TL;DR
- A slot's payback is described by two numbers: RTP, how much it returns over time, and volatility, how those returns are spread out.
- The RNG decides every spin at random, so terms about symbols, wilds, and scatters describe features, not odds you can influence.
- Words like Megaways, cascading reels, and hold and spin are mechanics that change how wins are formed, not whether you can beat the house edge.
- Bankroll terms such as loss limit and win goal are the ones your decisions actually control.
How to use this glossary
The short version is this: if you learn what RTP and volatility mean, you already understand the two most useful words on this page, because together they tell you what a slot pays and how it pays it. Everything else describes a feature, a mechanic, or a way to manage your money. The terms below are grouped alphabetically into three tables so you can scan to the letter you need. Where a term has a full guide, you can follow the link to read more.
Quick tip: when you compare two slots, check the RTP first, then the volatility, then the paytable. Those three tell you most of what you need before you stake a cent.
Terms A to F
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Autoplay | A setting that spins the reels automatically for a chosen number of rounds at a fixed stake. The odds are identical to manual play, so it changes speed and convenience, not results. |
| Bankroll | The total amount of money you set aside for playing. Managing it, by sizing bets so it survives dry spells, is the main skill in slots. See bankroll management. |
| Bet per line | The amount you stake on each active payline. Your total bet is the bet per line multiplied by the number of lines you play. |
| Bonus round | A special feature triggered by certain symbols, often free spins, a pick game, or an interactive mini game, that offers extra ways to win. See bonus rounds and free spins. |
| Cascading reels | A mechanic, also called tumble or avalanche, where winning symbols disappear and new symbols drop in to fill the gaps, allowing chained wins from a single spin. |
| Coin denomination | The value assigned to each credit or coin, such as one cent or one dollar. It sets the base unit that your bet size is built from. |
| Expanding symbol | A symbol, often a wild, that grows to cover an entire reel or row, increasing the chance of forming a winning combination. |
| Free spins | Rounds you play without spending your own stake, usually awarded by scatters or a bonus. Wins during free spins are real, and the round may add multipliers or extra wilds. |
Terms G to P
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gamble feature | An optional round offered after a win that lets you risk it on a double or nothing bet, such as guessing a card color. It carries its own edge and can wipe out the win. |
| Hit frequency | How often a slot lands any winning combination, shown as a percentage of spins. A high hit frequency means frequent small wins, which does not by itself mean high RTP. |
| Hold and spin | A feature, also called respin, where triggering symbols lock in place and the other reels respin for a set number of turns, often building toward cash prizes or jackpots. |
| House edge | The built-in mathematical advantage the casino holds, equal to 100% minus the RTP. A 96% RTP slot has a 4% house edge, the share of wagers it keeps over time. |
| Max bet | The highest total stake a slot allows on a single spin. Some progressive jackpots require a max bet to be eligible for the top prize, so read the rules first. |
| Megaways | A licensed mechanic that varies the number of symbols on each reel every spin, creating a shifting number of ways to win, often up to many thousands. |
| Multiplier | A feature that increases a win by a set factor, such as 2x or 5x. Multipliers can appear in the base game or, more often, during free spins and bonus rounds. |
| Paytable | The chart that lists every symbol's value, the winning combinations, and how each feature works. Reading it before you play is the fastest way to understand a slot. |
| Payline | A set pattern across the reels that must be matched by symbols for a win. A slot can have one line or hundreds, and only active lines pay. |
| Pick bonus | An interactive bonus round where you select from hidden objects to reveal prizes, such as cash, multipliers, or free spins. The outcomes are predetermined at random. |
| Progressive jackpot | A prize that grows as players wager, fed by a slice of each bet, until it is won and resets. See progressive jackpots. |
Terms Q to Z
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Reel | A vertical strip of symbols that spins and stops to form the game grid. Classic slots use three reels, while most modern video slots use five or more. |
| RNG (random number generator) | The software that produces the random values deciding every spin. It runs continuously and makes each result independent, so past spins never affect future ones. |
| RTP (return to player) | The percentage of wagered money a slot pays back over the long run. A 96% RTP returns about 96 cents per dollar across millions of spins. See RTP explained. |
| Scatter | A symbol that pays or triggers a feature regardless of position on the reels, rather than needing to land on a payline. Scatters commonly award free spins. |
| Skill-based slot | A slot that adds an interactive bonus, such as a shooter or puzzle, where your performance affects part of the payout. The base spins stay random. See skill-based slot machines. |
| Standalone, local, and wide-area jackpot | Three progressive types. Standalone grows on one machine, local pools across a linked group in one venue, and wide-area links many venues, giving the largest prizes. |
| Symbol | An image on the reels, such as a fruit, letter, or themed icon, whose combinations determine wins. Special symbols include wilds, scatters, and bonus symbols. |
| TITO (ticket in, ticket out) | A cashless system on modern machines where a printed barcode ticket holds your balance. You insert a ticket to play and print a new one to cash out. |
| Volatility / variance | How a slot's returns are distributed. High volatility pays less often but bigger, low volatility pays smaller wins more often. See slot volatility. |
| Ways to win | A payout system with no fixed lines where any matching symbols on adjacent reels from the left pay, commonly advertised as 243 or more ways. |
| Wild | A symbol that substitutes for most others to complete winning combinations. Wilds may expand, stick for respins, or carry a multiplier. |
| Win goal | A target amount set before you play at which you stop and lock in profit. It is a discipline tool to keep a good session from turning into a loss. |
| Loss limit | A maximum amount you decide to risk before you play, after which you stop for the session. It caps the damage of a bad run and is fully within your control. |
These are the terms you will see most across online and land-based slots. If you want to put the vocabulary to work, the skill vs luck in slots guide shows which of these you can actually influence, and which the RNG has already settled.
Frequently asked questions
What is RTP in slots?
RTP, or return to player, is the percentage of all wagered money a slot is built to pay back over the long run. A 96% RTP slot returns about 96 cents per dollar wagered across millions of spins, with the rest being the house edge. It reflects long-term averages, not any single session.
What is the difference between volatility and RTP?
RTP is how much a slot pays back over time, while volatility, also called variance, is how those returns are spread out. High volatility pays less often but bigger, low volatility pays smaller wins more frequently. Two slots can share an RTP yet feel very different because of volatility.
What does a wild symbol do?
A wild substitutes for most other symbols to help complete a winning combination. Wilds often carry extra features, such as expanding to fill a reel, sticking in place for respins, or adding a multiplier to the wins they help create.
What is a progressive jackpot?
A progressive jackpot is a prize that grows as players wager, with a slice of each bet added until someone wins it and it resets. Progressives can be standalone on one machine, local across a group, or wide-area across many venues, with wide-area pools reaching the largest sums.
Skill & Slots is an independent educational resource. Content is for information only and does not guarantee winnings. Gambling carries financial risk and a built-in house edge. Intended for adults of legal gambling age.