Gambling terms, explained straight

Slots & Gaming Machines

Types of gambling machines

Gambling machines are electronic devices designed for people to gamble, including reel-based slots, fruit machines, and fixed-odds betting terminals. In UK law, the broader term is gaming machine, which covers several categories.

UK categories
A, B, C, D based on maximum stake and prize14
Category D limit
Max charge 30p, max prize £814
How it works
Random number generation selects symbols; reels stop and pay according to the combination5

Key points

  • In UK law, gaming machine is the broad term; slots are a reel-based subtype.2
  • Fixed-odds betting terminals (FOBTs) are gaming machines but not slot machines.2
  • Fruit machine is a common UK synonym for slot machine, not a separate category.13
Slots Slot machine A reel-based gambling machine that determines outcomes by random number generation. Slots Gambling slots Another term for slot machines used in gambling contexts. Slots Slot machine jackpot The top prize on a slot machine, which may be fixed or progressive. Slots Jackpot machine A gambling machine that offers a jackpot prize, often a slot machine. Slots Slot machine reels The spinning columns on a slot machine that display symbols. Slots Slot machine price The cost to buy a slot machine, which varies by type and features.

Sources

  1. Gaming machine categories gamblingcommission.gov.uk Defines UK gaming machine categories A–D and their stake/prize limits.
  2. Definitions of terms gamblingcommission.gov.uk Distinguishes 'slots' as reel-based from the broader 'gaming machine' term.
  3. EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE CATEGORIES OF GAMING MACHINE REGULATIONS 2007 No. 2158 legislation.gov.uk Provides the legal definition of fruit machine and jackpot machine as synonyms.
  4. The Categories of Gaming Machine Regulations 2007 legislation.gov.uk Sets out the specific stake and prize limits for each gaming machine category.
  5. Slot Machines wizardofodds.com Explains how slot machines use random number generation to determine outcomes.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.