Online Slots Glossary – Terms You Should Know

Ever wondered what a reel or a payline is in a slot game? Or how to spot a trustworthy online casino? If you’re a new to online slots, this jargon can be overwhelming, but you are not alone.  

The global online gambling industry is booming. Driven by a surge in digital entertainment and mobile access, millions are turning to online slots for quick fun and big wins.  

In this blog, you will understand every terminology related to online slot games and you can also sound like an expert. 

Understanding Online Slot Machine Terminology 

Familiarity with online slot machine terms not only enhances your gaming experience but also helps you in selecting games that align with your choices and strategies. Below is a comprehensive list of key slot-related terms and their definitions: 

243 Ways to Win 

A slot game format offering 243 possible winning combinations, achieved by matching symbols in any position across adjacent reels, rather than following specific paylines. 

3D Video Slot 

A 3D video slot is an online slot game with three-dimensional graphics and animations. These slots offer a more immersive and visually engaging experience compared to regular video slots, often including storylines, characters, and cinematic effects. 

3-Reel and 5-Reel 

Traditional slot machines typically have three reels, while modern video slots often have five reels. The number of reels affects the complexity and variety of winning combinations. 

Active Paylines 

This refers to the lines or paths on the game’s reels where same symbols must land to win a payout.  

All-Ways Slots 

Slot machines without fixed paylines allow for multiple ways to win by matching symbols on adjacent reels. 

Annuity Winner 

A jackpot payout option where the prize is paid in annual instalments over a set number of years instead of a single lump sum. Often used in progressive jackpots or lottery-style slot games. 

Auto Spin 

This feature allows the slot game to spin the reels automatically for a set number of times, letting players relax and enjoy the action as it happens. 

Bankroll 

In slot machine terms, a bankroll is the total amount of money you set aside specifically to play with. 

Bet 

Bet is referred to the wagered amount per spin.  

Bet Max 

This is the maximum amount a player can wager on a single spin. Betting the maximum is often required to be eligible for certain jackpots or bonus features. 

Bet Min 

This is the minimum amount a player can wager on a single spin. This allows players to manage their money and extend their playing time. 

Betting Units 

Betting units refer to the basic amount of money a player decides to use per wager or spin. It is a way to manage your finances. 

Bet Per Line 

The amount of money you choose to wager on each individual payline in a slot game. 

Big Hit 

This refers to a large payout or significant win on a slot machine, usually when a high-paying combination of symbols lands. It is not necessarily a jackpot, but it is a much higher-than-average win from a single spin. 

Bonus Feature 

A bonus feature in a slot game is triggered by certain symbols, offering free spins, mini-games, or extra prizes to make gameplay more exciting and rewarding. 

Bonus Multiplier

A bonus multiplier increases your winnings during bonus rounds, often by 2x or 3x but it depends on the game. 

Bonus Rounds 

This is a special game feature that is triggered by specific symbol combinations, offering players additional chances to win through free spins, mini-games, or multipliers.  

Branded Slots 

Branded slots are slot games based on popular movies, TV shows, celebrities, video games, or brands. 

Buy a Feature 

A slot option that lets you pay extra to instantly target a bonus round or free spins, instead of waiting for it to happen naturally during gameplay. 

Cascading Reels 

Cascading Reels is a feature found in many modern slot games where winning symbols disappear from the reels and new symbols like “cascade” goes down to fill empty spaces.   

Cash Out 

When you stop playing and collect your winnings or remaining balance from a slot machine. It means ending the game and taking the money, you have earned or have left. 

Certified Slots 

A certified slot is a slot machine that has been tested and approved by a recognized gaming authority to ensure it is fair, random and follows all legal standards. 

Coins 

In slots, coins refer to the virtual currency used to place bets. Instead of using real money directly, players bet a certain number of coins per spin. 

Coin Size 

It refers to the value of each coin you bet in a slot game. It determines how much you are wagering on each spin.  

Cold Machine 

This means a slot machine that hasn’t given a big prize in a long time. 

Cold Slots 

A cold slot refers to a slot machine that has not been paying out significant wins for a while.  

Credits 

In slots, credits are the virtual currency used to place bets. Instead of showing money amounts, slot machines often display how many credits you have. 

Doubles 

In slots, doubles are special symbols that count as two matching symbols on a payline instead of one typically found in certain themed or old slots. They help create winning combinations more efficiently and increase the chance of landing a payout.  

Drops 

These are surprise prizes or jackpots that can be triggered at any moment during gameplay, no matter your bet size or the symbols on the reels. They often appear as daily, hourly, or progressive rewards, bringing unexpected wins to your gaming experience. 

Expanding Wilds 

A unique wild symbol that expands to fill the entire reel when it appears, boosting your chances of winning by forming additional winning combinations. 

Fill 

In slots, this refers to the act of completely covering a reel, row, or the entire screen with the same symbol. 

Five-Liner 

A five-liner is a type of slot machine that has five paylines, meaning players have five different ways to win on each spin. These lines can run straight across or diagonally, offering more chances to hit a winning combination compared to single-line slots. 

Fixed Jackpot 

A fixed jackpot is a set prize amount that does not change, no matter how many times the slot machine is played.  

Free Play 

Free play refers to the ability to play slot games without using real money. It is often offered as a demo version or as part of a casino promotion, allowing players to try out the game and learn how it works without risking any funds. 

Free Spins 

Free spins are bonus rounds where you get to spin the reels without spending your own money. They often come with extra features like multipliers or wild symbols and can help you win more without extra cost. 

Fruit Machine 

A fruit machine is a British term for a slot machine, commonly found in pubs and arcades. These machines often feature classic fruit symbols like cherries, lemons, and oranges.  

Gamble 

A feature in some slot games that lets you risk your winnings for a chance to double (or more) your payout. 

Games per Hour (GPH) 

The average number of slot games a player plays in one hour. It helps estimate how fast you are playing and how much you are spending over time. 

High Volatility 

High volatility slots mean the game pays out less often, but the wins are usually bigger when they happen. 

Hit Frequency 

The rate at which a slot machine is expected to produce winning combinations. A higher hit frequency indicates more frequent wins, though often of smaller amounts. 

Hold Percentage 

The hold percentage is the portion of money that a slot machine is programmed to keep over time.  

Hot Machine 

A hot machine is a slot machine that seems to be paying out winnings frequently within a short period. Players often believe it is “on a streak” or more likely to hit big wins. 

House Edge 

The mathematical advantage that the casino has over players in a game, is expressed as a percentage. It represents the average gross profit the casino expects to make from each game. 

Icons 

In slot games, an icon is simply another word for a symbol that appears on the reels.  

Instant Winner 

An instant winner is a slot feature or prize that gives you an immediate reward like cash, free spins, or bonuses, without needing to match symbols or complete paylines. 

Jackpot 

A jackpot is the highest prize you can win in a slot game. It usually offers a big payout and can be either fixed (set amount) or progressive (grows over time as players spin).  

Line Bet 

The amount of money you wager on a single payline in a slot game. Your total bet is calculated by multiplying the line bet by the number of active paylines.  

Linked Progressive Slots 

These are slot machines connected to a shared jackpot across multiple games or multiple. Every time someone plays one of the linked machines, a portion of their bets adds to a common jackpot. This allows the prize to grow much faster and reach much higher amounts than standalone machines. 

Loose Slot 

A loose slot is a slot machine that is programmed to pay out more frequently or generously than others. Players often say these machines have higher chances of winning or better payouts. 

Low Volatility 

Low volatility slots are games that pay out small wins frequently. They are ideal for players who want longer playtime and steady, smaller rewards, rather than chasing big jackpots. These slots are perfect for beginners or those with smaller budgets. 

Maximum Bet 

The maximum bet is the highest amount you can wager on a single spin in a slot game. It is often required to be eligible for the largest jackpots or bonus features. 

Megaways 

Megaways is a popular slot game mechanic that offers thousands of ways to win on each spin. Unlike traditional slots with fixed paylines, Megaways allows for dynamic ways to win based on the number of symbols appearing on each reel. 

Minimum Bet 

The minimum bet is the smallest amount of money a player can wager on a single spin in a slot game. It allows players to enjoy the game while managing their budget. Each slot machine has a set minimum bet, which can vary depending on the game. 

Mobile Slots 

Mobile slots refer to slot games that are designed to be played on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. 

Multiline Bonus Slot Machine 

A multiline bonus slot machine is a type of slot game that allows you to bet on multiple paylines, increasing your chances of winning.  

Multiline Slots 

A multiline slot is a type of slot machine that offers multiple ways to win, unlike traditional single-line slots which have just one payline. 

Multiplier 

A multiplier increases your winnings by a set amount. 

Multi-Way 

A slot game format where you can win by matching symbols in any position on adjacent reels, usually from left to right.  

Near Miss 

A near miss happens when the symbols on the slot reels almost line up for a win but just miss two jackpot symbols and a third one just above or below the payline. It looks like you almost won, but no payout is given. This is designed to keep players engaged. 

Nudge 

A nudge is a feature in some slot games that moves a reel up or down by one position after a spin, giving players a second chance to land a winning combination. It often happens automatically or as part of a bonus round. 

Odds 

This refers to the chances of winning on a spin.  

One-Liner 

A one-liner in slot games is a slot machine with only one payline, meaning you can win only by landing matching symbols in a single, straight line.  

Payback Percentage 

Payback Percentage (also called Return to Player or RTP) in slot games is the percentage of all the money wagered on a slot machine that the game is expected to pay back to players over time. 

Payline 

A payline in slot games is a line that shows where matching symbols must land for you to win. It can be straight, zigzag, or even take unusual shapes across the reels. If the right symbols line up on an active payline, you get a payout. 

Paytable 

A paytable in slot games is a chart or information panel that displays the values and payouts for each symbol combination in the game.  

Payout 

The payout in slot games refers to the amount of money a player wins from a specific combination of symbols on a spin.  

Penny Slots 

These are a kind of slot machine where the minimum bet per spin is just 1 penny. 

Pick Me 

A “Pick Me” feature is a bonus round in slot games where players select from various items—like cards, boxes, or symbols—to uncover hidden rewards. 

Primary Jackpot 

The main prize in a slot game, often the largest payout available, is typically awarded when a specific combination of symbols appears on the reels.  

Progressive Jackpot 

This is a type of jackpot in slot games that increases every time the game is played but not won.   

Random Number Generator (RNG) 

This is a computer algorithm used in slots to make sure that each spin is completely independent from previous one or future spins. It continuously generates random sequences of numbers, which determine the outcome of each spin the moment the player hits “spin”. 

Rows 

In slot games, rows refer to the horizontal lines of symbols that appear across the reels. Each reel typically contains several symbols stacked vertically, and the number of rows determines how many symbols are visible per reel.  

Scatter 

A scatter is a special symbol in slot games that can trigger bonus features, such as free spins or mini-games, regardless of their position on the reels.  

Scatter Pay 

In slot games, scatter pay refers to a payout awarded when a few scatter symbols appear on the reels, regardless of their position or alignment on a payline. 

Skill Bonus 

A skill bonus in slot games is a type of bonus round where a player’s actions can directly influence the outcome and potential rewards.  

Slot Hold 

This refers to the percentage of total money wagered on a slot machine that the casino retains over time. It is essentially the opposite of RTP (Return to Player). 

Slot Tournament 

A slot tournament is a competition where players compete against each other by playing slot machines within a set time or spin limit to win prizes based on who scores the most wins. 

Slot Type 

A slot type refers to the specific category or variation of a slot game based on its structure, features, or theme. 

Spin 

In slot games, a spin refers to a single round of gameplay where the reels are set into motion either manually by pressing a button or automatically through features like auto-spin.  

Stacked Symbol 

A stacked symbol is a type of slot symbol that appears in groups on a single reel, either partially or fully covering it.  

Stacked Wilds 

These wild symbols show up in vertical stacks, occupying many spots on a reel simultaneously. 

Symbol 

In slot games, a symbol is a graphical icon that appears on the reels and determines winning combinations.  

Tight Slots 

Slots that are programmed to have a lower payout percentage or hit frequency, meaning they pay out less often or in smaller amounts compared to other machines. These games are generally less favourable to players and are often contrasted with “loose slots,” which offer higher chances of winning. 

Total Bet 

In slot games, Total Bet refers to the complete amount of money wagered on a single spin. It is calculated by multiplying the bet per line by the number of active paylines. 

Video Slots 

Video slots are digital slot machines that use advanced graphics, animations, and sound to create immersive gameplay experiences.  

Virtual Reels 

In slot games, virtual reels refer to a software-based system where each physical reel symbol is mapped to a much larger set of virtual positions.  

Volatility 

Volatility in slot games refers to the level of risk involved in a particular slot machine’s payout pattern. It indicates how often and how much a player can expect to win over time. 

Wager 

Wagering is a practice in slots refers to the amount of money a player bets on a single spin of the reels.  

Wager Management 

This refers to the strategic control and tracking of the amount of money a player bets during a slot gaming session. 

Wild Multiplier 

A wild multiplier is a unique wild symbol in slot games that not only replaces other symbols to form winning combinations but also boosts the payout by multiplying any win it helps create.   

Wild Symbol 

A wild symbol in slot games acts like a substitute for most other symbols on the reels, helping players complete winning combinations.  

Winning Combinations  

In slot games, winning combinations refer to specific sequences of matching symbols that appear on active paylines or across adjacent reels, depending on the game format. 

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)