Am I Slot or Not?

So, what is a slot machine? How far does the definition stretch?

Is it a game of pure random luck, with zero skill involved?
Can skill play a factor, but only in a bonus game situation?
Or can the game be skill based, and still be considered a slot?

The site Leading Edge Design has a number of slot and video poker demos, some of which defy the conventional slot.

So, is Video Poker considered a slot machine? Skill plays a major factor in how well a player does overall.

Gems Wild Tiles is not a 3 or 5 reel slot machine, but is all about the luck - no in-game player decisions.
Same with Othello and Bunco Night.

A game called Cash King Checkers can have a skill-based decision; Depending on where the checkers fall, some choices will pay off better than others.

Another based on Scrabble has a video poker Discard/Draw feel to it, and is even advertised as a slot machine... but is it?

What about Top Dollar slots? In the bonus game, a player may refuse a bonus offer, and may win less credits than originally offered. Could this be defined as a skill decision?

tl;dr version
Can a game be based on A) pure luck, B) minimal skill, or C) major skill... and still be considered a "slot machine"?

It depends upon who you ask, and what jurisdiction you're in.

For example, ShuffleMaster's TableMaster BlackJack machine, the one with the big screen display of a dealer with several player positions, looks and acts like blackjack, but is considered a slot machine by most gaming authorities.

Rapid Roulette and Rapid Craps would also be considered slot machines if they included TITO devices.

What does TITO have to do with it? There are still slots out there without TITO.

A jurisdiction might not differentiate between video poker and slots, but most people recognize a clear difference. To the state of Nevada, they are both considered Gaming Devices.

To me, Gems Wild Tiles, Othello, and Bunco Night are all slots since there is no player interaction. I saw Othello once in vegas, and if you bet 1 "line," your payback was 75% - yikes.

Top Dollar does have somewhat of a skill involved, but the player does not know all of the information to make the correct decision. Instead, the calculations are based on the player making decisions based on what the median prize is. For most jurisdictions, this is just considered a non skill game. I also just consider this a slot.

Quote: thlf

What does TITO have to do with it? There are still slots out there without TITO.

As I understand it, in many jurisdictions, if it has reels, or looks like it has reels, or it has TITO, then it's a slot machine - at least for reporting purposes.

Maybe he means TITO or bill-coin receptacle.

It's not TITO as opposed to coins, it's TITO as opposed to buying in from a dealer's rack. In many jurisdictions, only all-electronic games are allowed. That's why the electronic table games market got started, and then multi-terminal systems like IGT or Interblock came along.

Here's the Nevada definition (Nevada Gaming Regulation 29.020):

"“Slot machine” means any mechanical, electrical or other device, contrivance or machine which, upon insertion of a coin, currency, token or similar object therein, or upon payment of any consideration whatsoever, is available to play or operate, the play or operation of which, whether by reason of the skill of the operator or application of the element of chance, or both, may deliver or entitle the person playing or operating the machine to receive cash, premiums, or merchandise, tokens or anything of value whatsoever, whether the payoff is made automatically from the machine or in any other manner whatsoever."

(This appears to include things like video poker. I assume that a "replay" from a pinball machine is not considered "something of value" (don't laugh; I think New York City still does - the last time I played pinball there, replays were illegal), as otherwise, not only would the Pinball Hall of Fame need a gaming license, but any arcade with a pinball machine in it would have to make sure nobody under 21 played it.)

Thanks for affirming my shorter version.

The distinction gets very blurry with some of the tables at the Red Rock and Riviera. You give the dealer cash, then he presses some buttons to show how much you bought in for. Then you press buttons to make your bets but the dealer deals real cards for purposes of the game. When you're ready to leave he pays you in chips.

For purposes of Gaming I'm not sure what this counts as.