A slot machine is the most recognisable prize game there is, and the easiest to get wrong. Reels that tease near misses, a "win" that pays back less than the bet, or a payback rate nobody can see all cost player trust. This guide covers how the slot game in PrizeX's Earn & Games feature works: how a spin is decided, what players see, the payback a new game starts with, and the settings you control.
Who has it
- Earn & Games is included in PrizeX. For BidKing and RaffKing it's an add-on.
- The slot is one of its games, next to the spin wheel, scratch cards and arcade games. It comes in two forms: the built-in premium cabinet, in four colour looks (Ruby, Graphite, Amethyst and Neon Night), and Bamboo Fortune, a slot game that ships with PrizeX.
How a spin is decided
- The server draws the prize first, at the chances you set, using a secure random number generator. The bet, the pay-out and the record of the spin are saved together.
- On the premium cabinet, the reels show that result. The server picks where each reel stops: a win lands three of the prize's symbol on the middle line. The browser only animates the reels into place.
- Losing spins aren't arranged to look close. A losing line is picked at random from every line that isn't three of a kind, so two matching symbols and a miss turn up only as often as chance makes them. The rows above and below never show a winning line.
A "win" is a real win
- A prize below 1× the bet isn't shown as a win. The reels show no winning line, there's no glow, coin burst, win sound or vibration, and the player sees "X coins returned".
- The details sheet lists these prizes under "Returns part of the bet", and says they aren't wins.
- The admin form warns you when you set a coins prize below 1×.
Payback players can see
- The new-game form starts at about 90% payback: 2× the bet at a 25% chance, 5× at 6% and 20× at 0.5%, otherwise nothing. Change them as you like; existing games keep their prizes.
- The admin form warns at 100% or more, when a game would pay out more coins than it takes.
- Players see the figure on the premium cabinet. Its "Paytable and odds" sheet shows what each line pays and "Coins paid back on average", worked out from the same settings the draw uses. It's always shown.
- A "Your chances" table lists every prize with its chance. It's on by default; the store owner can switch it off, with a warning that many places require odds to be shown.
Bets
- Bets are in coins from the player's wallet. A spin can't be paid by card or another currency directly.
- You set the smallest, biggest and starting bet. A bet outside that range is refused.
- A double tap never charges twice. Each spin has its own ID, so a repeat or a dropped connection gets the first spin's result back.
- "ALL IN" on the premium cabinet is off by default. If you switch it on, it bets up to your biggest bet, never more, and asks "Bet all X coins?" first. A game with no biggest bet doesn't offer it.
Bamboo Fortune
- It shows the store's result as text when the spin ends, next to its bet panel. Its old card round, bonus rounds, free spins and made-up "live bets" are hidden, because they didn't match what the server paid.
- Its "How it works" text comes in your store's languages.
Who can play
- Adults only. Players must be 18, or your sign-up age if it's higher, by the date of birth on their account. That date is what the player says, unless an identity check has confirmed it.
- Fraud checks run before a spin and before a prize is paid, with the Fraud Prevention feature.
- Both are on by default. The store owner can switch them off, with a warning.
- Coins won are spend-only by default: they can be spent in your store but not withdrawn. The returned bet keeps the status of the coins it was paid with; the win above it is spend-only. See our guide to spend-only winnings.
What stays your responsibility
- Whether your slot is gambling. Paid plays with prizes worth money are gambling in many places. The operator is responsible for licensing, so check with a local lawyer and your regulator, such as the UK Gambling Commission, before launch.
- Setting fair prizes. Check the payback figure before you go live.
- Never presenting the slot as a way to earn money, and never marketing it to anyone under 18.
Common questions
Do the reels decide the result?
No. The server draws the prize first. On the premium cabinet it then picks reel positions that show it, and the reels only animate to those positions.
Are near misses shown on purpose?
No. A losing line is picked at random from every line that isn't three of a kind, so near misses appear only as often as chance makes them.
What payback does a new slot start with?
About 90% of bets: 2× at 25%, 5× at 6% and 20× at 0.5%. You can change it, and players see the figure in the premium cabinet's "Paytable and odds" sheet.
Can players pay for a spin by card?
No. Spins are paid in coins from the player's wallet, between the smallest and biggest bet you set.
PrizeX — self-hosted prize and marketplace platform
Slots, spin wheels and scratch cards with visible odds and player protection on by default. One-time licence.