Slots Glossary of Terms

Updated August 3, 2026

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There are a few words and phrases associated with slots that you may not be immediately familiar with. Some of them are fairly self-explanatory, but some require an explanation. If you are going to be playing slot games, then it’s well worth being aware of these terms, as you are likely to come across them at some point.

On this page we have listed some of the more commonly used slots related terms, and explained what their meanings.

Active Payline

An active payline is one that is in play and will result in a payout if it contains a winning combination. Slots with multiple paylines usually allow players to choose how many paylines they wish to have active on a spin.

Auto Play

An option to spin the reels a certain number of times automatically without having to press a button or pull a lever every time.

Bet Max

To bet the maximum number of lines and the maximum amount per line based on the current coin denomination.

Bet Per Line

The amount being staked per line. It is multiplied by the number of active paylines being played to determine the total bet per spin.

Bonus Feature

Some slot games have bonus features that can be triggered randomly or by a specific combination of symbols. These features give the player the chance to win a bonus payout or earn free spins.

Classic Slot

A traditional slot game, typically with three reels and just one payline.

Coin Size

The amount bet on each spin is measured by the number of coins. Coin size determines how much each coin is worth.

Fixed Jackpot

A jackpot that pays out the same fixed amount of coins whenever it is won.

Free Spins

Spins where the player keeps all winnings but does not have to pay. Free spins may be awarded by landing a specific combination, triggering a bonus feature, or receiving a casino reward.

Hit

A slang term for a winning spin.

Loose Slot

A slang term for a slot game with a high payout percentage.

Mechanical Slots

Traditional slot machines that use physical reels and mechanical components.

Multi-Line Slots

Slot games that have more than one payline, allowing players to wager on multiple possible winning patterns.

Multiplier

A symbol or feature that multiplies a payout. Multipliers may apply to winning combinations, bonus features, or free spins.

One-Armed Bandit

A slang term for a slot machine. The term originated from mechanical machines that used a lever on the side to start a spin.

Payline

A line across the reels on which symbols must appear in a winning combination to produce a payout. Some games have one payline, while others have many running in different directions.

Payout Percentage

The percentage of all stakes that a slot is expected to pay back to players over time.

Pay Table

A table showing all possible winning combinations on a slot and their respective payouts.

Progressive Jackpot

A jackpot that grows over time as more people play the relevant slot game.

Random Number Generator

Commonly abbreviated to RNG, this is the computer program that randomly determines where the reels will stop on each spin.

Reels

The rotating barrels on mechanical slots on which symbols appear. Video slots use a virtual equivalent that is still referred to as reels.

Scatter

A symbol that does not need to appear on an active payline to produce a win. Scatters are also frequently used to activate bonus features and free spins.

Stacked Wilds

Multiple wild symbols positioned on top of each other on a single reel.

Symbol

One of the images displayed on the reels that must appear in certain combinations to produce a win.

Tight Slot

A slang term for a slot game with a low payout percentage.

Video Slots

Slot games that do not have physical reels but instead use graphics to represent them.

Wild Symbol

A symbol that can substitute for other symbols to help create a winning combination.

Winning Combination

Any combination of symbols that results in a payout.