• Terms For Slot Machines When You Think They Will Pay Taxes
• Terms For Slot Machines When You Think They Will Pay Later

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. However, in making this assumption, they fail to see a lot of valuable information to help determine if they should play a particular slot machine. Surprisingly perhaps, machines aren't all the same. The best way to separate one from another is to learn how to “read” a machine by looking at the payout schedule on the front.

Casinos have more slot machines than all of the other games combined. But unlike many casino games, the slots still have some secrets.

Looking to play slots online? Check out one of the sites above!

Here’s a list of 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don’t want you to know about.

1. Slot placement isn’t random

Although casinos would like you to think that everything on the floor is placed in a completely random way for ease of access and aesthetics, this certainly isn’t the case.

Every square foot of the casino is analyzed, measured, and reported on by the casino gaming department. Traffic patterns are monitored and value is placed on certain areas of the casino to determine which slots or games to place in that area.

Usually, the highest yield slots are placed in the most popular locations in the casino. On top of this, the most popular slots are also placed in these areas to attract players into the casino to play.

So now you know that those slots that are most prominent and visible are the ones that make the most money for the casino, which means they’re also the most disadvantageous for the player. Head towards the back of the casino next time you want to play slot machines to find a better value.

2. Some slots pay out more than others

Not all slot machines are created equal, and this means they all don’t pay out at the same rate.

Generally speaking, video slots pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because reel slots are cheaper to run and maintain, and aren’t as appealing to the player as the video slot.

Video slots are now extravagant and have pop-culture themes, which attracts more players. Because of this, the casinos can dial down the payout rate.

Alternatively, the classic slots aren’t as popular or appealing anymore so the casinos will dial up the payout rate to attract more players, and subsequently keep you at the slot longer. I suggest you do a bit of searching on the internet about slot payout rates as this information is widely available, particularly for popular gaming locations.

3. The slots club doesn’t exist to reward you

This is one of the biggest cons in the gambling industry. You know how the casinos promote themselves as giving back to the player and rewarding you for your play? This is all a lie.

Now, I’m not saying you won’t get some free play credits, access to promotions, and other comps for being a part of the slot or player’s club, but this isn’t why it exists. It exists to provide the casino marketing department with player data so that they can attract and retain you as a customer.

Yes, that’s right, all the free money and comps you get out of the casino are from the marketing department. They will analyze your play, movement, likes, dislikes, and betting patterns to determine how best to market themselves to you so that you return.

The slots club is a powerful marketing tool, and while it’s always a good idea to join and use your card whenever you play, don’t fool yourself into thinking that this is all done to reward you.

4. You can’t win at slots in the long run

People do win at slots all the time. They have big wins and small wins; the problem is that on a long enough timeline it’s impossible to win.

Slots are manufactured and programmed in a way to ensure that they only pay back a certain percentage of the money that’s placed into them by players. Usually, this is in the range of 70-90% but it can be far worse or better depending on where you’re playing.

No one would ever play if you didn’t win from time to time, so this is also built into the machines. Some casinos don’t want you to know this and in some US states, they don’t even have to tell you what the payout rate is. Fortunately, there are many states that do provide it to players, and I highly recommend taking advantage of that information.

Although it’s pretty common these days for players to know that you can’t win in the long run, some still don’t know, and those that are oblivious to this fact are loved by casinos.

5. Max betting is the best option

This one may seem counter-intuitive but it’s true. On most slots, max betting activates all the bonuses and jackpots and increases your odds of getting lucky and winning, which makes it the best option for players.

Although it doesn’t make too much of a difference, it still creates more favorable conditions for the player. The casinos don’t want you to know this because they want you to bet small and more often at a worse payout rate, which makes them more money in the long run.

One thing you certainly don’t want to do though is max-bet above your bankroll and burn through more money than you intended to. Playing more than you can afford to lose is playing right into the casino’s hands. If you can’t afford the max bet on a slot then drop down in denominations or move to a machine where the max bet is smaller and works within your bankroll.

6. Class 2 slots aren’t really slots at all

Sometimes you’ll come across slot machines that are classified as class 2 slots. These are usually found on native Indian reservations or racinos in the United States.

These aren’t traditional slots like what you would find in Las Vegas. Vegas slots are Class 3 slots and are proper slot machine games.

Class 2 slots are actually pre-programmed bingo games which present a slot face for entertainment purposes. Class 3 slots are usually illegal in the jurisdictions that have these slots bingo games, so game manufacturers and casinos combined their forces to come up with this alternative.

Sometimes you’ll see a small bingo card on the bottom corner of the screen which will straight away tell you that this is a class 2 slot machine. So, be warned, these machines are not slots at all and you’ll be effectively playing computer bingo when you start spinning on these.

7. Video slots pay out less than classic slots

Big fancy video slots will almost always pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because of the fact they’re more entertaining, draw more players and action, and cost the casinos a lot more to run and maintain.

These big machines often take up two to three times the amount of space compared to classic slots and tend to cost the casinos a lot more to keep them running. In order to maximize profits, the casinos will then dial down the payout rate on these machines so they still make enough money on them.

Immersive video slots are a huge moneymaker for the casino, so don’t go in thinking you have the same chance of winning on these compared to traditional old school slots. If you’re looking for better chances to win on slot machines, then stick to the classic slots.

8. Slots are completely random

Casinos don’t want you to know this, but slot machines are completely random in nature. Although they are weighted to pay out at a certain rate, this is still in line with the randomness of results that a slot will produce.

Each spin is completely independent of the previous spin. As an example, if you were to win the jackpot on one spin, then the likelihood of winning the jackpot on the next spin is exactly the same. No previous events impact future events. This isn’t how they work.

Casinos don’t want you to know this because they want you to think slots are “hot” or “cold”, because that will cloud your judgment in respect to how much you play and gamble. This works out better for them in the long run so they are happy for these myths to grow and spread.

9. All of your play is tracked

From the moment you sit down at a slot and enter your player card and cash, every movement you make is tracked automatically by the casino. Slot machines are now networked and have sophisticated hardware and software to track everything you do.

This information is collected, analyzed, and insight reports are developed and delivered to the casino marketing department so they can work out the best possible way to market their casino and slots to you so that you keep coming back and play more. If you don’t want your play tracked then simply don’t use your player’s card, but then you won’t get any casino comps.

In the near future, if it’s not being used already, casino marketing departments will start using security infrastructure to monitor and track your play irrespective of whether you use your card or not. Facial recognition programs will detect you, associate you with a player’s card or create a new player account and track everything you do on a video feed.

This is a bit scary and it shows the lengths casinos will go to. If you play online, everything is tracked under your player account, so it’s easier for online casinos to monitor what you do in this respect.

10. Payout tickets are more likely to be put back into a machine

Over the past 20 years, casinos have slowly phased out cash payouts at slots. These days you’ll likely receive a ticket when you cash out, which you then must take to a cash-out machine or the cage to exchange for cash.

While the casinos will claim this is for your convenience, one of the main reasons they’ve made this change is to disassociate you from the fact you’re holding money. This is similar to what they do with chips on table games.

Psychological studies have proven that people are far more likely to gamble more with a ticket or chips, as opposed to cash. So don’t be fooled into placing your ticket into another slot on the way to cashing out, they’ve done this on purpose. I’d recommend that you always cash the tickets out for cash every time, instead of keeping it for play later.

11. Slot arms don’t exist as much anymore because they slow down play

Back in the day, pretty much every slot machine had an arm, or lever, that you pull to activate the spin. These days it’s much harder to find machines that have these.

While there are a few reasons for this, the main reason and the one the casinos don’t want you to know is because using a lever is much slower when compared to pressing a button. Casinos want you to be playing as quickly as possible when it comes to slots because the more you spin the more the odds move in their favor.

So by having buttons instead of levers the game moves a lot faster. Some may even say they’ve removed the lever so people don’t refer to slot machines as one-armed bandits anymore, but that may just be here-say.

12. Games are designed to be played as fast as possible

As we touched on in the previous secret, casinos want you to play whatever game you’re on as quickly as possible. While one of the main measurements on a slot is the time spent playing, they also want you to play as quickly as possible.

This increases the yield on the machine for the casino, meaning they make more money. Consider this, if you have a bank of widely popular slots which many people want to play, and it takes 20 seconds per spin, that’s quite a lot of time.

If a spin takes five seconds then you’re getting four times the amount of play on that machine which results in much more money passing through. So, all the time the casinos are trying to think of ways to make games happen much faster. They don’t want you playing slowly, so make sure you take your time next time you sit down at a slot. After all, the more time you play the more entertainment value you get.

13. Slot sounds and graphics are designed to make you feel happy

One thing that casinos certainly don’t want you to know about is the fact that slot machine manufacturers have teams of psychologists and researchers that provide advice on what sounds, colors, movements and graphics to use in games in order to make the player feel as happy as possible.

This is both good and bad. Firstly, it’s good if you’re playing for entertainment’s sake and know your limits when it comes to how much money you’re willing to play with. If this is the case then why not play a game that’s designed to make you feel happy.

Secondly, it’s bad when it comes to problem gamblers who don’t know when to stop and are chasing that happy feeling that the games give them. So this is a two-way street; that’s for sure. Casinos probably don’t want you to know this because it isn’t a great look.

14. Sometimes a win isn’t a win

One recent trend on slots is to play a jingle and show an animation showing that a player has had a win; this used to be a good thing and it meant you were making a profit, but not so much these days.

Much to the ire of lawmakers and the regulators, slot machines now play this jingle and imply a win, even when the spin results in less money won than you actually wagered on that spin in the first place. So this is essentially a loss and it’s trying to trick the player into thinking that they won.

Regulators are trying to have this outlawed but it will take some time. So, next time you’re playing don’t be fooled by the animation and sounds and the on-screen advice that says you’ve had a win. Make sure you check how much you ‘won’ when compared to how much you bet, before you celebrate.

15. Major progressive jackpots are played across multiple venues

Have you ever walked past a progressive jackpot slot machine and stared in awe at the huge jackpot which is currently available and is running into the millions of dollars?

If so, then you may not be aware that these slots are actually linked nationwide and the jackpot is played across thousands and thousands of machines and the casinos actually have no part in this prize.

Casinos don’t want you to know this of course; they want you to think that it’s just that machine so that you sit down and play and spin away thinking that you’re the only person who could possibly win that prize at that time.

These major progressive jackpot machines actually take a small cut from each bet you make and divert it to the major jackpot. So you should never play on one of these unless your ultimate goal is to win the life-changing money, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

Conclusion

Casinos are designed to make money just like any business. The slot machines are a big piece of the profit puzzle so the casinos do everything they can to make them more profitable.

Now that you know these 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don’t want you to know you can gamble as an informed player. If you love slots there’s no reason to stop playing, but you should know these secrets before you play again.

Do you know your slots terminology? Want to learn all of the definitions from our list? Our complete slots glossary will teach you all you need to know about slots terminology!

Slot Machine Glossary and Terms

Slot machines are among the most popular, easiest, and the most profitable games you’ll ever see in casinos and online. But a lot of players might not know that there’s more to slots than merely a cheery array of lights and sounds. In fact, pulling a lever and watching the reels spin is only the beginning. It’s essential to know all the key slot machine terms and phrases in order to make it rain.

So if you learn all the basic slot terms, you will be more confident on the gaming floor or online. What’s more, the easiest way to do that is to browse through this handy A–Z slots glossary that we have created for new and experienced players alike. Players can use our glossary of slot terms to find out about different slot machine types, basic slot functions, and more. This guide will cover terms such as progressive jackpots, random number generators, slot volatility, and many more.

Luckily, you can simply look over this glossary and learn as many terms as you can before your next game, and we bet you’ll be more successful. Plus, the convenient thing about this dictionary is that you can simply bookmark it and use it later. So if you need to learn slot terms quickly, just check them out below!

Slot Terms

A

Action — Alternatively called “Play,” this term refers to the total amount of funds a player wagers during a game session or over a specific time period. The casino often tracks the action to give out reward points or other benefits in the players’ club.

Active Payline — During a game, this term denotes a payline which is in play. It means that payouts will occur if that active payline has a winning match. See “Payline.”

Annuity Winner — Refers to jackpot winners who choose to get paid in yearly installments. When players request a full jackpot payout, they might get a high tax, so in some cases, it’s easier to get paid in installments.

Autoplay — Many slots have an autoplay feature. Players can trigger it when they want the reels to spin automatically without needing to operate the machine each round.

B

Bank — A bank is a row or line of machines that are placed next to each other in a casino. Sometimes, the machines can be connected physically and feature a similar theme or name.

Bars — The most basic game symbols you will see on slots are marked with the word “BAR” on the reels. Usually, they form a winning match if two or more appear on a payline.

Bet — Signifies how much money players use per spin.

Big Bertha — A slang term for a machine used as a marketing device to attract attention. The machine is usually bigger than most slots and is located close to the casino entrance to attract the largest number of players.

Big Win — Signifies the highest payout available on a slot game or a jackpot.

Blank — The blank space found between the game symbols on a reel.

Bonus Feature — Also called the “bonus game” or the “bonus round;” the term refers to an additional feature in the game that can lead to a win on top of the typical reel pay.

Bonus Multiplier — A game type similar to the “Straight Multiplier,” but includes a bonus prize. See “Straight Multiplier.”

Bonus Slots — These are specific machines that will give players free spins or other bonus features if they match a certain number of bonus symbols.

Branded Slots — These licensed slots feature themes based on popular TV shows or movies (e.g., Game of Thrones).

Buy-a-Pay Slot — A unique slot type in which each wagered coin unlocks new winning matches. This slot type is a rare sight on casino floors nowadays.

C

Carousel — Another word for “Bank.”

Candle — The candle is a small light at the top of a machine. When it lights up, it means there is a malfunction in that particular machine.

Cashback — A feature on some slots or casino reward programs in which players will receive money back for their losses.

Certified Slots — These types come with a 98% to 100% payout rate.

CICO — This is an abbreviation for “Coin In, Coin Out.” It’s an industry term that denotes how many coins the machine has received and how many it has paid out in total.

Classic Slot — Another term for “3-Reel Slot.” It was introduced due to the fact that the earliest slots only had three reels.

Coins — The currency that players use at the machine. Coins come in various denominations, including a penny, $5, etc.

Coin Size — Signifies how much money one coin is worth. Also known as “Denomination.”

Coin-Free Play — In land-based casinos, coin-free play games will give the players tickets instead of payouts in coins. The tickets can be exchanged for rewards or money.

Coins Per Line — The number of coins players choose or are allowed to wager per available payline.

Coins Per Spin — The number of coins players choose to wager during one spin.
Coin Hopper — A container or box which holds all the coins until they are paid out.

Cold Slot — Players use this term to refer to a machine that hasn’t paid out for a while paying out.

Collect — Some machines may have a “Collect” button that players can press to get their winnings. The machine will then turn the players’ credits into real money.

Comps — Players receive comps or complimentary points depending on how much they have played or wagered. The casino tracks their actions and then gives out comps in the form of free gifts or/and other prizes.

Combination Slot — A slot game that combines different types, i.e., buy-a-pay and multiplier.

Console Slots — A special type of slot machine in land-based casinos that contains built-in features that ensure player comfort (customizable display settings, special seats, etc.).

Credits — When players insert coins into slot machines, their funds will be changed to credits. Then, the players will use the credits to place wagers during every spin.

Credit Indicator — Often found at the bottom right corner in electronic or virtual machines. It indicates the number of credits or coins the player has at their disposal.

D

Denomination — The denomination is the value of one coin. Also called the “Coin Size,” it can indicate a penny, quarter, or a dollar value.

Double Symbol — Indicates a game symbol or a group of symbols. When double symbols appear in a winning match, they can double the payout.

E

Edge — Expressed as a percentage, the edge is the advantage the casino has over players.

F

Fill — A casino term for a bag which contains coins and is used to fill up a coin hopper when it runs dry.

Five Liner — A slang term for a machine that contains only five paylines.

Fixed Jackpot — A jackpot that is worth a fixed sum of money which never changes.

Fixed Value Slot — Fixed value slots are machines which come with only one bet size. Generally, they do not allow players to choose the number of paylines or coins per line.

Free Spins — Many slot games will give you free spins that you can play and cash out without wagering. Players might receive or unlock free spins based on an achievement in the game, as a casino bonus, rewards club prize, or a slot tournament prize.

Free Play — Online slots frequently offer a free play or free money mode. The players will get a certain “fun” balance to play with but will not be able to cash out the winnings from the free play rounds. Some land-based casinos could also offer a free play mode.

Fruit Machine — A British slang term used to describe a basic slot machine with few gaming options. Quite often, the symbols on these machines are fruits.

G

Games Per Hour — Casinos and players use this phrase to refer to the number of spins played per hour. The average for most players is approximately 500.

H

Hand Pay— When the payouts are made by the casino cashier as opposed to the actual slot machine.

Hammer A Machine— Refers to the act of playing the same machine for a long time, usually in hopes of winning a big progressive jackpot.

High Volatility Slot — These machines come with a high difference between the maximum and minimum win sizes. If jackpots are high, the volatility will also be high. See “Volatility.”

Hit — Indicates a winning round or spin.

Hit and Run— A technique in which the players only spin the reels a few times. If there is no payout, they then change machines to find one that will pay out after only a few spins.

Hit Frequency— This term denotes how often a specific slot will pay out. Some players might measure this frequency to increase their odds and win more often. Generally, machines with a lower frequency will pay out more often but with smaller amounts. Alternately, those that pay less often might pay larger amounts. Sometimes called “Hit Rate.”

Hold Percentage — Indicates how much money is kept by a particular machine. It’s a percentage of the total action on that slot.

Hold and Respin — A game feature in which the player can choose to “hold” some of the reels that contain the best symbols. That way, those reels will stay frozen on the screen while others can keep spinning. This could lead to more winning combinations. Some machines in land-based casinos could feature a “hold and respin” button.

Hot Slot — Players use this term to refer to a “hot” machine that seems to be paying out more often than others.

I

Instant Winner — Opposite of ”Annuity Winner.” Refers to jackpot winners who get a full jackpot payout at once.

J

Jackpot — Refers to the top prize offered by a particular slot.

L

Line Bet — The amount of money players wager on the paylines.

Linked Progressive Slot — A slot that is connected to a network of games which share a progressive jackpot. See “Progressive Jackpot.”

Loose Slot — A machine with a high payout rate. Loose slots offer high chances of winning.

Loss Disguised as a Win — This phrase is used to denote a partial victory, and it’s a mind trick the casino can sometimes play on its customers. The machine will make sounds and light up to make it appear like there is a win. However, it will give the players less than they wagered in the first place without them noticing. It’s a trick to make players feel like they got lucky.

Low-Level Slot — In land-based casinos, the machines that have a chair or some type of seat are called low-level slots.

Low Volatility Slot — A slot that gives out wins more often but only for small and mid-sized payouts. See “Volatility.”

M

Major Jackpot — If a slot offers multiple progressive jackpots, the major jackpot is the largest of the two.

Maximum Bet — The max bet is the highest allowed bet at a particular slot. It is set per spin, and it varies depending on each game.

Mechanical Slot — Older machines did not operate electronically and were made with mechanical reels and symbols. Some of them are still made this way, and in general, the number of reels and paylines is lower compared to other types.

Minimum Bet — Opposite of the max bet, i.e., the lowest allowed bet a game will allow. It is set per spin, and it varies depending on each slot game.

Minor Jackpot — If a game offers multiple progressive jackpots, the minor jackpot is the smallest.

Multi-Denominational Slot — A machine that allows a variety of coin denominations.

Multi-Line Slot — Describes a machine which contains multiple paylines. See “Payline.” Generally, multiple paylines offer more ways to win.

Multiplier — This is a bonus feature found in many slots. When activated, the winnings will be multiplied by a specific number (e.g., a 10x multiplier).

Multi-Spin Slot — Unique slots that have up to 9 reel sets, instead of only one.

N

Near Miss — When players miss a winning match by only one game symbol.

Nickel Slots — Slots that are played with only a denomination of a nickel or 5 cents.

Nudge — Some machines in land-based casinos could include a “Nudge” button. When pressed, a reel can be nudged up or down to form a winning match.

Number Symbols — Also referred to as minor symbols, these symbols are generally 10, J, Q, K, and A. They appear on most games and are the symbols that pay the least.

O

One Armed Bandit — One of the most popular slang terms for a slot machine. The moniker refers to the mechanical lever that players used to pull while playing. Over time, the machine would rob them of their money.

One Liner — A game that only has one reel.

Onesies — A slang term for only playing one coin/credit per spin.

P

Payline — The payout of each game depends on the payline or paylines on which players bet on. When the winning pattern appears on a payline, players will win. This pattern can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

Payout — The amount of money won after each winning spin.

Payout Percentage — Also known as “return to player” percentage, or RTP, the payout percentage refers to the money players are guaranteed to get back from the machine over time.

Paytable — The paytable is clearly displayed on a machine or in a virtual slot game, and it shows all the potential payouts one can receive based on the winning combination in question. Players can also view information about the bonus features in the paytable.

Penny Slot — Slots that are played with only a low denomination of a penny or $0.01 for each spin.

Pick and Match — A common bonus round in which the game will display a selection of items, and then the players have to find two of the same ones to get a prize.

Pick to Win — A bonus round similar to Pick and Match. The slot will display symbols which contain a hidden object behind it. When players select a symbol with the hidden object, they will get a prize.

Pokies — In Australia, “pokies” is a popular slang term for slot machines.

Progressive Jackpot — A large jackpot that increases in size over time, depending on all bets made in a particular game. For example, for each bet, the game adds a small portion of the wager to the jackpot size. In time, the progressive jackpot can grow to a huge size. These types of jackpots can be won at random and can be worth an entire fortune.

Progressive Slot — Refers to games which offer a progressive jackpot. Progressives are often interlinked online or in land-based casinos. The progressive jackpot is offered on all the machines which feature it.

Q

Quarter Slots — Slots that are played with only a denomination of a quarter, or 25 cents.

R

Raining — When a slot machine pays out, and it looks and sounds like it’s “raining” coins.

Random Number Generator — Land-based and online slots contain a random number generator (RNG). The RNG is used to make sure the machine is fair by creating random results. In theory, players should not be able to use strategy to win since the machine determines the winning patterns. However, players have found several ways to employ strategy and increase their odds.

Terms For Slot Machines When You Think They Will Pay Taxes

Reels — Reels are the rotating barrels which contain the game symbols. Early machines featured reels made of metal. To start the game, players will instruct the machine to spin the reels mechanically, electronically, or virtually. And when the reels stop and a winning pattern shows up on them, the players will get a payout. The 3-reel slot type is the most common, but there are many variants of games with 1, 2, 4, 5, and even more reels.

Terms For Slot Machines When You Think They Will Pay Later

Roll-Up — A roll-up is a suspenseful sound made by a machine right after a win.

S

Scatter Symbol — This game symbol doesn’t need to show up in a predetermined combination or on specific lines or reels during a spin. When it appears anywhere on the reels, the scatter will activate the game’s bonus features or free spins.

Scatter Pay — A winning match that contains the scatter symbol.

Second-Screen Bonus — Used mostly by casino game developers, the term signifies a unique bonus round in a video slot that takes the player to another game screen.

Select Lines — The number of selected paylines in one game.

Short Win — When a player hits a winning pattern but doesn’t get paid due to a low-denomination bet.

Signature Slots — A proprietary slot brand designed by a particular land-based or online casino.

Skill-Based Game — A common bonus round that resembles a video game.

Slant Top Slot — A newer type of machine found in land-based casinos. It is wider and smaller than common machines, and it is becoming increasingly popular.

Slot Club — Refers to a rewards club for players in a casino.

Slots Drop — A term used in live casinos to denote the total sum of money played on a particular slot machine.

Slots Hold — A term used in live casinos to denote the total sum of money that the machine will not pay out to players.

Slot Host — A slot host is an employee in a land-based casino who will assist players in case they need help. Plus, the host is often in charge of hand pays.

Slot Machine— Used to refer to the casino game as well as the actual machine found in casinos.

Slot Talk — When players exchange information about a game with a host in a land-based casino.

Slot Testing — When a player spends a roll of coins on a slot machine in order to test it and find out the payout rate.

Slot Tournament — An offline or an online event which makes groups of players compete for big prizes.

Slot Type — Refers to the game type (e.g., classic, video, progressive, etc.).

Slot Schedule — Another term for “paytable.”

Stand-Up Slot — In land-based casinos, the slot machines that are placed upright and require the player to stand while playing are referred to as stand-up slots.

Streaky Slot — A slot that is both hot and cold.

Stop — A stop or stops refer to the moment when the reels stop.

Spin — Describes the physical or virtual spinning of the reels.To spin the reels, players can push a button or pull a lever. In online casinos, players can press the “Spin” button. Additionally, players use this term to describe one round of a game.

Spin the Wheel — A common bonus round in which players spin a wheel, and when the wheel stops, it can determine their bonus prize.

Stacked Wilds — Refers to a stack of wild symbols in which the symbols are placed on top of one another on only one reel.

Straight Multiplier — A slot type in which the player can trigger all the winning matches with only one coin.

Symbols — The game symbols are the illustrations and images you will see in a slot game. They show up on the reels and have to form a predetermined combination in order for the player to win. The symbols can include numbers, cards, fruit, or any other type of illustration (e.g., animals, objects, funny characters, etc.).

T

Take/Pay Cycle — Signifies an assumption that machines have a cycle during which they will make a payout after players have inserted enough money into it.

Three Liner — A game that has three reels. Slang for a 3-reel slot.

Ticket — A printed ticket players get from the slot machine. Players can use the ticket to get their winnings at the cashier.

Tilt — A term denoting a malfunction or an error in a live or an online slot machine.

TITO — Signifies “Ticket in/Ticket out” machines that print paper tickets. The tickets include the payout amount and players can use the tickets at several machines after winning. The tickets replaced coin payouts for the most part; however, many modern slot machines use plastic cards nowadays.

Tight Slots — Opposite to loose slots — payouts will occur less often in tight slots.

Total Bet — The entire amount of credits a player wagers on a machine for the duration of the game.

Two Liner — A game that has two reels. Generally, it takes a match of three symbols to win. But if there is a match of six symbols, the payment will usually be doubled.

Taste — Used to signify an extremely small amount that a machine pays out and the assumption that the amount was paid to make sure the player keeps spinning the reels.

V

Volatility — Refers to the amount of risk in games and how difficult or easy it is to hit a jackpot in a particular game.

Video Slots — A type of slots that don’t contain mechanical reels. They are the most common machines in casinos and are operated by software. All the elements are shown on an electronic display.

Virtual Reel Technology — This technology allows the random number generator to pick more non-winning matches than winning combinations. It’s a solution to make players’ chances of winning smaller, and therefore, increase the jackpot size.

W

Wager — Same as “Bet.”

WAP — Abbreviation for “Wide Area Progressive.” Used to denote a progressive slot available in many different online casinos which offers a linked jackpot. It is the highest progressive jackpot available.

Wager Management — Refers to strategies some players might use to keep track of their betting habits.

Well — Denotes the tray in which the coins fall in after a payout.

Wild Symbol — These game symbols can be used as a substitute for others in a winning pattern on the reels.

Wild Multiplier — Much like the traditional wild, the wild multiplier symbol can swap out any other game symbols in a winning match, except for the bonus and scatter symbols. This symbol also multiplies wins depending on the combination and the game rules.

Win — When the player hits a winning combination.

Winning Combination — This is a pattern of game symbols. When the pattern appears on the reels, players will get a win. The winning pattern can be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or it can pay all ways.

Z

Zigzag — A winning combination that forms a zigzag pattern, and it is featured in slots with multiple paylines.

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243 Pay Lines — A special game with a high number of paylines (243). It is said that this game covers every line, so it is quite difficult to estimate all the available combinations.

3-Reel Slots — Same as “Three Liner.” A slot game that has three reels.

5-Reel Slots — Same as “Five Liner.” A slot game that has five reels.

Time to Spin and Get Lucky!

Now that you know about all the essential terms, it will be easier to start gambling and try to win a lot of money. So bookmark our complete guide and good luck playing some slot games!