Common Arcade Game Terms

The OPA Arcade Game Glossary

Arcade Games rose to popularity more than 30 years ago and were instant hit among youth. They are perhaps even more popular today thanks to the proliferation of online Arcade Games. Now, with only a simple internet connection, players of all ages can play popular Arcade Games from the past and present.

In order to enjoy Arcade Game action to the fullest, players should familiarize themselves with basic Arcade Game terms. Without this knowledge, it may be difficult to fully comprehend basic Arcade Game rules and strategy.

Arcade Game terms refer to basic words used in and around the arcade, including Arcade Game slang. As players of Arcade Games tend to be young and tech savvy, Arcade Game slang is often rife with popular cultural references that can leave a novice player confused and disheartened.

While you don’t have to memorize every Arcade Game phrase, reading the below glossary is a good start towards fuller participation in the global Online Arcade Games community.

Arcade Game Terminology

A
Arcade
A commercial establishment featuring rows of coin operated games. There are now arcade rooms in online casino sites that play-for-pay.

C
Cabaret
A specific cabinet style of arcade machine where the cabinet is a smaller, shorter version of the upright machine. It is also referred to as a “mini.”
Casino Edge
The advantage that the casino holds on any bet in the casino parlour. In Arcade Game action, the casino edge is somewhere between 5 percent to 15 percent, depending on the particular online casino and the type of game that is played.
Control Panel
The panel that contains all the players’ controls, including buttons, trackballs, etc.
Control Panel Overplay
The art work that is applied to the control panel which label the controls.

D
Derby Day
One of the most popular Online Arcade Games.

E
EGM
Stands for Electronic Gaming Machine, which is an electronic game with a computer chip that determines the outcome.

F
Free Arcade Games
Games generally played in no download, flash format that do not require players to insert real money to initiate play. These games are intended to expose players to the software used by the casino and to familiarize themselves with the game rules.

H
Hold
The difference between what Arcade Game machine takes in and what it must pay out, as mandated by law. This is the profit margin of the Arcade Game machine.

J
Jackpot
The top prize a player can win on an Arcade Game machine. These jackpots can either be fixed or progressive.

L
Loose Arcade Game
An arcade game machine that appears to return larger average payouts

M
Max Bet
The maximum bet that a player can make per game. In the vast majority of cases, this is the only way a player can win the main jackpot.
Multimeter
An instrument that is used to probe and measure electrical states in the circuitry of an arcade machine found in land-casinos.

P
Payback Percentage
The percentage of money an arcade machine takes in that it pays back to players. For example, a machine that posts a “95% Payback” means that it has a 5% advantage, and pays back 95% of what it takes in back to the players in the form of payouts.
Payout Percentage
The sum of the winning percentages for each winning total. For example, 10,000 points may have a 3% total payback percentage over the life of that machine.
Progressive Jackpot
This is a jackpot that grows every time there is a bet made on that game. With each play, the jackpot grows larger, and the amount is usually displayed to entice players to try for the jackpot.

R
RGN
An acronym for Random Number Generator, the computer program that determines the results of each game.
Rhythm Method
A technique that some players use in order to time the spins on an arcade machine. Since most machines dictate their results in millimetres of a second, this strategy is of no bearing on the result of each spin.
ROM
This refers to “Read Only Memory.” These are chips that hold software instructions in a non-volatile state.

S
Spinner
An arcade control that spins 360 degrees, such as the Tempest.