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Slots

Slot machines (slots) are by far the easiest and most popular casino games to play because they require no skill on the part of the players. They also offer potentially huge returns for a small investment. There is an almost infinite variety of machines, with new designs constantly being developed. Most mimic traditional fruit machines, with basic symbols on spinning drums, but instead of the original three drums many now incorporate five drums, or payout lines, making it harder for players to win. Each coin played brings a new line into play, so it makes sense to play the maximum number of lines per spin. Mechanical systems, which used rotating drums and were activated by pulling a lever, have given way to push-button operated microprocessor-controlled machines with payouts controlled by computer chips, but there is no changing the popularity of the slots.

The object of playing the slots is to spin the drums so that identical symbols end up across the winning line (either vertically or horizontally). There is a hierarchy of symbols, with some giving higher payouts than others. There are also differences in the way the payouts are calculated. Some slots (known as flat-top slots) have set payouts; while the payouts on progressive slots (groups of machines linked by computers) change all the time as more money is played on them. Whenever any of the linked machines are played the overall jackpot increases.

Progressive slots often give huge payouts — often enough to create instant millionaires. In some countries, all the casinos belonging to a group have linked their slots electronically, creating more opportunities for winning mega jackpots, regardless of which casino you are playing in. Slots can pay out up to 98 per cent of the money put into them, but of course, this does not mean that an individual player will win 98 per cent of the time. Large payouts may only happen once or twice a year, leaving the majority of players to share the balance in the form of small returns.

Instructions for playing are printed on every slot machine, together with the relevant payout odds. Small amounts are paid out directly by the machines. However, if a large jackpot is won, it will be paid by a member of the casino’s staff who will be notified of the win by a flashing light over the machine.

Slots are traditionally played using either coins or metal tokens which are purchased at the cash point. Coinless slots are becoming increasingly popular nowadays and many new establishments — such as Sun International’s GrandWest Casino in Cape Town, South Africa, are dispensing with coins altogether in favour of cards. A voucher or smart card (which looks like a credit card) is purchased which can be used on all the slot machines in that casino.

Card-based systems have resulted in the creation of loyalty programmes for regular customers, who can build up points which can be exchanged for comps such as accommodation, meals or beverages.

Latest innovations are adventure-style video slots based on arcade games. State-of-the-art computer graphics and cutting-edge technology create realistic images, sound and animation, while fantasy designs encourage players to move from one machine to the next in the hope of hitting the jackpot.

There are also video slots that imitate table games like poker, blackjack and roulette. These are popular with less confident players, as they allow one-on-one betting against the machine instead of placing bets at a crowded table.

For casinos, slots are extremely profitable, despite the large percentage return that is paid out in winnings. In recent years, they have accounted for more than 60 per cent of the total gaming turnover in Nevada, which has over 120,000 slot machines, most of them in Las Vegas. It is estimated that almost 70 per cent of visitors to Atlantic City casinos play the slots.

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