Slot Machine
A slot machine is a casino gambling machine that features three or more reels that spin when a button is pressed. These machines are commonly known as "one-armed bandits" because earlier models were operated by a lever on the side of the machine. Modern slot machines also include currency detectors that validate the money or coins inserted to play.
Payouts from the machine are determined by the combination of symbols visible on the display when the reels come to a stop. Slot machines are the most popular casino game, generating about 70% of the income for both online casinos and land-based casinos.
Slot Machine Short History
In 1887, Charles Fey invented the first slot machine in the USA. It was a simple mechanical device consisting of three reels containing five distinct symbols:
- Diamonds
- Hearts
- Horseshoes
- Spades
- The Liberty Bell
In 1907, Chicago manufacturer Herbert Mills produced the Operator Bell machine. These machines soon became widespread in stores, bowling alleys, and saloons. Prior to this, in 1891, Sittman and Pitt produced a gambling machine considered an ancestor of the modern slot, featuring five drums holding 50 card faces based on poker. In 1963, Bally Technologies developed the first fully electromechanical slot machine called Money Honey.
Slot Machine Terminology
- Bonus: A special payout or feature triggered by a specific symbol combination.
- Candle: The light on top of the machine that signals the operator if service is needed.
- Coin hopper: The container where coins are held for payouts.
- Drop box: A container located in the machine's base for excess coins.
- Hand pay: A payout made manually by an attendant or at an exchange point.
- Optimal play: The theoretical payback percentage achieved using a specific slots strategy .
- Payline: A line that crosses symbols on each reel to evaluate winning combinations.
Slot Machine Strategy
Discussing a slot machine strategy is difficult because slots differ significantly from games of skill. Many websites sell programs claiming to predict winning results, but players should be aware that slot machines are designed to be unbeatable in the long run.
Remember that slot machines always have a negative expected return. It is mathematically impossible to predict when a winning combination will appear because modern machines use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to determine outcomes.