Slots Terminology
Slot machine terms are confusing to novice slot payers. Browse our comprehensive list of slot machine terminology and be familiar with sl✃ots 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 importan⭕t to und꧅erstand 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.
