Betting Patterns Slot Machine

Posted on by

Slot machines that are based on reels have variant programming, meaning that the payout percentage may vary above and below its standard payout percentage. For example, if you are playing on a machine with a payout rate of 95% at times it might pay out 93% or 97%. When people call slot machines 'loose' and 'tight' they're referring to the payout percentage. A looser machine pays out more often and at a higher percentage while a tighter machine has a lower RTP and pays out less frequently. The looser the slots, the better it is for the player.

Many gambling enthusiasts in the United States are at least vaguely familiar with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, US law Pub.L. 100–497, 25 U.S.C. § 2701.

Passed in 1988, this federal law established how Indian (Native American) gaming would be managed and regulated. The act included definitions for 3 types or classes of gambling games. They are usually referred to as:

  1. Class I games
  2. Class II games
  3. Class III games

Congress passed the law to help Native American tribes and nations improve their economic status after more than a century of oppression and exclusion in mainstream US society. Many Native American groups wanted to build land-based casinos, which would not only attract tourists but create jobs.

There was considerable resistance to this movement in many states, most of which did not allow gambling of any kind. To help resolve the conflicts and provide some clarity between treaties, state law, and federal law, the US government established a framework that eliminated some barriers to Native American investment in gambling industries. The law also provided some regulatory limits to respect state laws.

The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act introduced some confusion into the worldwide lexicon of gambling games because the distinctions are only observed within US jurisdictions. Other nations regulate gambling with different definitions.

But as the internet became a worldwide communications network in the 1990s and 2000s, most of the content published about gambling dealt with US law and casinos. Although non-US casinos have to observe their own laws and regulations, players who research gambling law on the internet must be careful to distinguish between USA gambling definitions and other gambling definitions.

What Are the 3 Classes of Gambling Games?

Class I gambling includes all traditional Native American gambling games, most of which are only used for ceremonial purposes or in the contexts of cultural-specific celebrations and ceremonies. These games, which are only available at small stakes, are completely regulated by the Native American tribes and nations.

Class II gambling includes all variations of bingo games, player-vs-player card games like poker (where the house does not play a hand in the game), tip jars, pull-tab games, punch card games, and anything similar. Some people mistakenly include lottery games in this category, but the law clearly excludes state-run lotteries and similar games from Class II.

Class III gambling consists of everything that is not included under Class I gambling or Class II gambling. That means the lottery games you play are Class III gambling games. Slot games, roulette, dice games, and card games like blackjack where the house is also a player all fall under the Class III gambling games category.

So How Can There Be Class II Slot Machine Games?

If you’ve ever visited a Native American casino–like the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma, you’ve almost certainly played some Class II slot machine games. They look much like traditional slot machine games. They have 3 to 5reels with symbols on them, they pay jackpots, and they do everything else you expect of a slot game.

And yet, they are not slot machine games.

A clever company in Franklin, TN, known as Video Gaming Technologies, or VGT, developed electronic bingo games for Native American casinos that use the results of those bingo games to emulate slot game action.

In other words, the slot machine cabinets contain two screens, one that displays the results of the bingo game and one that displays the results of the simulated slot game. This dual visualization of the gambling game takes advantage of the fact that at the core of all gambling games is a simple principle:

You’re making a wager on an unknown outcome. What the Class II slot games do is take the result of the bingo game to determine what happens in the slot game.

What’s cool about this approach is that VGT was able to add bonus games to the bingo games that work like slot machine bonus games. They’ve developed a huge selection of bingo games that play like slot games. VGT is so successful they were acquired by Aristocrat Leisure Limited in 2014, although the former VGT still operates as an independent subsidiary company of Aristocrat.

How Do Class III Slot Machine Games Work?

The key to the hybridization of bingo and slot machine games is the Random Number Generator. Mathematicians have been developing algorithms to calculate unpredictable numbers for hundreds of years. For a detailed look at the concept, read “How Do Random Number Generators Work?” on Jackpots Online. Although the RNG does not produce a truly random number, in typical circumstances the number is random enough. Even so, slot game designers use random numbers in multiple ways.

Before I continue, I should mention that US law requires slot game designers to work by different rules from other countries’ slot games. In the United Kingdom, for example, the outcome of a slot game is determined by a single random number. In the United States, the outcome of the Class III slot game is determined by several random numbers.

To begin with, an electronic slot machine or online slot game uses a software concept called an array to represent each reel. Computer arrays work like rows of boxes, where each box holds one piece of information. The arrays for slot reels may have anywhere from 22 to 256 slots. Each slot in the array holds a symbol marker that tells the slot machine game what to display on the screen.

Slot game designers use special algorithms to decide how often each type of symbol should appear in each slot array. The frequency of the symbol’s use in the array and the size of the array determine how likely or unlikely it is for any single spin of the slot game reels to create one or more winning combinations. The game’s software may award prizes for one or more winning combinations at a time, depending on how many pay lines the game offers.

The random number generator produces a new number every few milliseconds. The number is placed in a temporary memory location called a register. The slot game software grabs the latest random number from the register and uses that to determine what happens next. For example, a 5 reel slot game needs 5 random numbers to pick how many slot positions will be spun on each reel before the reels stop in new locations. If the slot game awards random prizes like progressive jackpots, these are determined by additional random numbers.

How Class II Slot Machine Games Differ from Class III Slot Machine Games

Understanding Slot Machines Betting

What VGT did was create bingo game software that determines the actual prizes awarded to players.

But to make the bingo games look like slot games, they used the bingo game’s random results as if they are the random numbers that Class III slot games use.

To ensure that the slot game winning combinations match the bingo game prize values the VGT games work more like slot games in the United Kingdom. The game determines what prize was won and then creates a short video simulation of the slots landing on that winning combination.

Conclusion

How do class II slot machines work?

Either way, the slot games award prizes on a random basis. You could say that US gaming laws are paranoid in that Class III slot game software is required to closely emulate the physical spinning of slot reels. In fact, physical slot reel games have been displaying results of these virtual, in-memory array games for more than 20 years. So even when you see physical reels spinning, their stop positions have already been determined within microseconds of your pressing SPIN.

The Class II slot gaming experience is a fun gaming experience.

But the bingo game is displayed on a small screen, because VGT’s designers have found that players don’t enjoy looking at bingo patterns as much as they enjoy looking at 3 to 5 reels spinning and stopping on various symbols.

For the player, what matters is that they’re gambling for real money on an unpredictable outcome–and they can enjoy an entertaining evening with friends or loved ones.

I’m planning to include some reviews of various gambling machines here soon, so I thought I’d start with a look at some of the slot machine manufacturers and their products. There was a time, not long ago, when such a list would be short. But with the advent of internet casinos, the list of slot machine companies grows longer every day.

Play slot machines online for free. Get a 350% deposit bonus if you play for real money. WildVegasCasino.

Of course, depending on where you live, you might be searching for such information using a phrase like “fruit machine suppliers” or “gaming companies.” Such a list should (and does) include old slot machine brands like IGT (International Game Technologies) and internet casino software vendors like Microgaming and Playtech.

As I create more posts about related subjects, I’ll update this page with links to manufacturer-specific lists of games and reviews of their overall offerings.

Buy Slot Machine

I know that a lot of sites in this space try to offer as complete a resource as possible, but please remember that I’m just one guy with a blog. I don’t have an army of freelance writers working for me, and even if I did, there are so many slot machine games from so many different providers that it would be almost impossible to keep up with them all.

But if I’ve left out your favorite slot machine manufacturer, let me know in the comments, and I’ll add it to the list.

Slot Machine Manufacturers List – Updated 2020

And here’s the list of slot machine manufacturers:

1. Ainsworth Game Technology

Ainsworth Game Technology is one of the oldest companies on my list of slot machine manufacturers. They’ve been in business for 20+ years. Ainsworth is an Australian company, and if you know anything about gambling in Australia, you know how popular slots are there. They call them “pokies,” though, which is an abbreviation for “poker machines.”

Betting Patterns Slot Machine

And some of Ainsworth’s most recent game additions include:

  • Action Dragons
  • Big Hit Bonanza
  • Pac-Man Wild Edition

2. Amatic Industries

Amatic Industries has been in business for over a quarter of a century now. Besides slot machines, they make video lottery terminals and video roulette games. They have a huge selection of slot machine brands in their stable, too, including some of the following:

  • Games Bond (Yes, this is a “James Bond” knockoff.)
  • GrandX (A “Wheel of Fortune” lookalike.)
  • Vampires (A simple enough theme and title, no?)

3. Amaya Gaming

Amaya Gaming is defunct now. It’s part of The Stars Group, the company which owns PokerStars. I include it here under its original name because I think some online users still look for games from Amaya Gaming. They offer lots of cute games, including:

  • Barn Yard Boogie
  • Jenga
  • Street Fighter II

4. Aristocrat Gaming Technology

Aristocrat Gaming Technology is another Australian “poker machine” vendor. They’e recently gotten their hands on some major intellectual property, too, and they offer games like:

  • Batman Classic TV Series
  • The Big Bang Theory
  • Britney
  • Game of Thrones
  • Sons of Anarchy
  • The Walking Dead

5. Ash Gaming

Ash Gaming used to be a big deal, now they’re a part of Playtech. As part of that group, they have extensive licensed properties to create games about. Their most famous, though, is probably Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

6. Bally Technologies

Bally Technologies is now a subsidiary of SG Gaming (Scientific Games). The company has been around forever. Not only do they make slot machines, but they used to be one of the biggest pinball machine companies in the world, too. Some of their most well-known brands include:

  • James Bond
  • Monopoly
  • Willy Wonka

7. Barcrest Gaming

Barcrest Gaming–like Bally Technologies– is also now a subsidiary of SG Gaming (Scientific Games). If you’re a real slot machine aficionado, you might recognize the names of some of their games:

  • Deja Vu Diamonds
  • Flippin’ Out
  • Psycho Cash Beast

8. Betsoft Gaming

Betsoft Gaming specializes in online gambling games, especially mobile friendly slots and 3D games. Here are some of their titles:

  • Dragon Kings
  • The Golden Owl of Athena
  • Ogre Empire (which has a suspicious resemblance to the movie Shrek)

9. Blueprint Gaming

Blueprint Gaming is based in the United Kingdom. Most of their fruit machines can be found on casino floors there or in Germany and Italy. Here’s a sample of their titles:

  • Fairy Fortunes
  • Slots o’ Gold
  • Wild Antics

10. Cadillac Jack

Cadillac Jack was a subsidiary of Amaya Gaming, which is now wholly owned by The Stars Group.

11. EGT Interactive (Euro Games Technology)

EGT Interactive specializes in video slots. You can find a lot of their games at various sports book sites that also offer casino games. They offer over 150 different games, including titles like:

  • 40 Ultra Respin
  • Crazy Bugs II
  • More Like a Diamond

12. Endemol Shine Gaming

Endemol Shine Gaming specializes in both online and brick and mortar gambling games. Some of their best-known properties belong to the licensed television game show genre. Some examples include:

Betting Patterns Slot Machines

  • Deal or No Deal
  • MasterChef
  • Million Pound Drop

13. Fremantle Media

Fremantle Media is one of the more unusual listings on this page, because they don’t exactly design or manufacture slot machine games. They own several large television brands, which they aggressively promote through multiple channels–including slot machines. If you’re playing one of these slots, Fremantle Media had a lot to do with it:

  • American Idol
  • Blockbusters
  • The X Factor

14. The Gamesys Group

The Gamesys Group does slots and bingo games. Some of the better known brands in their stable include:

  • The Godfather
  • Guardians of Fire & Ice
  • Secrets of the Phoenix

15. Heiwa Corporation

Heiwa Corporation is a publicly-traded Japanese corporation that specializes in pachinko and pachislo machine manufacture.

16. High 5 Games

High 5 Games creates both internet-based and land-based slot machine games, some of which are popular. They use HTML 5 for their online slot machines. Their most famous games include:

  • Cats
  • Golden Goddess
  • Photographing Fairies

17. IGT (International Game Technology)

IGT is far and away the largest slot machine company in the world. They’re everywhere. The most popular gambling machines in the casino are the product of International Game Technology. Just a few of their big names include:

  • Family Guy
  • Jeopardy
  • Siberian Storm
  • Wheel of Fortune

18. Konami Gaming

Konami Gaming is the maker of the following slot machines:

  • Dungeons and Dragons
  • Flaming Red Diamonds
  • Year of Best Wishes

19. Mazooma Interactive Games

Mazooma Interactive Games is a UK game company that specializes in online games. They’re now a subsidiary of Novomatic.

20. Microgaming

Microgaming was the first large online casino software provider. They’re best-known for the wide variety of their online progressive jackpots. Some of their most famous brands include:

  • Battlestar Galactica
  • Halloween
  • Playboy
  • Terminator 2

I’ve written about Microgaming before, here.

21. NetEnt

Machine

NetEnt is another publicly-traded company that specializes in online games. They’re responsible for, among other things, the Jumanji slot machine game.

22. NewGin Co. Ltd.

NewGin Co. Ltd. is another Japanese manufacturer of pachinko and pachislo machines.

23. NextGen Gaming

NextGen Gaming serves both online and land-based casinos. They offer some really cool titles, including:

  • King Kong Fury
  • Samurai Split
  • Wonder Hounds

24. Novomatic Gaming

The name “Novomatic” always reminds me of the Steve Goodman song, Vegematic.

But that song has nothing to do with the company, though. Novomatic Gaming is probably the biggest European slot machine maker there is, in fact.

Some of their games you’ve probably heard of include:

  • From Dusk Til Dawn
  • Stories of Infinity
  • Treasure of Tut

25. Ortiz Gaming

Ortiz Gaming specializes in Class II and Class III slot machines, especially when it comes to bingo technology. And their games are OVERTLY bingo-based, too:

  • Allstar Bingo
  • Rodeo Bingo
  • Multimania

26. Playtech

Playtech is another online game designer and creator, and, like Microgaming, they’re publicly traded. They also don’t allow their licensees to accept real money players from the United States. Some of their better known games include:

  • Ace Ventura
  • American Dad
  • Batman Begins
  • Grease
  • Justice League
  • Pink Panther
  • Rocky

27. Realtime Gaming

Realtime Gaming (RTG) is probably the biggest online casino game vendor that still serves U.S. audiences — at least the audiences that don’t live in states with legal, regulated online casinos. (There are 47 states like that.) As a result, you’ve probably never heard of most of their games unless you’re a devoted internet gambler.

My favorite of their games is It’s Good to Be Bad, but I’m old school.

28. SG Gaming (Scientific Games)

Scientific Games is headquartered in Las Vegas. They own Bally now, and they own Shuffle Master. And they also own WMS Gaming. Their most well-known game is probably Monopoly slot machines.

29. Universal Entertainment Corporation

Betting Patterns Slot Machine Casino Game

Universal Entertainment Corporation is another pachinko and pachislo manufacturer.

30. VGT (Video Gaming Technologies) – One of My Favorite Slot Machine Manufacturers

VGT is one of the biggest names in the Oklahoma gambling market, and they specialize in bingo-based slot machine games.

31. WMS Gaming

WMS Gaming is now a subsidiary of Scientific Games. So see that entry above.

32. Apollo Games (just added!)

Apollo Games has a full profile on our site. Click the link for full details.

Understanding slot machines betting

The Final Word about Slot Machine Manufacturers

The brand names in the slot machine manufacturers category are many, but, of course, IGT (International Game Technology) towers above the rest like Walmart towers over other retail establishments. The list above gets longer when you account for the companies making online slot machine games, too.

Slot Machine Strategy

If you have any comments about the games available from these corporations, I’d enjoy hearing them. I’m human and make mistakes, so if you leave a comment pointing one out, I’ll update this post with corrections (and probably even give you credit.)