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The slot machine has undergone many iterations since Charles August Fey built the first coin-operated device in 1894. Whether it be cranking a lever, pushing a button, or clicking a mouse, the mechanics have moved with the times. So has the terminology!
In our breakdown of the various slang names for slot machines, we analyze their origin and the reason for their nicknames.
Slang for slot machines entails various different names for this casino game. To ensure you always are aware whenever slots are mentioned, we’ve summarized the most common names for slots.
Big Bertha refers to a large slot machine or a high-stakes slot that was available in casinos in the 1970s and 1980s.
The name fruit machine comes from the United Kingdom. The reason they are called Fruit Machines is simple. It refers to the symbols used on these machines' reels, which often included fruits such as cherries, lemons, and plums.
The term pokie, originating from Australia, is derived from the word "poker," which refers to the card game, and the suffix "-ie," commonly used to form diminutives in Australian English. There's no real reason why slots are called pokies. One possible reason is that video poker was more popular than video slots among the Australian public of a different generation.
In the USA, slots are called one-armed bandits. There are many reasons why the one-armed bandit nickname suits a slot, but the main one lies in its physical make-up - particularly the traditional, old-school slots with levers attached to them, with the lever representing the arm.
Whenever there is a moment to thank your lucky stripes, it's when playing a slot - or a Tiger Machine, as it is known in Mandarin. It all comes down to the Chinese belief in the power of tigers. In Chinese culture, these striped orange predactors symbolize strength, courage, and good luck. Naming a slot machine after a tiger is believed to bring good luck to the players.
There are many other slot machine terms to consider when navigating the slot world. Hence, we've summarized the key terms you should know before hitting slot reels.
A slot with just three reels is called a three-reel slot. It’s the most classic type of slot, as that’s how the initial slot machines were set up at land-based casinos.
Slots with five reels were developed to give players an extra advantage over traditional three-wheel slots. Five-reel slots provide more ways to win than three-reel slots.
Instead of fixed lines, slots with 243 ways to win per one spin offer 243 different ways of winning. The “243 ways” apply to the total number of potential winning combinations.
Cascading reels are a commonly used game mechanic in online slots. The winning symbols disappear from the game grid and are replaced with new symbols.
Although not often available for slots, casinos may sometimes offer players a cashback promotion that will recover a specified amount of money lost at slot machines.
Complimentary services or items offered when playing slots are called comps. Casinos offer comps to encourage casino players to play more slots.
The sum paid out after a gambling session is a coin-out. In other words, it's the money you get in returns after playing slots.
Cold slots are a misconception about slot machines at land-based casinos. Such slots are perceived to offer low payouts or no payouts at all.
Your game funds are converted into credits after inserting money into a slot machine. To play slots, you will then use your game credits.
Slots with a pre-set bet and coin size are called fixed value slots. In such slot machines, the bet and coin size cannot be modified.
A hit and run is a popular slot game strategy. It involves setting a cash limit for profit and losses. Whenever you reach the limit, you must move to another slot machine.
Hit frequency indicates how often the slot machine produces wins. However, it doesn't guarantee net positive when it comes to winning as it's separate from the Return to Player rate.
The amount of money the slot holds from each bet is called "hold." It is expressed as a percentage.
The house edge is a percentage that indicates the casino's advantage over the player in games. In slots, the house edge varies between 2% and 15%.
Instant Winner or Instant Win slots are rapid games that immediately determine the slot game results. Overall, it functions similarly to slot machines.
Jackpots are featured in certain slots. They can take different forms, such as progressive or fixed jackpots.
Progressive slots accumulating wins from a network of slots are considered linked.
A slot with an RTP above 96% is considered a loose slot. Such slots provide higher long-term returns than most other slots.
Each slot game has a predetermined betting range. The maximum bet refers to the maximum amount of wagering the game allows.
Megaways is a reel modifier developed by Big Time Gaming that changes the number of spins on the reels with each spin.
In slot machines, the multiplier is a game feature that multiplies a player's winnings. The value of the multiplier depends from slot to slot and the game's features.
A near miss is when the player almost landed a winning combination.
Payline consists of matching symbols that create a winning combination. Paylines determine how winnings are formed.
Payout is the money a player receives in winnings when playing slots. They are impacted by the slot's Return to Player rate.
The paytable is a guide that includes all possible winning combinations and their payouts. Each slot has its own paytable.
The highest amount of funds available for winning in a jackpot slot machine is called the primary jackpot.
A slot with a progressive jackpot accumulates a jackpot by taking a small percentage of each wager on the slot. After someone wins the jackpot, it resets.
Casino game outcomes are determined by the Random Number Generator (RNG) algorithm. It creates a sequence of numbers that provides a random game outcome.
On the slot grid layout, reels are placed in vertical columns. They are filled with symbols and spin when the player activates the slot machine.
Slot machines have a set Return to Player (RTP) percentage. It displays the long-term returns the player receives from the game.
A scatter is a common feature in slot machines. It can randomly appear anywhere on the reels and trigger a bonus feature or a payout.
It's considered a short win when it doesn't take a player a long time to land a significant win or a big jackpot.
Slot club is a loyalty program for members and returning players at land-based casinos.
When playing slots at a casino, a designated employee takes care of all things slots, including any issues with slot machines, complimentary services, and assisting players in the slot machine area.
A sound of rain occurs when the player lands a win, and the coins dropping into the payout produce a sound.
Slot games with inconsistent payouts, like after a winning streak followed by a period of empty spins, are streaky slots.
The key feature of a slot machine is a spin. When a spin is mentioned, it refers either to the spin button or one spin of the reels.
A slot machine with just one payline and three reels is a three-liner. The player must land three of the same symbols in one line to land a win.
Slots that don't tend to reward with frequent wins are tight slots. It's common for such slots to provide rare but bigger wins.
The total bet is the amount of money placed in a slot machine per one spin.
Variance refers to how often and in what size amounts a slot pays out winnings in the long term. There are three categories of variance: low, medium, and high. Variance is often interchangeably used with the term volatility, which refers to a similar concept.
Instead of slots with physical reels and mechanics inside, video slots are run by computer software and display the slot on a screen.
A virtual reel is a technology that represents a physical slot reel. Unlike an actual reel, a virtual one can generate more complex, varied, and intricate outcomes.
Opposed to variance, volatility shows the average amount and frequency of slot payouts. It also shows the fluctuations one can expect during the game. Volatility has three categories: low, medium, and high.
A network of slots with linked progressive jackpots are referred to as wide area progressive slots. These slots can be located at different casinos or even in other states and countries.
These are symbols made to substitute other symbols to create winning combinations. Therefore, wilds increase the chances for higher payouts.
A standard payline forms a win from left to right or right to left. Meanwhile, ‘Win both ways’ slots can form a payline in both directions.
The term zig zag is used to describe a payline that looks like a zig zag instead of a straight or diagonal line.
