A narrow notch, groove or opening, such as one for a key in a lock, or the slot at the top of an envelope. Also, a position or position in a group, series, or sequence. A position in a face-off circle on an ice hockey rink.
Modern casino floors are alight with towering slots, complete with bright video screens and loud sounds. While they may look fun and tempting, experts warn that they can quickly turn into money-losing machines if players don’t know how to play them correctly. It’s important to understand some of the main terminology used when talking about slots in order to make sense of the different payouts, bonuses, and gameplay. Below, we’ve compiled some of the most common terms that are thrown around in slot machine circles.
Slot – The name of a standard slot defined by the ACC. The slot can be computed, selected from a table, or assigned manually.
It’s a common belief that if a machine has gone long without paying off, it’s “due” to hit. While it’s true that some machines will pay more frequently than others, it is also true that no machine is “due” to win – every spin is a random chance to get lucky. If a player is losing, they should try another machine.
Symbols – A combination of symbols that will result in a payout. Slots often have special wild and scatter symbols that can substitute for other symbols in a winning combination. These symbols can also trigger bonus features that award additional reels and paylines.
Payline – A line of numbers that determines how much the player will win if the symbols listed on the pay table appear on the machine’s pay line. Often, the pay line is displayed above or below the reels and can be accessed from the machine’s help menu.
Reels – A physical reel that rotates inside the slot machine and displays symbols. A computer chip within the slot machine then determines the position of each reel and whether or not a specific spot on the reel contains a winning combination. In most slot games, the number of blank spots on each physical reel is limited by their circumference, so software designers created virtual reels housed in a computer chip instead that have the same appearance as the physical reels.
Getting greedy or betting more than you can afford to lose are the 2 biggest pitfalls to avoid when playing slot machines. Stick to your budget and learn the game, and you can have a fun and relaxing experience with the added benefit of possibly walking away with a padded wallet! Just don’t forget to tip the cocktail waitress! She deserves it. And remember to arrive early for your next trip to the casino – a late arrival can impact your ability to focus and be on top of your game. Good luck!