The terms used at online casinos regarding slots can sometimes be confusing to new players so we've compiled a list of the most common terms and phrases used when playing slots online.
Think you've got a grasp on our slots glossary? Choose an online casino and start playing!
3 Reel: These are slot games that have three spinning columns or reels.
5 Reel: These are slot games that have five spinning columns or reels.
7 Reel: These are slot games that have seven spinning columns or reels.
Balance: This refers to all of the money in a player's account that can be used to play slots.
Bankroll: This is a term that refers to the money in a player's account that can be used to play slots.
Bet Max: This is a button on some slot machines that allow players to play all available paylines.
Bonus Feature: This is a round of play offered on some slot games that allows the player to earn bonus payouts. The Bonus Feature is triggered when a certain combination of bonus icons appear on the reels. There are 'on the reels' and 'off the reels' bonus features that reward players with anything from free spins to extra cash. These are also often called Bonus Games or Bonus Game Slots.
Bonus Icon: This is a special symbol in slot games that will trigger a bonus feature/game if spun across the reels.
Bonus Slots: These are a type of slot game that have bonus features/games.
Cascades: This is a type of 'on the reels' bonus feature that, when activated, will replace symbols on winning lines with new symbols to double the player's chance at money or bonuses.
Classic Slots: This is a term that is often used to describe 3 reel online slots as these games are inspired by the original, classic 3 reel machines found in land-based casinos.
Coins: These are used for wagering in some online slots (mostly 3 reel games). These coins can have a fixed or adjustable value, depending on the game.
Coin Size: This term refers to the value of the coins used in some online slots. This value can be fixed or adjustable, depending on the game.
Feature Icon: This is a term used to refer to special symbols in slots that will trigger bonus features/games if you spin them across the reels.
Freerolls: This is a term often used to describe slot tournaments that are free to enter.
Free Spins: These are spins that players are awarded in some online slots that require no wager to be made.
Fruit Machines: This is the term for slot machines in the UK. Fruit machines are very similar to slots, though they can offer a few unique extras such as holds, nudges, and multi level bonus games.
Hold n' Spin: This is a type of 'on the reels' bonus feature that allows players to hold certain reels why re-spinning the rest. This allows players to create more winning combinations and activate more bonuses.
Icons: This term is used to refer to the pictures that appear on slot reels. They are also known as Symbols.
Jackpot: This is the largest amount of money that any given online slot game will payout.
Line Bet: This is the amount of money that a player wagers per line in multi line slots.
Loose Slots: This is a slot game that is believed to payout more than others.
Multi Line Slots: These are slots that offer more than one payline. Multi line games can have as few as two paylines or as many as 100.
Multipliers: These are special symbols that will multiply your prizes when they appear in winning combinations.
One Armed Bandit: This is a nickname given to slot machines when they were first introduced to land-based casinos. The 'One Arm' refers to the lever that players had to pull to spin the reels.
Payline: This is a defined line across the reels that will award you with a prize if you spin a winning combination across it.
Pay Table: This is a table that defines all of the rules and information relevant to any given online slot. It will tell you which symbols payout and how much. It will also show winning paylines and wagering requirements.
Payout: This is the amount of money that you get from a win on a slot.
Payout Percentage: This is the percentage of money that an online slot is set to payout over the lifetime of the game. Many online slots have payout percentages set at 92 -98%.
Pick a Box: This is a type of 'off the reels' bonus game. When it is triggered, players will be taken to a new screen in which they will have to choose from a selection of icons to reveal bonus prizes. Players will be given a certain number of picks after which the game will end.
Pick until Pop: This is a type of 'off the reels' bonus game. When it is triggered, players will be taken to a new screen in which they will have to pick from a selection of icons to reveal bonus prizes. Players will be allowed to pick until they hit the 'pooper' or 'booby' icon at which time the game will end.
Progressive Jackpot: These are certain types of slot games in which all or a portion of the money wagered on them goes into a collective jackpot. The more players on these games, the bigger the jackpots. They are extremely popular and will thus often offer jackpots worth millions of dollars.
Random Number Generator (RNG): This is a computer used in all slot machines that tells the reels when to stop. It does this by constantly assigning different numbers to the reels that make them stop on random symbols.
Reels: These are the spinning wheels on all slot machines. Online slots come in 3 reels, 5 reels and 7 reels.
Scatter Symbol: This is a special symbol that will often multiply a player's total bet when a defined number of them appear anywhere on the board. Sometimes they will also trigger bonus features.
Slots Tournament: This is a tournament for slots players. All participants will play the same online slot with the same number of credits for a designated amount of time. The person with the most credits at the end of the tournament will win the top prize.
Substitute: This is a special symbol that will replace other symbols to help the player create more winning combinations. It is also known as a Wild Symbol.
Symbols: These are the pictures that appear on the reels of slot games.
Symbol Slide: This is an 'on the reels' bonus feature that allows certain symbols to 'slide' or expand across or down an entire reel to help create more wins. They are also often called Expanding Symbols.
Tight Slots: These are slots that are believe to payout less than other games.
Total Bet: This is the total amount of money a player will wager on a multi line game. For example, if a player is playing all lines in a 20-line game with a line bet of 1¢, the Total Bet will be 20¢ per spin.
Video Slots: This is a term that is used to refer to all slot games that play out on a screen. Technically, all online slots could be considered video slots.
Wild Symbol: This is a special symbol that will replace other symbols to help a player create more winning combinations. It is also known as a Substitute.
Winning Combination: This is predefined combination of symbols that will result in a win if it is spun across an active payline.
If you're feeling confident with these popular slots terms and phrases, choose an online casino and start playing!
