Space Lights Slot

Discover the treasures of the universe with the brand new Space Lights slot machine by Playson! The mysteries of the universe will become unraveled with each spin and bonus rewarded to Space Lights Slots Machine. Features like Re-spins, Sticky Wilds and Bonus Prize are there for you if you have the luck to make a series of winnings combinations. This video slot has 5-reels 15-lines of other-worldly action!

The deep blue of outer space will transport your slots play to another world in this game. You’ll be trying to make winning combinations from all sorts of geometric symbols that orbit the reels. The graphics and animations are smooth as you might expect from a developer like Playson.  And with features like the Space Light Re-Spin mode and bonus prizes, you’ll be ready to take on this world and others!

Slot Features

Wilds – This game has both Wilds and Sticky Wilds which are denoted by a strong yellow “W” symbol, Space Lights Slots Machine. The sticky wild varies in appearance slightly from the normal wild.

Space Light Re-Spin Mode – With each spin Portal affects one random reel. If the upper symbol on this reel is a part of the winning combination, it transforms into Sticky Wild and triggers ‘Space Light’ mode.  During Space Light mode appearance of new Stick Wild symbols trigger a re-spin. Portal spreads Sticky Wild symbols down, if the next symbol on the active reel is part of a winning combination. ‘Space Light’ mode stops when no more Sticky Wilds appear on the active reels.

Bonus Prize – You get a bonus prize when active reel is fully filled with the Sticky Wild symbols. The bonus prize is calculated as the value of the counter multiplied by the bonus prize multiplier, multiplied by the bet size.

Choose your bet size and number of line to play and then Spin to Win!

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Slotorama.com is an independent online slot machines directory offering a Free Slots and Slots for Fun service free of charge.

Space Lights Slot Game Review

You may be familiar with the science fiction film ‘Tron’ which ran in 1982 and then in 2010 – on DVDs and at the cinemas. The new Playson free slot machine is reminiscent of this film hit, Space Lights Slots Machine. The futuristic scenes are waiting for you.

Playson’s Space Lights casino game takes every player to the edge of the Universe, the place that is still unexplored until today. Of course, the expansion of the Universe is always a sphere of interests for scientists, curious people and gamers as well, Space Lights Slots Machine. Everything in Space Lights slot machine creates dynamic atmosphere: mobility of gameplay, quiet music with trance atmosphere that only increases the sense of mystery produced by the best creators.

Snatching the Stars From the Sky Has Never Been So Easy

In the middle of the Universe, you will not only face with neon symbols but you will be also able to secure a lot of money. The profits that players pretend to get are really worth fighting for. You will be crazy about the graphics of Space Lights. Robots, UFO flying right above you, strange space characters, and light in the dark – it is not all that is waiting for you.

Of course, there are serious profit possibilities and you should not miss them. The slot game was freshly released here, so, maybe you’ll be the first player to try it on SlotsUp with no download. On our page, you will have the opportunity to make a few attempts of a win in free online casino Space Lights version before you face the real money mode.

Catch the Space Light for Fantastic Profits

Space Lights online casino slot is located in the center of the space vacuum and reveals 5 reels and 3 rows on which are levitated 15 symbols. These symbols are three-dimensional geometric shapes that can be compared to mysterious celestial objects or UFOs that appear a lot of times with every new Free Spin. At a 75 max bet you may reach 750 coins for highest paying basic symbol and 1,500 coins for 5-symbol combination of special symbols (Wild and Sticky Wild).

When you click on the bottom to start the game, Space Lights Slots Machine, the whole atmosphere is relatively quiet and pleasant. Different space shapes Space Lights Slots Machine stop being pleasant to look at. Visually, Space Lights is a unique slot game. Even free casino slots like Starburst has the same approach to space-like graphics. In contrast, the structure is a little bit in the spirit of ‘old school’. 5 reels and 25 paylines are your helpers in getting experience connected with the Universe in its most beautiful shapes. A couple of practice rounds should be enough to make you familiar with all symbols. Some of them are special and help you to get more cash.

Journey Through Time Without Limits

The casino slot offers Space Light bonus game triggered in case if the upper icon forms winning combination. This part of lucky combination transforms into Sticky Wild. If during this mode you have more symbols appeared on the reels, get additional Free Spin. Sticky Wilds move down consequently and free up space for more symbols. As soon as all Sticky Wilds disappear from the screen the Space Light feature stops. But if all of them cover the game field, you should be glad to receive Bonus Prize that is calculated in this way: Value of the Counter x Bonus Prize Multiplier x Bet. Simple mathematics works miracles!

But not all seems to be easy during Space Lights mode as reels 4 and 5 function in another way because of magic portal situated between them. To continue the feature there should be symbols under Sticky Wilds forming successful combinations.

Bonus Multipliers will be awarded each time you get several of these Sticky Wilds. 2 nearby symbols gives x2 Bonus Multiplier while all Sticky Wilds forming winning combination gift x3 Bonus Multiplier.

Waiting for the Wonders?

The Space Lights slot machine allows you to walk through space portals traveling in time. There are many free online and mobile slots that may remind you of Space Lights casino slot. We have a long list of offers in the Space category. Just find and play it thanks to SlotsUp.com.

Space Lights RTP - The Return to Player for this Slot is 96.11%

Space Lights Casino List - Where to play Space Lights Slot for Real Money Online?

1. EnergyCasino
2. Playamo
3. LevelUp
4. King Billy Casino
5. Playzee
6. Mr Play
7. 22Bet
8. Drift Casino
9. SlotV
10. Frank
11. Slotty Vegas
12. Casino X
13. Unique Casino
14. 10Bet
15. Joycasino
16. SlotsMillion
17. CasinoExtra
18. Lucky31
19. Parimatch
20. VideoSlots.com
21. MaxCazino
22. StayCasino
23. Golden Reels
24. PlayFrank

Other Playson Slots

1. Alice in Wonderslots
2. Aquarium
3. Aquatica
4. Aztec Empire
5. Book of Gold: Classic
6. Book of Gold: Double Chance
7. Burlesque Queen
8. Chicago Gangsters
9. Christmas Eve
10. Circus (Playson)
11. Clover Tales
12. Crystal Crush
13. Crystal Land
14. Down The Pub
15. Dracula’s Family
16. Eastern Delights
17. Fruitful Siesta
18. Fruits & Jokers: 20 lines
19. Fruits of Ra
20. Fruits’n’Stars
21. Happy Jungle
22. Juice’N’Fruits
23. Kingdom of the Sun: Golden Age
24. Lucky Birds
25. Lucky Pirates
26. Lucky Reels (Playson)
27. Magic Forest
28. Marioni Show
29. Merry Christmas
30. Mighty Africa: 4096 ways
31. Mysteries of the Notre Dames
32. Odysseus
33. Phoenix Fire
34. Pirates Treasures
35. Riches of Cleopatra
36. Sakura Dragon
37. Sevens&Fruits
38. Skyway
39. SpellCraft
40. Spirits of Aztec
41. Super Burning Wins: classic 5 lines
42. Taiga
43. Thunder Reels
44. Treasures of Tombs
45. Vikings Fortune: Hold and Win
46. Wild Hunter
47. Zombirthday

When you think of a casino your mind probably conjures images of tense poker games, spinning roulette wheels and bustling blackjack tables. In terms of revenues and popularity all three of these classic casino games pale in significance to the shiny, whizzing slot machines that dominate the floor space.

In fact, research shows that slot machines were responsible for the greatest percentage of revenues in America’s gambling capital Las Vegas. Studies also found that the city’s 39,680 machines earn on average $79,962 a year.

The reasons behind the success of slot machines lies in our brains, deep within our psyche which we will explore in this article. Read on to find out the psychology behind our collective attraction to slot machines.

According to World Health Organization figures, there are an estimated 1 billion smokers on the planet and statistically, half of them will die as result of their habit. Despite all of the numerous resources, these smokers continue to puff away on cigarettes in full knowledge that it is shortening their life expectancy.

What allows smokers to do this is a psychological phenomenon called cognitive dissonance whereby they disassociate from the well-known evidence that their smoking is killing them. This cognitive dissonance allows them to happily smoke without suffering a panic attack or intense waves of fear every time they light up.

Similarly, slot machines provoke cognitive dissonance amongst players. Every licensed slot machine in a land-based casino or online has a Return to Player (RTP) percentage that players can easily access.

This tells players on average, how much money they can expect to lose from every $100 spent wagering. Despite this figure proving to players that they will lose more than they win on average, people continue playing.

In much the same way that the nicotine rush of a cigarette makes the risks seem worth it, the chances of a big win help gamblers forget that they will on average, lose more than they will win. 

Whenever we do something that our primitive brain finds to be good or beneficial, such as eating, procreating and exercising a neurotransmitter called Dopamine is released in our brains. This chemical messenger is synonymous with pleasure and when it is released, we can often feel a sense of euphoria.

Video gaming and in particular slot machines have been designed to deliver great highs and waves of euphoria to players. Because money is at stake, the risks to the individual are high so when a win occurs a huge amount of Dopamine is released into the players brain.

Every time this happens the brain begins to further associate slot machines with these intense feelings of pleasure. This is often why people continue to play and play slot machines even when they are losing, because they are constantly in search of that Dopamine rush that a win will trigger.

Unlike most other gambling games, slot machines have been designed to consistently offer small rewards to players to keep them engaged and coming back. Whilst your chances of winning the jackpot might be miniscule, you are never far away from winning free spins or bonuses.

These features have been specifically designed to activate that reward system inside your brain as when you begin to associate slots with pleasure, you will be more likely to continue playing.

Humans love certainty in life, it is the reason that for millennia we have searched for the answers to all of life’s big questions. Unfortunately, much of life is uncertain Space Lights Slots Machine as a result we seek out certainty in as many areas of our lives as possible.

Slot machines play into this human desire to gain greater control despite the slots themselves being inherently uncertain. Psychologists have found that buttons, even on the simplest items help people to feel in control, especially when the pushing of them triggers a pre-programmed, Space Lights Slots Machine, visually appealing outcome.

Every time you push down on the ‘spin’ button on a physical slot machine or an online slot, you are taking control in a way that your brain views as positive. Each time you press the button, the visual whirlwind of colours and shapes in front of your eyes release Dopamine in your brain.

No matter how many times you push the button, the same thing will happen, the reels on the slot will spin. This simple yet effective feedback loop boosts feelings of control amongst players which encourages them to ignore the uncertainty of winning or losing and play on for longer.

You may have won small amounts of money from a scratchard or a lottery ticket before, but unless it was a significant amount, you are unlikely to vividly remember it. That’s because the process of buying a scratchard or lottery ticket and collecting your winnings are relatively boring.

However, if you were to win the same amount of money playing a slot machine the memory would be much more prominent in your mind. That’s because of the audio and visual cues that these games use to engage you. Online slot providers like Wink Slots offer players various themed games that all have a distinct theme tune and brightly colored graphics, making the games a lot more attractive Space Lights Slots Machine an average casino game like roulette.

Wins on a slot machine game are often followed by the sound of coins dropping Space Lights Slots Machine a height, flashing dollar signs on the screen and an array of flashing lights on the slot terminal. This makes a win on a slot a full-body experience that is not only intensely Columbus Slots Machine and rewarding, but memorable too.

When these wins become etched on your brain, your Dopamine reward system is more likely to be activated whenever you think of slot machines. This helps to keep even the most casual of gamblers interested in slots for a long time, potentially even years after spinning the reels.

Summing Up

Slot machines aren’t a trick, nor have they been designed to deceive you and appeal to your primitive brain. Rather they are enjoyable distractions designed part by intention and part by accident to engage you for as long as possible.

There is an awful lot that can be learned about the human brain and psyche from slot machines, perhaps much more than we already know…

Do you remember the movie Tron? You should do – Tron: Legacy came out in 2010 as a slick sequel to the 1982 sci-fi classic. Jackpot Express Slots Machine Lights is a 5-reel slot from Playson that takes all its clues from the latest Tron film, complete with neon-lit symbols and other shapes that appear to hover in space.

Think Daft Punk in their robot suits. Think clubbers daubed in UV paint, Space Lights Slots Machine. Think jellyfish that glow in the dark. These are Space Lights Slots Machine images that Space Lights conjures. The effect is one that’s strangely mesmerizing. On the one hand, there’s not a lot going on here: just a few neon shapes floating against a blue background. Space Lights Slots Machine yet the game looks so damn good. Sometimes, less really is more.

In Space, No One Can Hear You Spin

Space Lights is a new release from Playson. A 15-line, 5-reel slot, the game allows players to “discover the universe”, primarily by spinning reels repeatedly and seeing what sort of symbols show up. Respins and sticky wilds keep things fresh, while bonus prizes grant instant wins when you combine certain combos on the reels.

The regular wild symbol, a neon yellow icon, is housed within a hexagonal frame, while the sticky wild is V-shaped, with a 7-sided block above it. The difference between these two symbols is obvious when you see them on screen, put it that way.

Uncluttered Controls

Playson have wisely elected to keep things uncluttered in Space Lights, allowing the dark background to dominate instead of filling the dashboard with over-sized buttons and display data. With no frame around the reels, the shapes are instead left to hang, as if suspended from invisible thread. It’s a look that’s in keeping with the space theme, giving the game depth and keeping distractions to a minimum.

The controls located beneath the reels Space Lights Slots Machine a discrete “i” symbol which opens up pay table information. The bet per spin can be set at anywhere from 15 to 3,000, providing plenty of scope for flexibility. However you’d like to play, conservatively or freely, you can set the stake to suit your budget – or rather your willingness to risk it all in the pursuit of winning it all.

Auto-Play

The auto play controls are detailed, allowing all manner of variables to be tweaked. The number of auto spins can be set at anywhere 5 to 999. If you can afford to play 999 spins at 3,000 a pop, you’re probably rich enough not to care whether you lose the lot playing Space Lights. More prudent players will appreciate the stop loss option that’s built in to auto play and the single win limit option.

How to Win at Space Lights

Every time you spin the reels, a hovering UFO effect called portal will be activated above one reel at random. This can lead to special bonuses and symbols, including the appearance of sticky wilds or the triggering of Space Light mode, Space Lights Slots Machine. When this happens, a sticky wild symbol will trigger a respin. When the active reel has willed with sticky wild symbols, you’ll receive a prize.

The way in which the bonuses work in Space Lights is actually quite complex. There are various rules outlining the circumstances in which different wilds and symbols are triggered.

While these are described at length in the pay table information section, Space Lights Slots Machine, you’re best playing the game – in demo mode if necessary – and getting a feel for the game rather than attempting to memorize arcane rules. For example, you’ll win a bonus prize when an active reel is filled with sticky wilds. That’s easy enough to grasp. But the value of the bonus prize is calculated by multiplying the value of the counter by the bonus prize multiplier by the bet. Huh?

Space Lights Summed Up

Space Lights is a 5-reel slot that looks epic thanks to the beautiful graphics and vibrant electric colors. The game has some highly creative bonus features and wilds built in. Its only downfall is that the workings of the game are unnecessarily complex, making it hard to memorize the many ways in which you can win from spinning the reels of Space Lights.

Casino gambling machine

"One-Armed Bandit", "Slot Machine", "Fruit machine", and "Pokies" redirect here. For the album, see One-Armed Bandit (album). For the band, see Slot Machine (band). For other uses, see Fruit machine (disambiguation) and Pokey (disambiguation).

Row of digital-based slot machines inside a casino in Las Vegas

A slot machine (American English), fruit machine (British English) or poker machine (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. Slot machines are also known pejoratively as one-armed bandits because of the large mechanical levers affixed to the sides of early mechanical machines and the games' ability to empty players' pockets and wallets as thieves would.^[1]

A slot machine's standard layout features a screen displaying three or more reels that "spin" when the game is activated. Some modern slot machines still include a lever as a skeuomorphic design trait to trigger play. However, the mechanics of early machines have been superseded by random number generators, and most are now operated using buttons and touchscreens.

Slot machines include one or more currency detectors that validate the form of payment, whether coin, cash, voucher, or token. The machine pays out according to the pattern of symbols displayed when the reels stop "spinning". Slot machines are the most popular gambling method in casinos and constitute about 70% of the average U.S, Space Lights Slots Machine. casino's income.^[2]

Digital technology has resulted in variations on the original slot machine concept. As the player is essentially playing a video game, manufacturers are able to offer more interactive elements, such as advanced bonus rounds and more varied video graphics.

Etymology[edit]

The "slot machine" term derives from the slots on the machine for inserting and retrieving coins.^[3] "Fruit machine" comes from the traditional fruit images on the spinning reels such as lemons and cherries.^[4]

History[edit]

1899 "Liberty Bell" machine, Space Lights Slots Machine, manufactured by Charles Fey.

Sittman and Pitt of Brooklyn, New York developed a gambling machine in 1891 that was a precursor to the modern slot machine. It contained five drums holding a total of 50 card faces and was based on poker. The machine proved extremely popular, and soon many bars in the city had one or more of them. Players would insert a nickel and pull a lever, which would spin the drums and the cards that they held, the player hoping for a good poker hand, Space Lights Slots Machine. There was no direct payout mechanism, so a pair of kings might get the Space Lights Slots Machine a free beer, whereas a royal flush could pay out cigars or drinks; the prizes were wholly dependent upon what the establishment would offer. To improve the odds for the house, two cards were typically removed from the deck, the ten of spades and the jack of hearts, doubling the odds against winning a royal flush. The drums could also be rearranged to further reduce a player's chance of winning.

Because of the vast number of possible wins in the original poker-based game, it proved practically impossible to make a machine capable of awarding an automatic payout for all possible winning combinations. At some time between 1887 and 1895,^[5]Charles Fey of San Francisco, California devised a much simpler automatic mechanism^[6] with three spinning reels containing a total of five symbols: horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell; the bell gave the machine its name. By replacing ten cards with five symbols and using three reels instead of five drums, the complexity of reading a win was considerably reduced, allowing Fey to design an effective automatic payout mechanism. Three bells in a row produced the biggest payoff, ten nickels (50¢). Liberty Bell was a huge success and spawned a thriving mechanical gaming device industry. After a few years, the devices were banned in California, but Fey still could not keep up with the demand for them from elsewhere. The Liberty Bell machine was so popular that it was copied by many slot-machine manufacturers. The first of these, also called the "Liberty Bell", was produced by the manufacturer Herbert Rood Wit Blauw 7 Slot Machine Review in 1907. By 1908, many "bell" machines had been installed in most cigar stores, saloons, bowling alleys, brothels and barber shops.^[7] Early machines, Space Lights Slots Machine, including an 1899 Liberty Bell, are now part of the Nevada State Museum's Fey Collection.^[8]

The first Liberty Bell machines produced by Mills used the same symbols on the reels Space Lights Slots Machine did Charles Fey's original. Soon afterward, another version was produced with patriotic symbols, such as flags and wreaths, on the wheels, Space Lights Slots Machine. Later, a similar machine called the Operator's Bell was produced that included the option of adding a gum-vending attachment. As the gum offered was fruit-flavored, Space Lights Slots Machine, fruit symbols were placed on the reels: lemons, cherries, oranges and plums. A bell was retained, and a picture of a stick of Bell-Fruit Gum, the origin of the bar symbol, was also present. This set of symbols proved highly popular and was used by other companies that began to make their own slot machines: Caille, Watling, Jennings and Pace.^[9]

A commonly used technique to avoid gambling laws in a number of states was to award food prizes. For this reason, a number of gumball and other vending machines were regarded with mistrust by the courts. The two Iowa cases of State v. Ellis^[10] and State v. Striggles^[11] are both used in criminal law classes to illustrate the concept of reliance upon authority as it relates to the axiomatic ignorantia juris non excusat ("ignorance of the law is no excuse").^[12] In these cases, a mint vending machine was declared to be a gambling device because the machine would, by internally manufactured chance, occasionally give the next user a number of tokens exchangeable for more candy. Despite the display of the result of the next use on the machine, the courts ruled that "[t]he machine appealed to the player's propensity to gamble, and that is [a] vice."^[13]

In 1963, Bally developed the first fully electromechanical slot machine called Money Honey (although earlier machines such as Bally's High Hand draw-poker machine had exhibited the basics of electromechanical construction as early as 1940). Its electromechanical workings made Money Honey the first slot machine with a bottomless hopper and automatic payout of up to 500 coins without the help of an attendant.^[14] The popularity of this machine led to the increasing predominance of electronic games, with the side lever soon becoming vestigial.

The first video slot machine was developed in 1976 in Kearny Mesa, California by the Las Vegas–based Fortune Coin Co. This machine used a modified 19-inch (48 cm) Sony Trinitron color receiver for the display and logic boards for all slot-machine functions. The prototype was mounted in a full-size, show-ready slot-machine cabinet. The first production units went on trial at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. After some modifications to defeat cheating attempts, the video slot machine was approved by the Nevada State Gaming Commission and eventually found popularity on the Las Vegas Strip and in downtown casinos. Fortune Coin Co. and its video Space Lights Slots Machine technology were purchased by IGT (International Gaming Technology) in 1978.^{[citation needed]}

The first American video slot machine to offer a "second screen" bonus round was Reel ’Em In, developed by WMS Industries in 1996.^[15] This type of machine had appeared in Australia from at least 1994 with the Three Bags Full game.^[16] With this type of machine, the display changes to provide a different game in which an additional payout may be awarded.

Operation[edit]

RAY's Ruusu and Tuplapotti slot machines in Finland

Depending on the machine, the player can insert cash or, in "ticket-in, ticket-out" machines, a paper ticket with a barcode, Space Lights Slots Machine, into a designated slot on the machine. The machine is then activated by means of a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen), which activates reels that spin and stop to rearrange the symbols. If a player matches a winning combination of symbols, the player earns credits based on the paytable. Symbols vary depending on the theme of the machine, Space Lights Slots Machine. Classic symbols include objects such as fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Most slot games have a theme, such as a specific aesthetic, location, or character. Symbols and other bonus features of the game are typically aligned with the theme. Some themes are licensed from popular media franchises, including films, television series (including game shows such as Wheel of Fortune), entertainers, and musicians.

Multi-line slot machines have become more popular since the 1990s. These machines have more than one payline, meaning that visible symbols that are not aligned on the main horizontal may be considered as winning combinations. Traditional three-reel slot machines commonly have one, three, or five paylines while video slot machines may have 9, 15, 25, or as many as 1024 different paylines. Most accept variable numbers of credits to play, with 1 to 15 credits per line being typical. The higher the amount bet, the higher the payout will be if the player wins.

One of the main differences between video slot machines and reel machines is in the way payouts are calculated. With reel machines, the only way to win the maximum jackpot is to play the maximum number of coins (usually three, sometimes four or even five coins per spin). With video machines, Space Lights Slots Machine, the fixed payout values are multiplied by the number of coins per line that is being bet. In other words: on a reel machine, the odds are more favorable if the gambler plays with the maximum number of coins available.^[17] However, depending on the structure of the game and its bonus features, some video slots may still include features that improve chances at payouts by making increased wagers.

"Multi-way" games eschew fixed paylines in favor of allowing symbols to pay anywhere, as long as there is at least one in at least three consecutive reels from left to right. Multi-way games may be configured to allow players to bet by-reel: for example, on a game with a 3x5 pattern (often referred to as a 243-way game), playing one reel allows all three symbols in the first reel to potentially pay, but only the center row pays on the remaining reels (often designated by darkening the unused portions of the reels). Other multi-way games use a 4x5 or 5x5 pattern, where there are up to five symbols in each reel, allowing for up to 1,024 and 3,125 ways to win respectively, Space Lights Slots Machine. The Australian manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure brands games featuring this system as "Reel Power", "Xtra Reel Power" and "Super Reel Power" respectively. A variation involves patterns where symbols pay adjacent to one another. Most of these games have a hexagonal reel formation, and much like multi-way games, any patterns not played are darkened out of use.

Denominations can Space Lights Slots Machine from 1 cent ("penny slots") all the way up to $100.00 or more per credit. The latter are typically known as "high limit" machines, and machines configured to allow for such wagers are often located in dedicated areas (which may have a separate team of attendants to cater to the needs of those who play there). The machine automatically calculates the number of credits the player receives in exchange for the cash inserted, Space Lights Slots Machine. Newer machines often allow players to choose from a selection of denominations on a splash screen or menu.

Terminology[edit]

A bonus is a special feature of the particular game theme, which is activated when certain symbols appear in a winning combination. Bonuses and the number of bonus features vary depending upon the game. Some bonus rounds are a special session of free spins (the number of which is often based on the winning combination that triggers the bonus), often with a different or Space Lights Slots Machine set of winning combinations as the main game and/or other multipliers or increased frequencies of symbols, or a "hold and re-spin" mechanic in which specific symbols (usually marked with values of credits or other prizes) are collected and locked in place over a finite number of spins. In other bonus rounds, 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. Some bonuses use a mechanical device, such as a spinning wheel, that works in conjunction with the bonus to display the amount won, Space Lights Slots Machine.

A candle is a light on top of the slot machine. It flashes to alert the operator that change is needed, hand pay is requested or a potential problem with the machine. It can be lit by the player by pressing the "service" or "help" button.

Carousel refers to a grouping of slot machines, usually in a circle or oval formation.

A coin hopper is a container where the coins that are immediately available for payouts are held. The hopper is a mechanical device that rotates coins into the coin tray when a player collects credits/coins (by pressing a "Cash Out" button), Space Lights Slots Machine. When a certain preset coin capacity is reached, a coin diverter automatically redirects, or "drops", excess coins into a "drop bucket" or "drop box". (Unused coin hoppers can still be found even on Space Lights Slots Machine that exclusively employ Ticket-In, Ticket-Out technology, Space Lights Slots Machine, as a vestige.)

The credit meter is a display of the amount of money or number of credits on the machine. On mechanical slot machines, Space Lights Slots Machine, this is usually a seven-segment display, but video slot machines typically use stylized text that suits the game's theme and user interface.

The drop bucket or drop box is a container located in a slot machine's base where excess coins are diverted from the hopper. Typically, a drop bucket is used for low-denomination slot machines and a drop box is used for Space Lights Slots Machine slot machines. A drop box contains a hinged lid with one or more locks whereas a drop bucket does not contain a lid. The contents of drop buckets and drop boxes are collected and counted by the casino on a scheduled basis.

EGM is short for "Electronic Gaming Machine".

Free spins are a common form of bonus, where a series of spins are automatically played at no charge at the player's current wager. Free spins are usually triggered via a scatter of at least three designated symbols (with the number of spins dependent on the number of symbols that land). Some games allow the free spins bonus to "retrigger", which adds additional spins on top of those already awarded. There is no theoretical limit to the number of free spins obtainable. Some games may have other features that can also trigger over the course of free spins.

A hand pay refers to a payout made by an attendant or at an exchange point ("cage"), rather than by the slot machine itself, Space Lights Slots Machine. A hand pay occurs when the amount of the payout exceeds the maximum amount that was preset by the slot machine's operator, Space Lights Slots Machine. Usually, 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 slip is a document used to record the replenishment of the coin in the coin hopper after it becomes depleted as a result of making payouts to players. The slip indicates the amount of coin placed into the hoppers, as well as the signatures of the employees involved in the transaction, the slot machine number and the location and the date.

MEAL book (Machine entry authorization log) is a log of the employee's entries into the machine.

Low-level or slant-top slot machines include a stool so the player may sit down. Stand-up or upright slot machines are played while standing.

Optimal play is a payback percentage based on a gambler using the optimal strategy in a skill-based slot machine game.

Payline is a line that crosses through one symbol on each reel, Space Lights Slots Machine, along which a winning combination is evaluated. Classic spinning reel machines usually have Lady Robin Hood Slot Machine to nine paylines, while video slot machines may have as many as one hundred. Paylines could be of various shapes (horizontal, vertical, oblique, triangular, zigzag, etc.)

Persistent state refers to passive features on some slot machines, some of which able to trigger bonus payouts or other special features if certain conditions are met over time by players on that machine.^[18]

Roll-up is the process of dramatizing a win by playing sounds while the meters count up to the amount that has been won.

Short pay refers to a partial payout made by a slot machine, which is less than the amount due to the player. This occurs if the coin hopper has been depleted as a result of making earlier payouts to players. The remaining amount due to the player is either paid as a hand pay or an attendant will come and refill the machine.

A scatter is a pay combination based on occurrences of a designated symbol landing anywhere on the reels, rather than falling in sequence on the same payline. A scatter pay usually requires a minimum of three symbols to land, and the machine may offer increased prizes or jackpots depending on the number that land. Scatters are frequently used to trigger bonus games, such as free spins (with the number of spins multiplying based on the number of scatter symbols that land). The scatter symbol usually cannot be matched using wilds, and some games may require the scatter symbols to appear on consecutive reels in order to pay. On some multiway games, scatter symbols still pay in unused areas.

Taste is a reference to the small amount often paid out to keep a player seated and continuously betting. Only rarely will machines fail to pay even the minimum out over the course of several pulls.

Display screen of a slot machine in tilt mode

Tilt is a term derived from electromechanical slot machines' "tilt switches", which would make or break a circuit when they were tilted or otherwise tampered with that triggered an alarm. While modern machines no longer have tilt switches, any kind of technical fault (door switch in the wrong state, reel motor failure, out of paper, etc.) is still called a "tilt".

A theoretical hold worksheet is a document provided by the manufacturer for every slot machine that indicates the theoretical percentage the machine should hold based on the amount paid in. The worksheet also indicates the reel strip settings, number of coins that may be played, the payout schedule, the number of reels and other information descriptive of the particular type of slot machine.

Volatility or variance refers to the measure of risk associated with playing a slot machine. A low-volatility slot machine has regular but smaller wins, while a high-variance slot machine has fewer but bigger wins.

Weight count is an American term referring to the total value of coins or tokens removed from a slot machine's drop bucket or drop box for counting by the casino's hard count team through the use of a weigh scale.

Wild symbols substitute for most other symbols in the game (similarly to a joker card), usually excluding scatter and jackpot symbols (or offering a lower prize on non-natural combinations that include wilds). How jokers behave are dependent on the specific game and whether the player is in a bonus or free games mode. Sometimes wild symbols may only appear on certain reels, or Puppy payday a chance to "stack" across the entire reel.

Pay table[edit]

Main article: Pay table

Each machine has a table that lists the number of credits the player will receive if the symbols listed on the pay table line up on the pay line of the machine. Some symbols are wild and can represent many, or all, of the other symbols to complete a winning line. Especially on older machines, the pay table is listed on the face of the machine, usually above and below the area containing the wheels. On video slot machines, they are usually Space Lights Slots Machine within a help menu, along with information on other features.

Technology[edit]

Reels[edit]

Historically, all slot machines used revolving mechanical reels to display and determine results. Although the original slot machine used five reels, simpler, and therefore more reliable, three reel machines quickly became the standard.

A problem with three reel machines is that the number of Space Lights Slots Machine is only cubic – the original slot machine with three physical reels and 10 symbols on each reel had only 10³ = 1,000 possible combinations. This limited the manufacturer's ability to offer large jackpots since even the rarest event had a likelihood of 0.1%. The maximum theoretical payout, assuming 100% return to player would be 1000 times the bet, but that would leave no room for other pays, making the machine very high risk, and also quite boring.

Although the number of symbols eventually increased to about 22, allowing 10,648 combinations,^[19] this still limited jackpot sizes as well as the number of possible outcomes, Space Lights Slots Machine.

In the 1980s, however, slot machine manufacturers incorporated electronics into their products and programmed them to weight particular symbols. Thus the odds of losing symbols appearing on the payline became disproportionate to their actual frequency on the physical reel. A symbol would only appear once on the reel displayed to the player, but could, in fact, occupy several stops on the multiple reel.

In 1984, Inge Telnaes received a patent for a device titled, "Electronic Gaming Device Utilizing a Random Number Generator for Selecting the Reel Stop Positions" (US Patent 4448419),^[20] which states: "It is important to make a machine that is perceived to present greater chances of payoff than it actually has within the legal limitations that games of chance must operate."^[21] The patent was later bought by International Game Technology and has since expired.

A virtual reel that has 256 virtual stops per reel would allow up to 256³ = 16,777,216 final positions. The manufacturer could choose to offer a $1 million jackpot on a $1 bet, confident that it Space Lights Slots Machine only happen, over the long term, once every 16.8 million plays.

Computerization[edit]

With microprocessors now ubiquitous, the Space Lights Slots Machine inside modern slot machines allow manufacturers Space Lights Slots Machine assign a different probability to every symbol on every reel. To the player, it might appear that a winning symbol was "so close", whereas in fact the probability is much lower.

In the 1980s in the U.K., machines embodying microprocessors became common. These used a number of features to ensure the payout was controlled within the limits of the gambling legislation. As a coin was inserted into the machine, it could go either directly into the cashbox for the benefit of the owner or into a channel that formed the payout reservoir, Space Lights Slots Machine, with the microprocessor monitoring the number of coins in this channel. The drums themselves were driven by stepper motors, controlled by the processor and with proximity sensors monitoring the position of the drums, Space Lights Slots Machine. A "look-up table" within the software allows the processor to know what symbols were being displayed on the drums to the gambler. This allowed the system to control the level of payout by stopping the drums at positions it had determined. If the payout channel had filled up, the payout became more generous; if nearly empty, the payout became less so (thus giving good control of the odds).

Video slot machines[edit]

Video slot machines do not use mechanical reels, but use graphical reels on a computerized display. As there are no mechanical constraints on the design of video slot machines, games often use at least five reels, and may also use non-standard layouts. This greatly expands the number of possibilities: a machine can have 50 or more symbols on a reel, giving odds as high as 300 million to 1 against – enough for even the largest jackpot. As there are so many combinations possible with five reels, manufacturers do not need to weight the Space Lights Slots Machine symbols (although some may still do so). Instead, higher paying symbols will typically appear only once or twice on each reel, while more common symbols earning a more frequent payout will appear many times. Video slot machines usually make more extensive use of multimedia, and can feature more elaborate minigames as bonuses, Space Lights Slots Machine. Modern cabinets typically use flat-panel displays, but cabinets using larger curved screens (which can provide a more immersive experience for the player) are not uncommon.^[22]

Video slot machines typically encourage the player to play multiple "lines": rather than simply taking the middle of the three symbols displayed on each reel, a line could go from top left to the bottom right or any other pattern specified by the manufacturer. As each symbol is equally likely, there is no difficulty for the manufacturer in allowing the player to take as many of the possible lines on offer as desire – the long-term return to the player will be NativeGaming Casino No Deposit Bonus Codes same. The difference for the player is that the more lines they play, the more likely they are to get paid on a given spin (because they are betting more).

To avoid seeming as if the player's money is simply ebbing away (whereas a payout of 100 credits on a single-line machine would be 100 bets and the player would feel they had made a substantial win, on a 20-line machine, it would only be five bets and not seem as significant), manufacturers commonly offer bonus games, which can return many times their bet. The player is encouraged to keep playing to reach the bonus: even if they are losing, the bonus game could allow them to win back their losses.

Random number generators[edit]

All modern machines are designed using pseudorandom number generators ("PRNGs"), which are constantly generating a sequence of simulated random numbers, at a rate of hundreds or perhaps thousands per second. As soon as the "Play" button is pressed, the most recent random number is used to determine the result, Space Lights Slots Machine. This means that the result varies depending on exactly when the game is played. A fraction of a second earlier or later and the result would be different.

It is important that the machine contains a high-quality RNG implementation. Because all PRNGs must eventually repeat their number sequence^[23] and, if the period is short or the PRNG is otherwise flawed, an advanced player may be able to "predict" the next result. Having access to the PRNG code and seed values, Ronald Dale Harris, a former slot machine programmer, Space Lights Slots Machine, discovered equations for specific gambling games like Keno that allowed Space Lights Slots Machine to predict what the next set of selected numbers would be based on the previous games played.

Most machines are designed to defeat this by generating numbers even when the machine is not being played so the player cannot tell where in the sequence they are, even if they know how the machine was programmed.

Payout percentage[edit]

Slot machines are typically programmed to pay out as winnings 0% to 99% of the money that is wagered by players. This is known as the "theoretical payout percentage" or RTP, "return to player". The minimum theoretical payout percentage varies among jurisdictions and is typically established by law or regulation. For example, the minimum payout in Nevada is 75%, in New Jersey 83%, Space Lights Slots Machine, and in Mississippi 80%. The winning patterns on slot machines – the amounts they pay and the frequencies of those payouts – are carefully selected to yield a certain fraction of the money paid to the "house" (the operator of the slot machine) while returning the rest to the players during play. Suppose that a certain slot machine costs $1 per spin and has a return to player (RTP) of 95%. It can be calculated that, over a sufficiently long period such as 1,000,000 spins, the machine will return an average of $950,000 to its players, who have inserted $1,000,000 during that time. In this (simplified) example, the slot machine is said to pay out 95%. The operator keeps the remaining $50,000. Within some EGM development organizations this concept is referred to simply as "par". "Par" also manifests itself to gamblers as promotional techniques: "Our 'Loose Slots' have a 93% payback! Play now!"^{[citation needed]}

A slot machine's theoretical payout percentage is set at the factory when the software is written. Changing the payout percentage after a slot machine has been placed on the gaming floor requires a physical swap of the software or firmware, which is usually stored on an EPROM but may be loaded onto Space Lights Slots Machine random access memory (NVRAM) or even stored on CD-ROM or DVD, depending on the capabilities of the machine and the applicable regulations. Based on current technology, this is a time-consuming process and as such is done infrequently.^{[citation needed]} In certain jurisdictions, such as New Jersey, the EPROM has a tamper-evidentseal and can only be changed in the presence of Gaming Control Board officials. Other jurisdictions, including Nevada, Space Lights Slots Machine audit slot machines to ensure that they contain only approved software.

Historically, many casinos, both online and offline, have been unwilling to publish individual game RTP figures, making it impossible for the player to know whether they are playing a "loose" or a "tight" game. Since the turn of the century, some information regarding these figures has started to come into the public domain either through various casinos releasing them—primarily this applies to online casinos—or through studies by independent gambling authorities.^{[citation needed]}

The return to player is not the only statistic that is of interest. The probabilities of every payout on the pay table is also critical. For example, consider a hypothetical slot machine with a dozen different values on the pay table, Space Lights Slots Machine. However, the probabilities of getting all the payouts are zero except the largest one. If the payout is 4,000 times the input amount, and it happens every 4,000 times on average, the return to player is exactly 100%, but the game would be dull to play. Also, most people would not win anything, and having entries on the paytable that have a return of zero would be deceptive. As these individual probabilities are closely guarded secrets, it is possible that the advertised machines with high return to player simply increase the probabilities of these jackpots. The casino could legally place machines of a similar style payout and advertise that some machines have 100% return to player. The added advantage is that these large jackpots increase the excitement of the other players.

The table of probabilities for a specific machine is called the Probability and Accounting Report or PAR sheet, also PARS commonly understood as Paytable and Reel Strips. Mathematician Michael Shackleford revealed the PARS for one commercial slot machine, an original International Gaming TechnologyRed White and Blue machine. This game, in its original form, is obsolete, so these specific probabilities do not apply. He only published the odds after a fan of his sent him some information provided on a slot machine that was posted on a machine in the Netherlands. The psychology of the machine design is quickly revealed. There are 13 possible payouts ranging from 1:1 to 2,400:1. The 1:1 payout comes every 8 plays. The 5:1 payout comes every 33 plays, whereas the 2:1 payout comes every 600 plays. Most players assume the likelihood increases proportionate to the payout. The one mid-size payout that is designed to give the player a thrill is the 80:1 payout. It is programmed to occur an average of once every 219 plays. The 80:1 payout is high enough to create excitement, but not high enough that it makes it likely that the player will take their winnings and abandon the game. More than likely the player began the game with at least 80 times his bet (for instance there are 80 quarters in $20), Space Lights Slots Machine. In contrast the 150:1 payout occurs only on average of once every 6,241 plays. The highest payout of 2,400:1 occurs only on average of once every 64³ = 262,144 plays since the machine has 64 virtual stops. The player who continues to feed the machine is likely to have several mid-size payouts, but unlikely to have a large payout. He quits after he is bored or has exhausted his bankroll.^{[citation needed]}

Despite their confidentiality, occasionally a PAR sheet is posted on a website. They have limited value to the player, because usually a machine will have 8 to 12 different possible programs with varying payouts. In addition, slight variations of each machine (e.g., with double jackpots or five times play) are always being developed. The casino operator can choose which EPROM chip to install in any particular machine to select the payout desired. The result is Space Lights Slots Machine there is not really such a thing as a high payback type of machine, since every machine potentially has multiple settings. From October 2001 to February 2002, columnist Michael Shackleford obtained PAR sheets for five different nickel machines; four IGT games Austin Powers, Fortune Cookie, Leopard Spots and Wheel of Fortune and one game manufactured by WMS; Reel 'em In. Without revealing the proprietary information, he developed a program that would allow him to determine with usually less than a dozen plays on each machine which EPROM chip was installed. Then he did a survey of over 400 machines in 70 different casinos in Las Vegas. He averaged the data, and assigned an average payback percentage to the machines in each casino. The resultant list was widely publicized for marketing purposes (especially by the Palms casino which had the top ranking).^{[citation needed]}

One reason that the slot machine is so profitable to a casino is that the player must play the high house edge and high payout wagers along with the low house edge and low payout wagers. In a more traditional wagering game like craps, the player knows that certain wagers have almost a 50/50 chance of winning or losing, but they only pay a limited multiple of the original bet (usually no higher than three times). Other bets have a higher house edge, but the player is rewarded with a bigger win (up to thirty times in craps). The player can choose what kind of wager he wants to make. A slot machine does not afford such an opportunity. Theoretically, the operator could make these probabilities available, or allow the player to choose which one so that the player is free to make a choice. However, no operator has ever enacted this strategy. Different machines Space Lights Slots Machine different maximum payouts, but without knowing the Space Lights Slots Machine of getting the jackpot, there is no rational way to differentiate.

In many markets where central monitoring and control systems are used to link machines for auditing and security purposes, usually in wide area networks of multiple venues and thousands of machines, player return must usually be changed from a central computer rather than at each machine. A range of percentages is set in the game software and selected Space Lights Slots Machine.

In 2006, the Nevada Gaming Commission began working with Las Vegas casinos on technology that would allow the casino's management to change the game, the odds, and the payouts remotely. The change cannot be done instantaneously, but only after the selected machine has been idle for at least four minutes. After the change is made, the machine must be locked to new players for four minutes and display oregon coast casinos on-screen message informing potential players that a change is being made.^[24]

Linked machines[edit]

Some varieties of slot machines can be linked together in a setup sometimes known as a "community" game. Space Lights Slots Machine most basic form of this setup involves progressive jackpots that are shared between the bank of machines, but may include multiplayer bonuses and other features.^[25]

In some cases multiple machines are linked across multiple casinos. In these cases, the machines may be owned by the manufacturer, who is responsible for paying the jackpot. The casinos lease the machines rather than owning them outright. Casinos in New Jersey, Nevada, and South Dakota now offer multi-state progressive jackpots, which now offer bigger jackpot pools.^[26][27]

Fraud[edit]

Mechanical slot machines and their coin acceptors were sometimes susceptible to cheating devices and other scams. One historical example involved spinning a coin with a short length of plastic wire. The weight and size of the coin would be accepted by the machine and credits would be granted. However, the spin created by the plastic wire would cause the coin to Diamond Dozijn Slot Machine Review through the reject chute into the payout tray. This particular scam has become obsolete due to improvements in newer slot machines. Another obsolete method of defeating slot machines was to use a light Space Lights Slots Machine to confuse the optical sensor used to count coins during payout.^[28]

Modern slot machines are controlled by EPROM computer chips and, in large casinos, coin acceptors have become obsolete in favor of bill acceptors. These machines and their bill acceptors are designed with advanced anti-cheating and anti-counterfeiting measures and are difficult to defraud. Early computerized Africasino R750 Free Chip machines were sometimes defrauded through the use of cheating devices, such as the "slider", Space Lights Slots Machine, "monkey paw", "lightwand" and "the tongue". Many of these old cheating devices were made by the late Tommy Glenn Carmichael, a slot machine fraudster who reportedly stole over $5 million.^[29] In the modern day, computerized slot machines are fully deterministic and thus outcomes can be sometimes successfully predicted.^[30]

Skill stops[edit]

Skill stop buttons predated the Bally electromechanical slot machines of the 1960s and 1970s. They appeared on mechanical slot machines manufactured by Mills Novelty Co. as early as the mid 1920s. These machines had modified reel-stop arms, which allowed them to be released from the timing bar, earlier than in a normal play, simply by pressing the buttons on the front of the machine, located between each reel.

"Skill stop" buttons were added to some slot machines by Zacharias Anthony in the early 1970s. These enabled the player to stop each reel, allowing a degree of "skill" so as to satisfy the New Jersey gaming laws of the day which required that players were able to control the game in some way. The original conversion was applied to approximately 50 late-model Bally slot machines. Because the typical machine stopped the reels automatically in less than 10 seconds, weights were added to the mechanical timers to prolong the automatic stopping of the reels. By the time the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverages Commission (ABC) had approved the conversion for use in New Jersey arcades, the word was out and every other distributor began adding skill stops. The machines were a huge hit on the Jersey Shore and the remaining unconverted Bally machines were destroyed as they had become instantly obsolete.^{[citation needed]}

Legislation[edit]

United States[edit]

In the United States, Space Lights Slots Machine, the public and private availability of slot machines is highly regulated by state governments. Many states have established gaming control boards to regulate the possession and use of slot machines and other form of gaming.

Nevada is the only state that has no significant restrictions against slot machines both for public and private use. In New Jersey, slot machines are only allowed in hotel casinos operated in Atlantic City. Several states (Indiana, Louisiana and Missouri) allow slot machines (as well as any casino-style gambling) only on licensed riverboats or permanently anchored barges. Since Hurricane Katrina, Mississippi has removed the requirement that casinos on the Gulf Coast operate on barges and now allows them on land along the shoreline. Delaware allows slot machines at three horse tracks; they are regulated by the state lottery commission. In Wisconsin, bars and taverns are allowed to have up to five machines. These machines usually allow a player to either take a payout, or gamble it on a double-or-nothing "side game".

The territory of Puerto Rico places significant restrictions on slot machine ownership, but the law is widely flouted and slot machines are common in bars and coffeeshops.^[31]

In regards to tribal casinos located on Native American reservations, slot machines played against the house and operating independently from a centralized computer system are classified as "Class III" gaming by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), and sometimes promoted as "Vegas-style" slot machines.^[32] In order to offer Class III gaming, tribes must enter into a compact (agreement) with the state that is approved by the Department of the Interior, which may contain restrictions on the types and quantity of such games. As a workaround, some casinos may operate slot machines as "Class II" games—a category that includes games where players play exclusively against at least one other opponent and not the house, such as bingo or any related games (such as pull-tabs). In these cases, the reels are an entertainment display with a pre-determined outcome based on a centralized game played against other players. Under the IGRA, Class II games are regulated by individual tribes and the National Indian Gaming Commission, and do not require any additional approval if the state already permits tribal gaming.^[33][34]

Some historical race wagering terminals operate in a similar manner, with the machines using slots as an entertainment display for outcomes paid Space Lights Slots Machine the parimutuel betting system, Space Lights Slots Machine, based on results of randomly-selected, previously-held horse races (with the player able to view selected details about the race and adjust their picks before playing the credit, or otherwise use an auto-bet system).^[35]

Private ownership[edit]

See also: United States slot machine ownership regulations by state

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Space Lights Slots Machine, Virginia, and West Virginia place no restrictions on private ownership of slot machines. Conversely, in Connecticut, Space Lights Slots Machine, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Tennessee, private ownership of any slot machine is completely prohibited. The remaining states allow slot machines of a certain age (typically 25–30 years) or slot machines manufactured before a specific date.

Canada[edit]

The Government of Canada has minimal involvement in gambling beyond the Canadian Criminal Code. In essence, the term "lottery scheme" used in the code means slot machines, bingo and table games normally associated with a casino. These fall under the jurisdiction of the province or territory without reference to the federal government; in practice, all Canadian provinces operate gaming boards that oversee lotteries, Space Lights Slots Machine, casinos and video lottery terminals under their jurisdiction.

OLG piloted a classification system for slot machines at the Grand River Raceway developed by University of Waterloo professor Kevin Harrigan, as part of its PlaySmart initiative for responsible gambling. Inspired by nutrition labels on foods, they displayed metrics such as volatility and frequency of payouts.^[36] OLG has also deployed electronic gaming machines with pre-determined outcomes based on a bingo Space Lights Slots Machine pull-tab game, initially branded as "TapTix", which visually resemble slot machines.^[37]

Australia[edit]

In Australia "Poker Machines" or "pokies"^[38] are officially termed "gaming machines". In Australia, gaming machines are a matter for state governments, so laws vary between states. Gaming machines are found in casinos (approximately one in each major city), pubs and clubs in some states (usually sports, social, or RSL Space Lights Slots Machine. The first Australian state to legalize this style of gambling was New South Wales, when in 1956 they were made legal in all registered clubs in the state. There are suggestions that the proliferation of poker machines has led to increased levels of problem gambling; however, the precise nature of this link is still open to research.^[39]

In 1999 the Australian Productivity Commission reported that nearly half Australia's gaming machines were in New South Wales. At the time, 21% Space Lights Slots Machine all the gambling machines in the world were operating in Australia and, on a per capita basis, Australia had roughly five times as many gaming machines as the United States. Australia ranks 8th in total number of gaming machines after Japan, U.S.A., Italy, U.K., Spain and Germany. This primarily is because gaming machines have been legal in the state of New South Wales since 1956; over time, the number of machines has grown to 97,103 (at December 2010, including the Australian Capital Territory). By way of comparison, the U.S. State of Nevada, which legalised gaming including slots several decades before N.S.W., had 190,135 slots operating.^[40]

Revenue from gaming machines in pubs and clubs accounts for more than half of the $4 billion in gambling revenue collected by state governments in fiscal year 2002–03.^{[citation needed]}

In Queensland, gaming machines in pubs and clubs must provide a return rate of 85%, while machines located in casinos must provide a return rate of 90%.^{[citation needed]} Most other states have similar provisions. In Victoria, gaming machines must provide a minimum return rate of 87% (including jackpot contribution), including machines in Crown Casino. As of December 1, 2007, Victoria banned gaming machines that accepted $100 notes; all gaming machines made since 2003 comply with this rule. This new law also banned machines with an automatic play option. One exception exists in Crown Casino for any player with a VIP loyalty card: they can still insert $100 notes and use an autoplay feature (whereby the machine will automatically play until credit is exhausted or the player intervenes). All gaming machines in Victoria have an information screen accessible to the user by pressing the "i key" button, showing the game rules, paytable, return to player percentage, and the top and bottom five combinations with their odds. These combinations are stated to be played on a minimum bet (usually 1 credit per line, with 1 line or reel played, although some newer machines do not have an option to play 1 line; some machines may only allow maximum lines to be played), excluding feature wins.

Western Australia has the most restrictive regulations on electronic gaming machines in general, with the Crown Perth casino resort being the only venue allowed to operate them,^[41] and banning slot machines with spinning reels entirely. This policy had an extensive political history, reaffirmed by the 1974 Royal Commission into Gambling:^[42]

Poker machine playing is a mindless, Space Lights Slots Machine, repetitive and insidious form of gambling which has many undesirable features. It requires no thought, no skill or social contact. The odds are never about winning. Watching people playing the machines over long periods of time, the impressionistic evidence at least is that they are addictive to many people. Historically poker machines have been banned from Western Australia and we consider that, in the public interest, they should stay banned.

While Western Australian gaming machines are similar to the other states', they do not have spinning reels. Therefore, different animations are used in place of the spinning reels in order to display each game result.

Nick Xenophon was elected on an independent No Pokies ticket in the South Australian Legislative Council at the 1997 South Australian state election on 2.9 percent, re-elected at the 2006 election on 20.5 percent, and elected to the Australian Senate at the 2007 federal election on 14.8 percent. Independent candidate Andrew Wilkie, an anti-pokies campaigner, was elected to the Australian House of Representatives seat of Denison at the 2010 federal election, Space Lights Slots Machine. Wilkie was one of four crossbenchers who supported the GillardLabor government following the hung parliament result. Wilkie immediately began forging ties with Xenophon as soon as it was apparent that he was elected. In exchange for Wilkie's support, the Labor government are attempting to implement precommitment technology for high-bet/high-intensity poker machines, against opposition from the Tony AbbottCoalition and Clubs Australia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, every establishment in the country Space Lights Slots Machine facilitated poker machines was shut down, in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, bringing Australia's Space Lights Slots Machine of poker machines effectively to zero.^[43]

Russia[edit]

In Russia, "slot clubs" appeared quite late, only in 1992. Before 1992, slot machines were only in casinos and small shops, but later slot clubs began appearing all over the country. The most popular and numerous were "Vulcan 777" and "Taj Mahal". Since 2009 when gambling establishments were banned, almost all slot clubs disappeared and are found only in a specially authorized gambling zones.

United Kingdom[edit]

Row of old fruit machines in Teignmouth Pier, Devon

Slot machines are covered by the Gambling Act 2005, which superseded the Gaming Act 1968.^[44]

Slot machines in the U.K. are categorised by definitions produced by the Gambling Commission as part of the Gambling Act of 2005.

Casinos built under the provisions of the 1968 Act are allowed to house either up to twenty machines of categories B–D or any number of C–D machines. As defined by the 2005 Act, large casinos can have a maximum of one hundred and fifty machines in any combination of categories B–D (subject to a machine-to-table ratio of 5:1); small casinos can have a maximum of eighty machines Space Lights Slots Machine any combination of categories B–D (subject to a machine-to-table ratio of 2:1).

Category A[edit]

Category A games were defined in preparation for the planned "Super Casinos". Despite a lengthy bidding process with Manchester being chosen as the single planned location, the development was cancelled soon after Gordon Brown became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. As a result, there are no lawful Category A games in the U.K.

Category B[edit]

Category B games are divided into subcategories. The differences between B1, B3 and B4 games are mainly the stake and prizes as defined in the above table. Category B2 games – Fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) – have quite different stake and prize rules: FOBTs are mainly found in licensed betting shops, or bookmakers, usually in the form of electronic roulette.

The games are based on a random number generator; thus each game's probability of getting the jackpot is independent of any other game: probabilities are all equal. If a pseudorandom number generator is used instead of a truly random one, probabilities are not independent since each number is determined at least in part by the one generated before it.

Category C[edit]

Category C games are often referred to as fruit machines, one-armed bandits and AWP (amusement with prize). Fruit machines are commonly found in pubs, clubs, and arcades. Machines commonly have three but can be found with four or five reels, each with 16–24 symbols printed around them. The reels are spun each play, from which the appearance of particular combinations of symbols result in payment of their associated winnings by the machine (or alternatively initiation of a subgame). These games often have many extra features, trails and subgames with opportunities to win money; usually more than can be won from just the payouts on the reel combinations.

Fruit machines in the U.K. almost universally have the following features, generally selected at random using a pseudorandom number generator:

• A player (known in the industry as a punter) may be given the opportunity to hold one or more reels before spinning, meaning they will not be spun but instead retain their displayed symbols yet otherwise count normally for that play. This can sometimes increase the chance of winning, especially if two or more reels are held.
• A player may also be given a number of nudges following a spin (or, in some machines, as a result in a subgame), Space Lights Slots Machine. A nudge is a step rotation of a reel chosen by the player (the machine may not allow all reels to be nudged for a particular play).
• Cheats can also be made available on the internet or through emailed newsletters to subscribers. These cheats give the player the impression of an advantage, whereas in reality the payout percentage remains exactly the same. The most widely used cheat is Space Lights Slots Machine as hold after a nudge and increases the chance that the player will win following an unsuccessful nudge. Machines from the early 1990s did not advertise the concept of hold after a nudge when this feature was first introduced, Space Lights Slots Machine, it became so well known amongst players and widespread amongst new machine releases that it is now well-advertised on the machine during play. This is characterized by messages on the display such as DON'T HOLD ANY or LET 'EM SPIN and is a designed feature of the machine, not a cheat at all, Space Lights Slots Machine. Holding the same pair three times on three consecutive spins also gives a guaranteed win on most machines that offer holds.

It is known for machines to pay out multiple jackpots, one after the other (this is known as a "repeat") but each jackpot requires a new game to be played so as not to violate the law about the maximum payout on a single play. Typically this involves the player only pressing the Start button at the "repeat" prompt, for which a single credit is taken, regardless of whether this causes the reels to spin or not. Machines are also known to intentionally set aside money, which is later awarded in a series of wins, known as a "streak". The minimum payout percentage is 70%, with pubs often setting the payout at around 78%.

Japan[edit]

Further information: Pachinko

Japanese slot machines, known as pachisuro (パチスロ) or pachislot from the words "pachinko" and "slot machine", are a descendant of the traditional Japanese pachinko game. Slot machines are a fairly new phenomenon and they can be found mostly in pachinko parlors and the adult sections of amusement arcades, known as game centers.

The machines are regulated with integrated circuits, and have six different levels changing the odds of a 777. The levels provide a rough outcome of between 90% to 160% (200% for skilled players). Japanese slot machines are "beatable". Parlor operators naturally set most machines to simply collect money, but intentionally place a few paying machines on the floor so that there will be at least someone winning,^{[citation needed]} encouraging players on the losing machines to keep gambling, using the psychology of the gambler's fallacy.

Despite the many varieties of pachislot machines, there are certain rules and regulations put forward by the Security Electronics and Communication Technology Association Space Lights Slots Machine, an affiliate of the National Police Agency. For example, there must be three reels. All reels must be accompanied by buttons which allow players to manually stop them, reels may not spin faster than 80 RPM, and reels must stop within 0.19 seconds of a button press. In practice, this means that machines cannot let Space Lights Slots Machine slip more than 4 symbols. Other rules include a 15 coin payout cap, a 50 credit cap on machines, a 3 coin maximum bet, and other such regulations.^{[citation needed]}

Although a 15 coin payout may seem quite low, regulations allow "Big Bonus" (c. 400–711 coins) and "Regular Bonus" modes (c, Space Lights Slots Machine. 110 coins) where these 15 coin payouts occur nearly continuously until the bonus mode is finished. While the machine is in bonus mode, the player is entertained with special winning scenes on the LCD display, and energizing music is heard, Space Lights Slots Machine, payout after payout.

Three other unique features of Pachisuro machines are "stock", "renchan", and tenjō (天井). On many machines, when enough money to afford a bonus is taken in, the bonus is not immediately awarded. Typically the game merely stops making the reels slip off the bonus symbols for a few games. If the player fails to hit the bonus during these "standby games", it is added to the "stock" for later collection. Many current games, after finishing a bonus round, set the probability to release additional stock (gained from earlier players failing to get a bonus last time the machine stopped making the reels slip for a bit) very high for the first few games. As a result, a lucky player may get to play several bonus rounds in a row (a "renchan"), making payouts of 5,000 or even 10,000 coins possible. The lure of "stock" waiting in the machine, and the possibility of "renchan" tease the gambler to keep feeding the machine. To tease them further, there is a tenjō (ceiling), a maximum limit on the number of games between "stock" release. For example, if the tenjō is 1,500, and the number of games played since the last bonus is 1,490, the player is guaranteed to release a bonus within just 10 games.

Because of the "stock", "renchan", and tenjō systems, it is possible to make money by simply playing machines on which someone has just lost a huge amount of money. This is called being a "hyena". They are easy to recognize, roaming the aisles for a "kamo" ("sucker" in English) to leave his machine.

In short, the regulations allowing "stock", "renchan", and tenjō transformed the pachisuro from a low-stakes form of entertainment just a few years back to hardcore gambling. Many people may be gambling more than they can afford, and the big payouts also lure unsavory "hyena" types into the gambling halls.

To address these social issues, a new regulation (Version 5.0) was adopted in 2006 which caps the maximum amount of "stock" a machine can hold to around 2,000–3,000 coins' worth of bonus games, Space Lights Slots Machine. Moreover, all pachisuro machines must be re-evaluated for regulation compliance every three years. Version 4.0 came out in 2004, so that means all those machines with the up to 10,000 coin payouts will be removed from service by 2007.

Jackpot disputes[edit]

Electronic slot machines can malfunction. When the displayed amount is smaller than the one it is supposed to be, the error usually goes unnoticed. When it happens the other way, disputes are likely.^[45] Below are some notable arguments caused by the owners of the machines saying that the displayed amounts were far larger than the ones patrons should get.

United States of America[edit]

Two such cases occurred in casinos in Colorado in 2010, where software errors led to indicated jackpots of $11 million and $42 million.^{[citation needed]} Analysis of machine records by the state Gaming Commission revealed faults, Space Lights Slots Machine, with the true jackpot being substantially smaller.^[46] State gaming laws did not require a casino to honour payouts in that case.

Vietnam[edit]

On October 25, 2009, while a Vietnamese American man, Ly Sam, Space Lights Slots Machine, was playing a slot machine in the Palazzo Club at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, it displayed that he had hit a jackpot of US$55,542,296.73.^[47] The casino refused to pay, saying it was a machine error, Mr Ly sued the casino.^[48] On January 7, 2013, the District 1 People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City decided that the casino had to pay the amount Mr Ly claimed in full, not trusting the error report from an inspection company hired by the casino.^[49] Both sides appealed thereafter, and Mr Ly asked for interest while the casino refused to pay him.^[50] In January, Space Lights Slots Machine, 2014, the news reported that the case had been settled out of court, and Mr Ly had received an undisclosed sum.^[51]

Problem gambling and slot machines[edit]

Mills Novelty Co. Horse Head Bonus antique slot machine

Natasha Dow Schüll, associate professor in New York University's Department of Media, Culture and Communication, uses the term "machine zone" to describe the state of immersion that users of slot machines experience when gambling, where they lose a sense of time, space, bodily awareness, and monetary value.^[52]

Mike Dixon, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo,^[53] studies the relationship between slot players and machines. In one of Dixon's studies, players were observed experiencing heightened arousal from the sensory stimulus coming from the machines. They "sought to show that these 'losses disguised as wins' (LDWs) would be as arousing as wins, and more arousing than regular losses."^[54]

Psychologists Robert Breen and Marc Zimmerman^[55][56] found that players of video slot machines reach a debilitating level of involvement with gambling three times as rapidly as those who play traditional casino games, even if they have engaged in other forms of gambling without problems.

Eye-tracking research in local bookkeepers' offices in the UK suggested that, in slots games, the reels dominated players' visual attention, and that problem gamblers looked more frequently at amount-won messages than did those without gambling problems.^[57]

The 2011 60 Minutes report "Slot Machines: The Big Gamble"^[58] focused on the link between slot machines and gambling addiction.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

• Brisman, Andrew. The American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling: Winning Ways (Stirling, 1999) ISBN 0-8069-4837-X
• Grochowski, John. The Slot Machine Answer Book: How They Work, How They've Changed, and How to Overcome the House Advantage (Bonus Books, 2005) ISBN 1-56625-235-0
• Legato, Space Lights Slots Machine, Frank. How to Win Millions Playing Slot Machines! .Or Lose Trying (Bonus Books, 2004) ISBN 1-56625-216-4

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