The difference between slots and fruit machines.

For the longest time I always thought that slots and fruit machines were the same thing. I thought that "slots" was probably just another word (or an American word) for what we like to call fruit machines. The wiki page on slots lumps them in to the same category too.

However, turns out that although slots and fruit machines have their similarities with the reels and all that, they're actually pretty different. To really see the difference between slots and fruit machines, we need to know the basics of each:

What is a slot machine?

• Usually has 5 reels.
• Up to 20 win lines.
• No nudges or holds.
• The feature isn't really a big deal.

This is an example of the cops and robbers slot machine at Sky Vegas.

In your typical slot machine you have 5 reels and a large number of win lines, so half the time it's hard to tell if you have won something until the slot machine tells you. The win lines are all jagged and be quite complicated, but the large number of lines is kinda necessary considering you have 5 reels to deal with.

Unlike on fruit machines, a feature board is not always a major part of a slot machine. Slots players are happy to keeping bashing the buttons and hoping that the winning combinations roll in.

Slots are driven by wins on the reels.

Play on slot machines at SkyVegas now

What is a fruit machine?

• Usually 3 reels, but 4 are common too.
• Usually 1 win line, but can be more. One win line is standard though.
• Nudges and holds.
• The feature is an integral part of a fruit machine.

This is an example of the cops and robbers fruit machine at Ladbrokes.

If you've ever been to a pub, which I'm sure you have, you will know what a fruit machine is and what it looks like.

The main aim of the game is to get on to the feature board and rack up some winnings. You can win money from winning combinations on the reels, but these wins aren't as big as the wins you usually get from getting on to the feature board.

Fruit machines are driven by wins on the feature board.

Play pub fruit machines at Ladbrokes now

Main difference between fruit machines and slots.

• Slot machines do not have nudges and holds, but fruit machines do.
• Slot machines have 5 reels, but fruit machines have 3 or 4.
• The feature is the main part of a fruit machine, but not so on a slot machine.

Fruit machines are a UK thing and Slots are more of a US thing.

If you're from the UK, you're going to be far more familiar with a fruit machine than a slot machine and vice versa for those of you from the US. I'm sure lots of Americans ask what the difference is between a slot machine and a fruit machine too.