Slot Machine Glossary


3D Slot - A new generation of online slots with slick animation and graphics.

3-Reel - An online slot with three vertical reels.

5-Reel - An online slot with five vertical reels.

All Ways - A game with 243 paylines.

Autospin - Allows the player to programme the slot to spin a series of games automatically.

AWP - 'Amusement With Prizes' - An old-school style of slot, popular in Las Vegas. Also known as fruit machines.

Bet - The total amount wagered, made up of the coin size multiplied by the number of paylines.

Bonus Round - Extra games in an online slot which is triggered by landing special symbols on the reels.

Carousel - A group of slot machines in a land-based casino.

Cascading Reels - A feature which removes winning combinations to allow symbols above to fall into their place and form more combinations. Also known as Tumbling Reels, Rolling Reels.

Classic Slots - Old-school or vintage-style slots, usually with minimal reels and paylines.

Coin Size - The size of the coin being staked on an online slot.

Coins - The currency used by the player to make spins.

Feature - The main bonus round in an online slot.

Free play - Online slots that can be played without wagering real cash.

Free Spins - A bonus round that awards players free goes.

Fruit Machine - A classic slot machine, popular in the UK, which features simple paylines and fruit-themed symbols.

Gamble - Allows players to double their wins after a spin.

Icons - Symbols on the reels.

Info - See Paytable

iSlot - An interactive online slot that features progressive bonus rounds and multiple levels.

Jackpot - The biggest payout possible in an online slot.

Max. Bet - The biggest bet that can be wagered per spin.

Multi-line - A slot with more than one payline.

Multi-way - A payline system, mainly seen online, that creates over 1,000 paylines.

Nudge - A bonus that allows players to move a selected reel up or down to form more winning combinations.

One-armed Bandit - An old-school slot machine originating from the US. Spins are activated by pulling a mechanical arm on the side of the machine.

Online Slot - A slot played on PCs or Macs via the Internet.

Payline - A line that connects symbols to form winning combinations. Paylines can range from 1 to over one thousand.

Payout - The amount that each winning combination pays to the player.

Paytable - A list of the game's payouts and bonus details.

Penny Slots - Online slot machines played at micro-stakes

Pick Me - A bonus where players have to choose from a series of icons to reveal cash or multipliers.

Pokies - An Australian term for online and land-based slots.

Progressive Jackpot - A prizepool taken from the same game across multiple casinos. Progressive jackpots can be won at any casino that carries the game and can run into million of dollars.

Random Number Generator (RNG) - The software that governs the randomness of each spin. RNGs are independently audited at all respected casinos to ensure fair games.

Reels - Columns of symbols that spin during a game.

Rows - Symbols in a horizontal line.

RTP (Return to Player) - The payout made, over time, to the player by the online slot. An RTP of 96% pays out $96 for every $100 wagered.

Scatter Pay - A symbol that forms winning combinations wherever it is on the reels.

Skill Bonus - A bonus round which requires an element of skill rather than luck (Shoot 'em Up, arcade, sport).

Skill Stop - A button that allows the player to stop the reels manually.

Spin - Moving the reels during the game.

Stacked Icons - Identical symbols on top of each other on a single reel.

Stacked Wilds - Wilds that appear on the reels on top of each other. (See Wild).

Symbols - Icons on the reels.

Trail Bonus - A bonus round which features a progress trail with cash prizes and multipliers.

Video Slots - Online slots comprising graphics and/or animation. They can be played via download or non-download.

Wheel of Fortune - A bonus round featuring a spinning wheel with cash prizes.

Wild - A symbol that can substitute for other symbols on the reels to form winning combinations.

Wild Multiplier - The bonus wins applied to a winning combination containing a Wild symbol. (See Wild).

Win - A series of consecutive symbols that awards cash to the player.