A slot is a narrow notch or groove in something, such as a keyway in a machine or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. A slot can also be a position in a group or series of things.
The word’slot’ can be used in the sense of a position in a group or series, as well as referring to a specific time and place, such as ‘I’m booked for a two-hour slot tomorrow afternoon.’
There are a number of words and phrases that are commonly used in slots circles. While not necessary for a beginner to know, they can help a player better understand what is going on while playing. Here are a few of the more common terms that are used to describe features, game play and rules of a slot machine.
Paylines
The number of paylines on a slot machine varies from one to several. Generally, the more paylines there are, the larger the payouts will be. The number of paylines is usually stated on the machine’s pay table or can be accessed through a ‘help’ button or ‘i’ on the touch screen.
Bonuses
Symbols in a slot machine can be stacked to appear multiple times on a reel, increasing the chances of hitting a winning combination. In addition, some symbols can trigger special bonuses that award free spins, extra prizes or even jackpots. These bonuses steer players away from regular spins and can increase the overall prize pool of a game. Often, these bonus rounds are triggered by a certain combination of symbols or when the player hits a specific amount of money on a spin.
Bet Max
The bet max button is a convenient way to automatically wager the maximum amount allowed per spin on a slot machine. Some slot machines may have this button labeled as ‘Max Bet’ or ‘Bet Max.’ Some may even have an icon on their face that indicates when the button is pushed.
Random number generator
A random number generator is a computer program that generates a sequence of numbers that correspond to each of the stops on a physical reel. This sequence is then compared to a database of pre-programmed combinations that correspond to different prizes. The results of these comparisons are then displayed on the machine’s screen.
This method of randomly selecting combinations eliminates any bias that may be present in a manually selected series. This makes the odds of hitting a jackpot equal for all players, regardless of their skill level.
In the past, electromechanical slot machines had tilt switches that would make or break a circuit, triggering an alarm if they were tilted too far. Modern machines no longer have these switches, but a technical fault (door switch in the wrong state, reel motor out of paper or just a simple door sensor issue) can still cause a machine to be considered ’tilted’. Usually, these errors are caught quickly by the slot attendant and do not result in a loss.
