurations and a lever crank to spin the reels. | Slot Machine Type |
| mega fortune | A progressive jackpot slot from NetEnt. | Slot Machine Type |
| mega moolah | A 5-reel by 3-row progressive jackpot slot. | Slot Machine Type |
| megabucks | A slot machine that needs a maximum of $3 stake to win the jackpot. | Slot Machine Type |
| megaways | A slot design with 117,649 ways to win. | Slot Machine Type |
| microgaming | One of the earliest casino gaming software company. | Advanced Concept |
| minimum bet | The lowest amount a player can stake. | Basic Concept |
| mobile slots | >Slot games that are playable on mobile devices. | Slot Machine Type |
| multi-line bonus slot machine | A video slot machine with more than a single payline and has at least one bonus symbol. | Slot Machine Type |
| multi-line slots | >Slot machines that feature more than one payline. | Slot Machine Type |
| multi-way | Video slot machines with several winning ways. | Slot Machine Type |
| multiplier | A multiplier is a bonus feature in slots that allow wins to be multiplied by a fixed number. | Gameplay |
| near miss | A near miss occurs when a winning combo almost lands on a slot. | Slang |
| netent | A Swedish gaming company that develops online casino gaming software such as slots. | Advanced Concept |
| nextgen | An Australian gaming company that develops casino gaming software. | Advanced Concept |
| nudge | A nudge is a small push either up or down to make a combo. | Advanced Concept |
| nudge slot | A nudge slot helps to move a winning combo either up or down the tiny nudge it needs. | Advanced Concept |
| one-armed bandit | A one-armed bandit is simply a slang used by slot players for slot machines. | Slang |
| one-liner | A single-payline slot where players must line up 3 symbols to get a win. | Slot Machine Type |
| onesies | A slang used by slot players to describe other players who never bet higher than one credit at a time. | Slang |
| online slots | Video slot games played over the internet. | Slot Machine Type |
| optimal play | A slot term used in reference to adopting the best slot strategy or the best form of play. | Advanced Concept |
| pay line | A payline refers to slot lines where winning combinations must land to form a win. | Basic Concept |
| pay table | A paytable is a table that outlines all winning combinations and their win values. | Basic Concept |
| payback percentage | The value of money that must be returned to slot players by a slot machine over a time frame. | Advanced Concept |
| payout | The amount to be won for a specific slot machine winning combination. | Basic Concept |
| payout percentage | The percentage of money a slot paid out in winnings to players after a period of time. | Advanced Concept |
| penny slots | A penny slot game is one that allows you bet 1 cent on a single payline. | Slot Machine Type |
| pick me | A bonus feature that allows players to select the desired object. | Gameplay |
| playtech | An online casino software company that started in 1999. | Advanced Concept |
| pokies | A term used by Australians in reference to slot machines. | Slang |
| primary jackpot | A primary jackpot represents the highest prize of payout that can be won by a player on a specific slot machine. | Basic Concept |
| progressive jackpot | A progressive jackpot is a kind of jackpot that keeps increasing every time it isn't won. | Basic Concept |
| progressive slot machines | A progressive slot machine keeps growing its prize money until a player wins naturally. | Basic Concept |
| random number generator (rng) | Software that outputs numbers as randomly as possible. | Advanced Concept |
| reel stop | A reel stop is a single position on a slot machine reel. | Basic Concept |
| reels | Disks with symbols that spin inside a slot machine window. | Basic Concept |
| return to player rate (rtp) | Return to Player refers to the percentage of all wagered funds that will be paid to players in winnings for a given slot. | Advanced Concept |
| rows | The horizontal arrangements of symbols in a slot game. | Basic Concept |
| scatter | A scatter is a slot symbol that can show up anywhere in the gaming reels and still make a win. | Gameplay |
| scatter pay | Slots with a scatter pay feature poses specific symbols on the gaming reels that will payout regardless of what symbols are within it. | Gameplay |
| scatter symbol | A slot symbol that can show up anywhere in the gaming reels and provides a win. | Gameplay |
| second screen bonus | Bonuses triggered by specific winning combinations that take players to a second screen. | Gameplay |
| select lines | The number of paylines selected in a game of slots. | Gameplay |
| short pay | A partial slot payout that is below the amount won. | Basic Concept |
| short win | A short win is when a player gets a massive jackpot from a short play. | Slang |
| signature slots | A signature slot is a brand of slot owned specifically by a casino. | Slot Machine Type |
| skill bonus | A skill bonus is a bonus earned as a result of a slot player's skill. | Gameplay |
| skill stop | A skill stop is a special feature in slots that allows players to stop the spinning reels anytime they want in a game. | Gameplay |
| slant top | >Slot machine designs that make the player slant or bend due to the armrest. | Slang |
| slot club | A membership program offered by casinos to slot players where they can win prizes for playing slot games. | Basic Concept |
| slot host | A slot host has the responsibility of welcoming and assisting players. | Basic Concept |
| slot schedule | A slot schedule shows the slot winning payout combo and the paired payout amount. | Basic Concept |
| slot talk | Slang used by slot players in reference to sharing slot information. | Slang |
| slot testing | The process of evaluating a specific slot to find out its RTP. | Basic Concept |
| slot tournament | A slot tournament refers to a competition where slot players compete for a particular prize at a pool of online slots. | Basic Concept |
| slot type | A type of slot a player choose to play be it progressive, basic slots, or bonus slots. | Basic Concept |
| slots | A form of casino game with a set of spinning reels and several symbols. | Basic Concept |
| slots drop | A term used in reference to the amount of money played via a slot machine. | Slang |
| slots hold | The amount of money that slots do not pay back to players as wins. | Basic Concept |
| sound of rain | The noise made by coins pouring when a slot player makes a win. | Slang |
| spin | Pulling the lever or clicking on the spin button will trigger a spin in slots. | Basic Concept |
| stacked symbols | >Slot symbols landing on each other to create wins or trigger bonuses. | Gameplay |
| stacked wilds | Wild symbols that land on each other in a slot game. | Gameplay |
| stand up | A stand up is a casino arrangement with no chairs or stools for players to sit and play. | Slang |
| streaky slots | >Slot machines that are known to have cold and hot moments. | Slang |
| symbol | Icons or illustrations found on slot reels. | Basic Concept |
| take/pay cycle | The take/pay cycle is based on the belief that slots pay according to a specific cycle or the amount of coin wagered on them. | Advanced Concept |
| taste | A tiny amount paid to a player to encourage them to keep playing. | Slang |
| theoretical hold worksheet | A document issued by a slot provider stating the theoretical percentage it should payout depending on the amount wagered. | Advanced Concept |
| three-liner | A slot machine featuring three reels that require lining up three identical symbols for a win. | Slot Machine Type |
| tight slots | >Slot machines known to pay out less frequently than other slots. | Slang |
| tilt | An electromechanical switch that can be triggered when a slot is tampered with. | Advanced Concept |
| tito, ticket in ticket out | A system designed to issue a ticket containing the winning amount each time a player cashes out from a slot. | Basic Concept |
| total bet | The value of credits played on a slot at a go. | Basic Concept |
| trail | A bonus feature of some slots that involves the unlocking of levels for a final prize. | Gameplay |
| tumbling reels | Slots with tumbling reels offer players a chance to win more after every winning combination. | Slot Machine Type |
| two-liner | >Slot machines that feature no more than two reels. | Slot Machine Type |
| up / down slot cycle | The up / down slot cycle refers to the fluctuations that occur in a slots payout percentage for a period of time. | Advanced Concept |
| variance | An expected range between losing and winning in a slot game. | Advanced Concept |
| video slots | Slots with computerized reels rather than physical reels found in some classic slots. | Slot Machine Type |
| virtual reel | A technology allowing the RNG function to be more random in a slot machine. | Slot Machine Type |
| volatility | The amount of risk in playing a casino game. | Advanced Concept |
| wager | Money bet in a casino or on a casino game. | Basic Concept |
| wager management | A method of managing a player's betting bankroll. | Advanced Concept |
| weight count | The total amount of tokens or coins removed from a slot's coin drop bucket. | Basic Concept |
| well | A collection bin under a slot machine where coins drop into during a cashout. | Basic Concept |
| wide area progressive (WAP) | >Slot machines found in different casinos but linked together by a single large jackpot. | Slot Machine Type |
| wild multiplier | Multiplier values attached to a wild symbol when triggered. | Gameplay |
| wild symbol | A slot symbol that substitutes for almost all other slot icons except the scatter symbol. | Gameplay |
| win | A win refers to earning a winning amount in a game of slot. | Gameplay |
| win-both-ways | Slots that allow slot players to win both from left-to-right and from right-to-left. | Gameplay |
| winning combination | Symbol combinations that help to trigger a win in slots. | Gameplay |
| zig-zag | The lines that can be formed on multi-line slot machines which is usually in a zigzag pattern. | Gameplay |
If there is a missing slot word that we have not defined, please let us know and we will gladly add this missing term.
