Bonus- A bonus is a designated combination which, when it occurs, results in a special feature of a game, usually based on its theme, rather than a payout. When a bonus is achieved, choices will appear on the slot screen for the player to choose between. As the gambler chooses items, payouts are received until the bonus rules are exhausted.

Candle- The term used for the light that tops a physical slot machine. It will go off, often red and in a rotating fashion, when jackpots are won, or if the machine is in need of service.

Carousel- a grouping of slot machines within a space, usually in a oval or circular pattern.

Coin hopper- the container within the machine that holds the coins ready to be paid out with any wins. Since the inception of tickets, credits and receipts to most electronic machines, coin hopper-machines have become less popular, but are still to be found. It is a mechanism designed to cash out the number of coins won to the patron, or to cash out remaining credits if the “Cash Out” button is pressed.

Credit Meter- a LED display of number on the front of the machine, letting the gambler know how many credits are currently available for play.

Drop bucket/ drop box- is the bucket inside the bottom of the machine where the coins diverted from the coin hopper fall. If a coin hopper reaches its maximum capacity, all other coins fall to the bucket or box, which is balanced by the casino on a regular basis.

Hand pay- when a payout is given by a person, or at the cage rather than by the played machine itself. Although in the past, hand pay’s were usually only in cases where taxes would need to be filed, or if the winnings exceeded the amount available in the machine, the current receipt system available in most casinos allow players to simply receive their winnings in bills at the cage, regardless of the amounts.

Low Level/ slant top machines- provide a chair or stool on which the player sits during play.

Stand Up/ Upright machines- the player stands during play; no chair is provided.

Optimal play- a payout percentage determined by a player utilizing the optimal strategy in a skill-based slot game.

Payline- a straight or criss-crossed line that goes through one symbol or picture on each reel or spinner. The pictures the payline crosses determines the combination hand for that turn of play. Traditional spinning reel machines typically offer up to 9 paylines while electronic games can have a maximum of 100.

Rollup- is a means by which a casino increases the excitement of play by programming the machine to emit sounds as the winnings count into the credits.

Tilt- in older machines, the “tilt’ switch was used when mechanical problems were encountered. Although the machines don’t have the switches anymore, an error on the machines’ behalf is still referred to as a tilt.

History

Description

Terms

Technology

Payout

Linked Machines

Near-Misses

Fraud

Variations

Misconceptions