Fruit Machine

Common term for a slot machine in the United Kingdom.

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The term "fruit machine" derives from the fruit symbols found on the reels of most UK slot machines. UK slots players also call slot machine "Amusement With Prizes" or AWP, and occasionally use a term American players are familiar with: one-armed bandits.

Fruit machines are likeliest to be found in British pubs and arcades. The typical fruit machine will be a 3-reel slot machine, though you'll occasionally find a machine with more than the standard 3 reels. Because the fruit machines are so widespread, they are strictly regulated in terms of how much they cost and how much they pay out.

For example, the maximum amount for a fruit machine spin is 50 pence, roughly equivalent to $0.93 (American) as of this writing. Also, the fruit machine jackpots are limited to much lower than what you might find in Las Vegas. The standard maximum fruit machine payout is around £35, which translates to around $63 in US dollars.

lot machines in America, UK slot machine players can find all manner of fruit machine cheats and fruit machine tips. You might find someone suggesting the hold after a nudge. ("Hold" being the ability to freeze one advantageous reel symbol; "Nudge" being the ability to move an advantageous reel symbol over one spot.) Like American slots tips, this advice is typically nonsense, and does not increase one's odds of winning at the fruit machines.