one-armed bandits
Casino coin eaters
One-armed bandits are slot machines—gambling devices operated by pulling a lever on the side (the "arm") that spins reels displaying symbols.
The name captures both the mechanical action and the machine's tendency to take your money.
She lost fifty bucks to the one-armed bandits in Reno.
The term persists even though modern slot machines use buttons rather than levers.
Cylindrical winding devices
- leverPivoting bar for lifting
- coinsMetal money units
- spinRapid rotation around axis
- paylineReel prize trajectory
cherries · sevens · bars · symbols · wilds · scatter · bonus · multiplier
Stake on uncertainty
- bettingStaking money on outcomes
- stakesPosts or wagers
- oddsLikelihood expressed numerically
- house edgeCasino's statistical advantage
payout · gambler · compulsive · addiction · keno · sportsbook · ante · chip
Likelihood of occurrence
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
- flukeChance stroke of luck
lucky streak · superstition · lucky charm · beginner's luck · RNG · random number generator
Gambling venue's central space
- VegasNevada casino hub
- chipsThin fried slices
- dealersThose who sell merchandise
- pit bossCasino gaming supervisor
high roller · table games · video poker · Atlantic City · Macau · Reno · gaming license · arcade
Money distributed to recipient
- windfallUnanticipated lucky gain
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- bonanzaSudden large windfall
- prizeReward for winning
haul · reward · payoff · progressive jackpot · grand prize · winner · flashing lights · life-changing
reels
Cylindrical winding devices
payline · cherries · sevens · bars · symbols · wilds · scatter · bonus · multiplier · credits
wager
Stake on uncertainty
house edge · payout · gambler · compulsive · addiction · keno · sportsbook · ante · chip · losses
chance
Likelihood of occurrence
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- randomnessLack of predictable pattern
- probabilityQuantified chance of occurrence
fluke · lucky streak · superstition · lucky charm · beginner's luck · RNG · random number generator
casino floor
Gambling venue's central space
pit boss · high roller · table games · video poker · Atlantic City · Macau · Reno · gaming license · arcade · amusement arcade
payout
Money distributed to recipient
prize · haul · reward · payoff · progressive jackpot · grand prize · winner · flashing lights · life-changing
one-armed banditspoker
Hearth implement for coals
blackjack · table games · card tables · craps · baccarat
one-armed banditssavings accounts
Interest-bearing bank deposits
treasury bonds · certificates of deposit · index funds · blue-chip stocks · safe bets
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