When certain symbols appear in a winning combination a special feature of the particular game theme is activated, which is a Bonus. In the bonus, the player is presented with several items on a screen from which to choose. As the player chooses items, a number of credits is revealed and awarded. There are bonuses that use a mechanical device, such as a spinning wheel. To display the amount won it works in conjunction with the bonus.
A light on top of the slot machine is Candle. When change is needed, hand pay is requested or a potential problem with the machine appears it flashes.
Slot machines in a circle or oval formation are usually called Carousel.
Coin hopper is a container where the coins that are immediately available for payouts are held. It rotates coins into the coin tray when a player collects credits. There is a coin diverter used for redirecting excess coins into a drop bucket, or drop box when a certain preset coin capacity is reached.
A visual display of the amount of money or credits on the machine is called Credit meter.
Drop bucket or Drop box is used for diverting exess coins from the hopper. Typically low denomination slot machines use a drop bucket. High denomination slot machines use a drop box. There is a hinged lid with one or more locks in a drop box and there ais no such lid in a drop bucket. There is a scheduled basis on which the contents of drop buckets and drop boxes are collected and counted.
EGM is used as a short-hand for Electronic Gaming Machine.
Hand pay refers to a payout made by a slot attendant or cage, rather than the slot machine. A hand pay occurs when the amount of the payout is more than the maximum amount that was preset by the slot machine's operator. The maximum amount is set at the level where the operator must begin to deduct taxes. A hand pay could also be necessary as a result of a short pay.
Hopper fill is a document used for recording the replenishments of the coin in the coin hopper after it becomes depleted as a result of making payouts to players. The slip exists to indicate the amount of coins placed into the hoppers, the signatures of the employees involved in the transaction, the slot machine number and the location and the date.
A stool is included into Low Level or Slant Top slot machines, so you can sit and play. You can only stand playing Stand Up or Upright slot machines.
A payback percentage based on a gambler using the optimal strategy in a skill-based slot machine game is called Optimal play.
The term Payline means a straight or zigzagged line that crosses through one symbol on each reel, along which a winning combination is evaluated. Classic spinning reel machines usually have up to nine pay lines, while video slot machines may have as many as one hundred.
While the meters count up to the amount that has been won the process of dramatizing a win by playing sounds happens which is called Rollup.
A partial payout made by a slot machine, which is less than the amount due to the player is called Short pay. This occurs if the coin hopper has been depleted as a result of making earlier payouts to players. An attendant will come and re-fill the machine or the remaining amount will be paid as a hand pay.
Theoretical Hold Worksheet is a document provided by the manufacturer for all slot machines. The theoretical percentage that the slot machine should hold based on adequate levels of coin-in is idicated in it. The reel strip settings, number of coins that may be played, the payout schedule, the number of reels and other information is indicated in the worksheet.
Weight count is an American term, referring to the dollar amount of coins or tokens removed from a slot machine's drop bucket or drop box and counted by the casino's hard count team through the use of a weigh scale.

There are a lot of myths and superstitions about slots.
You can spot a winning slot machine.
The only way you'll spot a winning slot machine is when the bells are ringing and the money is dropping. Slot machines use random numbergenerator and that's exactly that. Random.
Casinos place loose slots near the cashier, aisle ways, etc.
In reality it is not to casino’s advantage to place loose slots at one and the same place, because in this case gamblers would play only these slots. The slots are mixed and nobody can say for sure whether this slot is a loose one or not.
Count the number of symbols on the reels to determine your odds.
This is mathematically impossible, remember the RNG (random number generator) determines the stops. Thereare literally millions of combinations on a 3 reel slot machine, so there is no way of determining odds by the symbols on the reels alone.
Casinos can tighten or loosen slot machines from the back office.
In order to change how a slot willpay out is by changing the computer chip. No casino can just flip a switch.
A slot machine that has not been paying is due to hit.
It is not so. With every game the chances of winning are the same.
Pulling the slot machine handle produces more wins than pressing the spin button and visa versa.
Again false. It makes no difference, as the computer only uses these as mechanisms to start the game. Only the computer determines a win or a loss and it has already determined if you are a winner or loser even before the first reel stops spinning.
Playing with hot coins improves your chances.
Once again, the computer determines a win or loss and the temperature of the machine or moneyirrelevant. Although it's funny that people still burn their fingers with lighters believing this works.
Casinos set slot machines to payback more on the weekends.
One more rude mistake. The chances and odds are always the same. It doesn’t matter when you play.

Knowing the rules is of great importance when playing any casino game. With slots the rules are very simple: Read the payout chart, insert coins, push button, (or pull handle), insert more coins. If you hear bells ringing and see lights flashing it means that you win. Of course you can win much, but never bet or spend more than you can afford.
Rules for playing Slots
Only slots have so simple rules. There are no real rules. All the player has to do is drop coins in the slot and pull the handle or push the spin button. The mission of the game is to match preselected symbols on the pay line, (or paylines, depending on the machine being played, there can be up to 5 pay lines on some machines), to earn credits. Slots machines have different betting limits. They can be as low as 5 cents and as high as 0.
Especially beginners like slots. They don't have to worry about rules and regulations, or being laughed at by the other players for making a bad play, all they have to do is try to hit the jackpot by matching the highest paying symbols on one of the pay lines.

Slot machines are honest because state gaming commissions make sure they are. However, in the past certain manufacturers have been caught using computer chips that cheat the customer.
The very first slot machines worked according to the following principle: the wheels spun and then each of them stopped randomly. Modern slots are much different. These machines contain computer chips that are programmed to select numbers randomly. The numbers the computer selects correspond to the symbols that appear on the slot machine’s screen. There is a computer code. It generates the random numbers and determines whether the slot machine is loose or tight. The gaming inspector will examine the machine to make sure it will not deceive the player. That is, inspectors make sure that the machine pays off at the legal rate or better.
It is next to impossible to say whether the chip is programmed not in a right way because the machine is not supposed to pay out with every spin. Before the machines are installed in casinos they are examined by inspectors. But you must understand that inspectors can’t examine every machine. They examine the brands. If inspectors approve the brand, they can produce machines, and change them. But these changes must cover legal requirements. Some dishonest manufactures use the right to produce machines, but use a different chip, which is programmed to pay less or not so often.
For example, the Nevada Gaming Commission caught American Coin using chips that did not allow poker royal flushes. Similarly, Universal Distributing Company was caught programming machines to show a “near miss” of a jackpot. The player would never hit a jackpot but keep on playing maximum bets. If you think that you have come across such a machine you have a right to complain. Be sure that inspectors will examine this very machine and the casino itself to make sure everything is ok. Manufacturers that cheat are fined or they can lose their license.

There are many types of slot machine configurations but all work according to the same principles - put the money in the slots and pull the handle! The main classification of slots distinguishes two types of slots: straight and progressive slots. If you play slots then you are paid in accordance with the payout schedule, which is always shown on the slot. Straight slots in their turn can be divided into multiplier, bonus multiplier, multiple payline and buy-a-pay slots. When playing multiplier slots you should always bare in mind that the payoff is dependent on the number of coins being bet. The main principle of bonus multiplier slots is a bonus round, which becomes active if you play with maximum bets. The principle of multiple payline slots is that the number of enabled payline depends on the number of coins bet. The Buy-a-Pay slots are profitable only if you place maximum bets. Progressive Jackpot is the main characteristic of the progressive slots. Progressive jackpot grows with each coin being bet. The jackpot total is posted above the machine and can grow to enormous sums of money.