Every slot machine has a payout for specific symbols as well as the number of coins that are played. For example, if the machine you are playing pays five coins for three bells then it will pay ten for the second coin that you play and fifteen for three coins played. There are also bonus multiplier games. Every slot machine has a payout for specific symbols as well as the number of coins that are played. For example, if the machine you are playing pays five coins for three bells then it will pay ten for the second coin that you play and fifteen for three coins played. There are also bonus multiplier games. Scatter Symbols in Slots Scatter Symbols in Slots. Sometimes referred to as a slot player's best friend, the scatter symbol is basically a key to unlocking various fun bonus features designed within a slot game. Unlike symbols that have to be lined up on a payline to win anything, the scatter just has to appear on the reels to open up free. Slot machines are more fun when you understand what’s going on with the game. If you don’t know what the slot machine symbols mean, and if you don’t know what it takes to get a winning combination, you might as well just play rocks scissors and paper with some stranger.
The slot machine is by far the most popular and profitable casino game, and with slot machines dominating the online, mobile, and social markets, there’s been a resurgence in interest in the one-armed bandit. This glossary covers terms used by slot players and the slot machine industry. We’ve included an example of each word used in a sentence. Newcomers to the world of slot gaming should familiarize themselves with the terms below before they head to the casino.
243 Ways to Win slot: | a game that doesn’t consider pay lines when determining wins and payouts. Instead, winning combinations of symbols can appear anywhere on the screen. |
“Spend a little extra time reading the pay table of that game – it’s a 243 Ways to Win slot.”
Action: | refers to a gambler’s total amount played, plus any amount they’ve won or lost for a given session. |
“Your slot club card rewards you with comps based on your action.”
All pays slot: | a category of games that don’t use the traditional pay line system to determine winnings. |
“If you’re bored with traditional games, look for one of the new all pays slots available online.”
Basic slot: | games with few features, a single pay line, and a fixed top jackpot. |
“Fans of retro gaming will find themselves drawn to the classic styling of the casino’s basic slots.”
Bet Max: | to place a wager equal to the largest possible bet for a particular slot. Many slots also have a “bet max” button on case that allows gamblers to quickly place the game’s top per-spin wager. Often required to gain access to a game’s largest payouts. |
“You can squeeze in a lot more playing time if you wager using the Bet Max button.”
Betting unit: | refers to hitting a slot’s top-paying combination of symbols. |
“Managing your slot bankroll starts with working out how many betting units you can afford to spend per hour.”
Big hit: | refers to hitting a slot’s top-paying combination of symbols. |
“You should have seen the slot hosts come running after Aunt Mary got that big hit.”
Bonus feature: | a side game or other special activity distinct from a game’s regular mode. Can include things like wild symbols, scatter symbols, and free spins. |
“More and more, slot designers are producing games with skill-based bonus features.”
Buy-a-pay slot: | a game in which each coin you wager activates a new tier of payouts. Placing the maximum number of coins leads to the largest payouts. |
“The buy-a-pay slot is the most misunderstood game on the casino floor.”
Carousel: | a name for a group of slot machines sharing a common feature, usually denomination. |
“The first thing I look for when I walk into a new casino is a penny slot carousel.”
CICO: (Coin In, Coin Out) | an industry term referring to the total number of credits played in and paid out of a machine. |
“You can get an idea of your total CICO for a given slot by analyzing the points on your slot club card.”
Coins: | another term for “credits.” Slots accept credits in a variety of denominations, from a penny to five dollars and more. |
“This game’s bonus feature pays a special multiplier prize based on the total number of coins wagered.”
Coin size: | refers to a gambler’s chosen denomination, the amount that each coin (or credit) is worth. |
“Some slots allow you to select your coin size, others set a fixed-price value for each coin.”
Comps: | short for “compensated items,” comps are freebies given to slot players by the casino as a reward for their loyalty. Players must join a slot club and swipe their card before playing each machine in order to have their action tracked. Comps range from free drinks and room upgrades to larger prizes, depending on how much a player spends. |
“Earning slot club comps shaves a tiny fraction off the casino’s built-in advantage.”
Console slot: | games with built-in features designed to be more comfortable for the player. These days, console slots have screens which can be placed in different angles, built-in seats, and customizable brightness settings. |
“Grandma said she prefers to play the console slots, even though they’re a little more expensive.”
Credits: | another word for “coins.” When gamblers insert a $20 bill in a slot machine, that cash is converted into credits, based on the coin size of the game. |
“Fifty credits per spin is too rich for my blood.”
Denomination: | the value of each credit. Some games feature fixed credit values, others allow you to choose your denomination. |
Open Slots Meaning
“The only benefit to using a higher denomination is a larger set of possible payouts.”
Double symbol: | a symbol (or set of symbols) that doubles a payout when it’s part of a winning combination. Triple symbols are also common. |
“Slots that use double symbols and triple symbols are perceived as more exciting than slots that don’t.”
Fixed-value slot: | games in which the betting amount and/or coin size cannot be altered. Some of these games allow for multiple credit wagers, which gives the player some control over the size of each spin. |
“Fixed-value slots make it easier to manage your slot bankroll, though they limit your options as a player.”
Free spin: | a bonus feature in which the player earns one free round of play. |
“Wouldn’t you know it – I spent all that cash and then finally hit a jackpot during a free spin.”
Fruit machine: | UK slang term for slot machine. Most games of this type are basic slots with few features. |
“I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the classic fruit machines found in British pubs.”
![Slot Machine Symbols Meaning Slot Machine Symbols Meaning](https://mk0rogercniu97gynh4.kinstacdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/blazing_riches_slot_01.png)
Hit frequency: | a theoretical number referring to how often a given slot machine pays out a prize of any amount, relative to the total number of games played. |
Hold percentage: | a theoretical number that refers to the amount of a player’s money a slot machine retains. |
“Theoretically, a machine programmed to have a 95% hold percentage will keep 5% of all the money a player feeds into it.”
Jackpot: | either the highest-value prize paid out by a given slot machine, or (used more generically) any prize paid out by a machine. |
“You have to bet five coins per spin to gain access to the jackpot – it’s a buy-a-pay slot.”
Line bet: | the number of active pay lines on a given multi-payline slot. |
“I try to always place a max line bet on progressive slots.”
Linked progressive slot: | a slot that pays out an ever-increasing top prize connected to a network of two or more games. These games produce larger progressive jackpots because more players are paying into them. |
“Linked progressive slots are placed prominently on the casino floor to attract attention.”
Low-level slot: | any game that includes a built-in seat or chair. |
“You don’t find nearly as many low-level slots in Atlantic City as you do in Las Vegas.”
Multiplier: | a specific type of bonus slot feature where a payout is increased, usually between 2x and 10x. |
“I like this slot’s multiplier feature – I just wish it came up more often.”
Near-miss: | player slang for a result that’s incredibly close to a payout. |
“I needed five cherry symbols for the jackpot, and only got four. Talk about a near-miss.”
Nudge slot: | games that include a particular bonus feature in which near-miss combinations are occasionally bumped into a winning combo. |
“Nudge slots are exciting because it seems like you win more often, even though the odds are adjusted to take the nudge effect into account.”
One-armed-bandit: | popular slang for a slot machine. |
“I got robbed by the one-armed bandit all weekend.”
Payback percentage: | a theoretical number that refers to the amount of money a particular slot machine will return to a player. Because this number is based on an infinite number of wagers, it should be used only as a guide. |
“Progressive slots and games with lots of bonus features generally have a lower payback percentage than traditional slots.”
Pay line: | an invisible line that moves across the reels of a slot. Winning combinations only pay out prizes when they appear on one of these invisible lines. Must be activated by the player, usually with a wager. Sometimes spelled “payline.” |
“If I had all fifty pay lines activated, that last win would have paid my mortgage for six months.”
Payout: | the amount paid by a slot for a specific combination of symbols. Sometimes spelled “pay out.” |
“Reading a slot’s pay table is a simple matter of finding a winning combination and reading the payout listed next to it.”
Pay table: | a chart posted on the slot machine’s case (or on the display) that indicates the payout for various winning combinations, as well as any specific game or bonus rules. |
“You can tell how much variance a slot has by reading its pay table and comparing the payouts to one another.”
Penny slot: | a slot which accepts pennies as its basic denomination. Because of the cost of activating multiple pay lines, most modern penny slots don’t really cost $0.01 per spin. |
“If you don’t have a lot of money to waste, there’s a penny slot on the casino floor with your name on it.”
Pokie: | Australian slang term for “slot machine.” |
“When he called the slot machine a ‘pokie,’ I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing.”
Progressive slot: | a game with an ever-increasing jackpot built from tiny portions of all the wagers played into it. |
“This progressive slot has been taking my money for years – maybe today’s my lucky day.”
Real stop slot: | a game that allows players to skill-stop each reel, one at a time. Rare on casino floors these days. |
“The reel stop slots of the 1970s added a new skill dimension to slot play, but weren’t all that popular with players because of their reduced payouts and small jackpots.”
Reels: | refers to the sets of symbols that spin and stop to determine winning combinations. |
“Old-school slot machines had just three reels, while most modern games have five or more sets of spinning symbols.”
RNG: (Random Number Generator) | a piece of software that produces random numbers within a certain range. Used by modern slot machines to randomize results. |
“The use of Random Number Generator software gave game designers the freedom to produce increasingly complicated and feature-laden slots. “
Scatter symbol: | a symbol that doesn’t have to appear in any specific combination or on any specific reels or lines in order to trigger a bonus feature. |
“Usually, a specific number of scatter symbols must appear to trigger a bonus or prize.”
Second-screen bonus: | an industry term that refers to video slot game features that take place on a separate screen from the standard slot game. |
Best free casino bonus no deposit. “Modern licensed games depend on video scenes and second-screen bonus games to attract players familiar with the brand.”
Short win: | refers to hitting a combination that should lead to a huge jackpot, but doesn’t because of a low-credit or low-denomination wager. |
“Sure, you can play nickel slots for a nickel per spin, but all your jackpots will be short wins.”
Slot club: | member’s-only programs offered by casinos to track their play in exchange for comps and other rewards. |
“Joining the slot club won’t cost you a thing and could lead to some nice freebies.”
Slot host: | a casino employee whose job it is to assist serving customers at slot machines. Usually performs all necessary hand-pays. |
“Tipping your slot host after a big win is considered proper etiquette – how much you tip is up to you.”
Slot machine: | a gambling game that pays prizes based on random combinations of symbols. |
“The slot machine is America’s greatest contribution to the world of gambling.”
Slot tournament: | an event that brings slots players together to compete for a set of specific prizes on a pool of specific games. |
“I love this casino’s promotions – especially the weekly $10,000 slot tournament.”
Spin: | refers to one round of slot machine play. |
“As a low-roller, I’m most comfortable betting about $0.50 per spin.”
Symbols: | images on the reels of a slot machine that must be lined up in various combinations to win. Can be anything – traditional symbols include fruit, numbers, and playing cards. |
“The best symbol on this game is the game’s logo itself, which acts as a scatter and a wild at the same time.”
Tilt: | a slot malfunction that usually requires the attention of a host and possibly a mechanic. |
“I was in a good rhythm and then the machine tilted and I had to switch games.”
TITO: (Ticket In, Ticket Out) | refers to a specific type of slot game that prints a ticket with your winning amount when you cash out. Can then be inserted in a different machine to continue playing. Most modern casinos have switched to the use of plastic cards rather than tickets. |
“You wouldn’t believe how many people leave behind tickets in TITO slots.”
Total bet: | refers to the total number of credits multiplied by the chosen denomination. |
“I was betting a nickel per credit and betting the fifty pay line max, for a total bet of $2.50 per spin.”
Video slots: | refers to a category of slot games that use a video screen to display virtual reels. The vast majority of slots on modern casino floors are video slots. |
“You hardly ever see anything but video slots these days – but I miss the spinning reels of the basic slots.”
Wide-area progressive: | games with ever-increasing jackpots, linked between different online or land-based casinos. They the largest of all possible progressive payouts, since a huge number of people are paying into their jackpots. |
“The largest jackpot in Vegas history was won on a wide-area progressive slot machine.”
Do you consider yourself to be superstitious? Do you avoid walking under ladders? Do you cringe at the prospect of 7 years bad luck after breaking a mirror? Do you keep your umbrella firmly closed indoors? Well if you visit a casino, you will find plenty more superstitions in action.
You see, gamblers can be a pretty superstitious group. No more so than slots players. There are plenty of widely held superstitions when it comes to slot machines. In this article, we’ll have a look at the most common ones and determine whether there is any merit to the practices, or whether they are simply myths.
Hot and Cold Coins
There is a belief held by many slots players that you increase your chances of winning by playing with hot coins. As such, you may see people rubbing their coins before inserting them into a one-armed bandit. There are others however who think the trick to cracking a slot is by inserting cold coins. Either way, it is fair to say that this is purely a myth. Each spin of the slot machine is random and is not influenced in any way by the temperature of the coins.
Standing Up
Whilst you will usually find seats in front of slot machines in a casino, there is a commonly held belief that you are more likely to win if you remain standing. The reason for this? Some players believe that the slot machine knows if you are comfortable, and is less likely to pay out. They figure that if you are comfortable, the machine will give you a losing streak, as you are less likely to get up and move to another machine. Now before you online slots players start standing to attention in front of your PCs, let’s take a minute to query this belief. The truth is, again, that each spin of the slot machine is a random event, and as such, it matters not whether you are sitting, standing or even lying down. Your chances of winning remain the same whatever position you choose to play in.
Location is Key
Many players swear by playing slot machines located near the entrance to the casino. Such players believe that machines with looser payouts are generally placed here, rather than in the middle or the back of the casino. Now, this is one superstition that may actually warrant some merit. It is logical that casino operators would place machines with looser payouts near the entrance to create an exciting atmosphere for players walking through the doors and to entice other gamblers.
New Slots Improve Your Chances of Winning
A very common slot machine superstition is that new online slots provide better payouts. Many think that casinos allow higher payouts on new games to encourage players to try them out. In fairness, this is a myth which is encouraged by casinos as it draws more players to spend their money. The truth, however, is that no slots are rigged. They are subject to strict standards and the 1st spin has the same odds of winning as the 10,000th spin. When it comes to online casinos, playing new slots can have its advantages, however. Whilst the games are 100% legitimate, random and fair, operators may offer generous bonuses and promos to play new games. By taking advantage of free spins and other such offers, you can get more play time for your money.
Avoid Using Your Player Club Card
Using your player club card at a casino can bring you many benefits, such as discounts, bonuses and other such perks. Yet there are plenty of slots players that believe the player card can reduce your chances of winning. They rationalise that casino operators can track how much you are winning, and if they deem that you are winning too much, they will make the machine stop paying out. This is complete bunkum! Whilst it is true that the operator can see how much you are winning, they have no power to adjust the payouts of machines. Each spin of the machine is random, and the casino cannot fix the machine to stop you from winning.
Touching the Screen
Stand around the slot machines in a casino, and you will no doubt see some players methodically tapping and rubbing the screen. The theory is that by touching certain symbols, such as wilds, they are more likely to land on the next spin and provide you with big payouts. Alternatively, if the bonus symbols have landed on reels 1 and 2, by rubbing the next reels, you increase the likelihood of another landing to trigger the bonus round. Any logical person will tell you that this is a pointless exercise. In fact, the only impact this will have on the game is to leave smears across the screen!
If A Slot Has Not Paid Out for a While, Expect a Payout Soon
A widely held superstition is that when you play a slot which has not paid out for a while, you are due a payout. In a similar way, it is believed that if the jackpot has been paid out recently, then it will not pay out again for ages. The downfall in this argument is that each and every spin on a slot machine is a single, random event. The outcome of the spin is determined by a random number generator and is not influenced in any way by the previous spins. The random nature of slot machines means that at no point does the machine owe you. Having a losing streak does not mean that you are due a winning streak anytime soon.
Online Slots are Fixed
There are some people who play slots regularly at land based casinos, yet avoid playing online. They reason that online slots are rigged, reducing your chances of winning. This is one myth that does not hold any weight. Online casinos are subject to strict licencing rules and are monitored by respected regulatory bodies including the UK Gambling Commission. Operators must invite independent testing of their RNG’s and game payout percentages, by organisations such as eCOGRA, TST and GLI, to prove that they are completely random and fair. Whilst there may be some shady, rogue operators online, by playing at licenced casinos, you can have complete confidence that games have not been tampered with.
Lucky Mascots
You will find lucky mascots and trinkets in abundance around slots players. Some people believe that certain objects bring them luck and will not play without their trinket of choice close by. As such, you may see all sorts of objects surrounding slots players. From traditional lucky mascots such as a horse shoe and a rabbit’s foot to mini statues of buddha and family photos, people put their belief in a wide range of objects to bring them good luck. Whilst there is clearly no scientific basis for lucky mascots increasing your success, this is a harmless belief that can add to the enjoyment and playing experience for some.
It All Comes Down to Luck Really
Whilst there is no shortage of superstitions attached to slot machines, as we have seen in this article, the vast majority are just that – superstitions. Free keno machine. They are farfetched beliefs which have no scientific or even logical basis. Slots are random and there is little you can do to influence your chances of winning. As long as you understand this point, then you can sit back and enjoy the entertainment of playing your favourite games at the best slot casinos 2020. And if you find rubbing a rabbit’s foot whilst you hit the spin button makes you feel lucky, then who am I to tell you otherwise!
Popular Questions About Slot Machines Superstitions
Yes, there are a lot of weird and funny superstitions about slot machines! We did our best to gather the best ones there are, yet, there might be something that we might have missed. For your convenience, we’ve prepared a small FAQ section, where you can find the answers to some of the questions gamblers often ask. We hope that this might help you find what you need to know about slot machines.
? Why Do People Touch Slot Machine Screens?
There is a popular belief that if a Wild symbol appears, you must touch the screen of the one-armed bandit and rub the reels you would want the Wild to show up so that you can hit a bonus round and free spins. It is a weird superstition that doesn't work and leaves awful smudges on the screen of the machine.
? Are Slot Machines Rigged?
Bar Slot Machine Meaning
There are a lot of players that get frustrated when they don't win. Maybe this is where the popular myth that slots are rigged came from. This is a superstition that is not true at all. All good land-based and online casinos are licensed and strictly regulated by the respected authorities, meaning that it is illegal to 'fix' their slot machines.
? How Do I Pick a Winning Slot Machine?
Something that a lot of players believe is that you could pick a slot machine that has a looser payout. Some say that these are usually located near the entrance of a land-based casino to attract new players and to give them a boost to play more. There might be a little truth in this theory, yet, there is no proof.
♨ How Can You Tell If a Slot Machine Is Hot?
There are a lot of slots available both live and online. You might say that slot machines are taking over the world! But this odd superstition is false. The 'hot' slot machine comes from the superstition that if your coins are hotter, you'll have a higher chance to win.
Time Slots Meaning
? Do Slots Pay More At Night?
Slot Machine Symbol Meaning
Hot water and electricity in some countries are indeed cheaper at night. However, this does not apply for slot machines or any other form of gambling - there is no guarantee you will win immediately. Slot machines, like most gambling games, generate random results and it all comes to pure luck for you to hit the big cash.
? Are Slot Machines Pure Luck?
You cannot make a slot machine to give you the jackpot. The one-armed bandit is pure luck – it generates random combinations that might give you nothing or everything. The slot machine has an interesting origin and a complex design. However, if Lady Luck is not on your side, don't expect too much!