Slot Machines ABC

SLOT MACHINE TERMINOLOGY
You can’t be a decent slot machine player without knowing some slot machine terminology. Below you will find the most common terms and what they mean in the slot machine community/industry. If you are ever confused on this site or while gaming, please feel free to refer back to the terminology for clarification. Most slot machine jargon/terms used in the definitions can be found defined on the corresponding Web page. A-D >>> E-H >>> I-P >>> Q-S >>> T-Z SLOT MACHINE TERMS E THROUGH H *Edge: This is a mathematical advantage for either the player or the house when gambling. Normally the house or casino has the advantage or edge over the player. EGM: Stands for "Electronic Gaming Machine" and is often referred to by initials. Flat-Top: “Flat-top” slot machines pay out a non-progressive jackpot. The name also refers to the slot machine’s appearance—the machine has a flat-top that allows the player to sit while playing. Fruit Machine: This is the nickname for a slot machine in England. Ghost: This term refers to a blank spot on a slot machine reel, ie there is no symbol. Hand Pay: This occurs for higher slot machine payouts, or if the slot machine releases an incorrect amount; if the amount of payout exceeds the amount of coin or credit in the machine, the slot machine attendant or the cage “hand pay” the player. Hard Count: This is the process casinos (and banks) use to count coin currency. The hard count takes place in an extremely secure hard count room and is done through the use of weigh scales. The coins and tokens are divided by denominations, and then placed on a weigh scale programmed to calculate the total amount of the coins. The only exception to using the weigh scales for hard currency is with high end tokens—often $25 dollars or more apiece, these are often hand counted. Hit Frequency: Also known as hit rate. How often a slot machine payouts—referred to as a percentage of time. Hold Percentage: The “hold” is discussed among casino executives. It is the opposite of the payback percentage, and represents the amount of money the casino is making from a machine or the slot department in general. This can be thought f as a betting fee. Hold and Re-spin: A non-traditional style slot machine that allows a player to hold one or more of the slot machine reels and spin the rest of the reels again. This type of slot machine gives the player the chance to obtain a better combination of reels on the second spin. Hopper Fill Slip: This document records the replenishments to the coin hopper. When an employee refills the depleted coin hopper, the fill slip is used to verify the amount placed into the slot machine, the employee making the replenishment, which slot machine is being filled and the date Hot Slots: Also known as a loose slot, this refers to a slot machine that is liberal with its payouts. House: Another term for casino. Casino literally translates as house in Italian. House Edge*: Also known as Hold. Expressed as a percentage, this is the amount of money the casino holds out of a bet as profit for the casino. This can be thought of as a betting fee. It is the opposite of the payback percentage, and represents the amount of money the casino is making from a machine or the slot department in general. Back to Slot Terms>>> Index of terminology >>>

SLOT MACHINE TERMINOLOGY

You can’t be a decent slot machine player without knowing some slot machine terminology. Below you will find the most common terms and what they mean in the slot machine community/industry. If you are ever confused on this site or while gaming, please feel free to refer back to the terminology for clarification. Most slot machine jargon/terms used in the definitions can be found defined on the corresponding Web page.

A-D >>> E-H >>> I-P >>> Q-S >>> T-Z

SLOT MACHINE TERMS E THROUGH H

Edge: This is a mathematical advantage for either the player or the house when gambling. Normally the house or casino has the advantage or edge over the player.

EGM: Stands for "Electronic Gaming Machine" and is often referred to by initials.

Flat-Top: “Flat-top” slot machines pay out a non-progressive jackpot. The name also refers to the slot machine’s appearance—the machine has a flat-top that allows the player to sit while playing.

Fruit Machine: This is the nickname for a slot machine in England.

Ghost: This term refers to a blank spot on a slot machine reel, ie there is no symbol.

Hand Pay: This occurs for higher slot machine payouts, or if the slot machine releases an incorrect amount; if the amount of payout exceeds the amount of coin or credit in the machine, the slot machine attendant or the cage “hand pay” the player.

Hard Count: This is the process casinos (and banks) use to count coin currency. The hard count takes place in an extremely secure hard count room and is done through the use of weigh scales. The coins and tokens are divided by denominations, and then placed on a weigh scale programmed to calculate the total amount of the coins. The only exception to using the weigh scales for hard currency is with high end tokens—often $25 dollars or more apiece, these are often hand counted.

Hit Frequency: Also known as hit rate. How often a slot machine payouts—referred to as a percentage of time.

Hold Percentage: The “hold” is discussed among casino executives. It is the opposite of the payback percentage, and represents the amount of money the casino is making from a machine or the slot department in general. This can be thought f as a betting fee.

Hold and Re-spin: A non-traditional style slot machine that allows a player to hold one or more of the slot machine reels and spin the rest of the reels again. This type of slot machine gives the player the chance to obtain a better combination of reels on the second spin.

Hopper Fill Slip: This document records the replenishments to the coin hopper. When an employee refills the depleted coin hopper, the fill slip is used to verify the amount placed into the slot machine, the employee making the replenishment, which slot machine is being filled and the date

Hot Slots: Also known as a loose slot, this refers to a slot machine that is liberal with its payouts.

House: Another term for casino. Casino literally translates as house in Italian.

House Edge: Also known as Hold. Expressed as a percentage, this is the amount of money the casino holds out of a bet as profit for the casino. This can be thought of as a betting fee. It is the opposite of the payback percentage, and represents the amount of money the casino is making from a machine or the slot department in general.

Back to Slot Terms>>>

Index of terminology >>>