Slot machines have their own jargon associated with them. While some terms – like ‘bonuses’, ‘paylines’ or ‘features’ – are common, there are some terms that you will only know if you’re an avif player.
So, if you’re new to playing slots in the online or land-based market, here is an overview of some common terms that you will come across:
Big Bertha: A slot machine in a land-based casino that gets a lot of attention. For example, the Lion’s Share slots game at the MGM Grand is a Big Bertha because has attracted thousands of players to the casino. In fact, you can commonly find players lined up to wager on this game.
Candle: The light on top of a land-based slot machine. It flashes to let casino staff know that attention is required. This could mean that the game needs change or there is another technical problem with the machine.
Carousel: A group of linked slots. They can also be referred to as a bank. These games usually offer linked jackpots or bonus features.
EGM: Electronic gaming machine.
Hammer: To play a slot machine intensely. If you are playing a game for a long period of time or wagering large amounts on a game, you are hammering it.
Hit: A winning spin.
Hit And Run: To play a slot machine for only a few spins. If it doesn’t pay out quickly, the player moves on to another game. This can be quite confusing because, in this instance, ‘hit’ does not refer to winning.
Low Level: A game that features a stool, so that the player can sit down while spinning the reels.
Short Win: When a player hits a big jackpot without having played the game for very long or having wagered much money.
Stand Up/Upright: A game that the player must remain standing in order to play.
Taste: This term refers to the small amount of money that is awarded to players in order to keep them interested. If a game didn’t offer any ‘tastes’, they would get boring really quickly. So, these payouts keep players wagering.
Tilt: When a machine is tampered with, the ‘tilt switch’ will be activated. This triggers an alarm to let casino staff know, and it prevents players from continuing to place bets.
TITO: Ticket In Ticket Out. These are commonly referred to as cashless games, as the player does not collect the winnings in cash. Instead, they receive a ticket with a cash value.
VLT: Video lottery terminal.
