Does California Allow Slot Machines

Gambling is a billion dollar industry that attracts millions of people around the world. While games such as Texas Hold ‘Em poker receive more fanfare, by far the most profitable and available attraction in these casinos is the slot machine. While familiar in appearance, these devices are a mystery to the layperson. Dating back to the late 1800s and with a history rooted in the California Gold Rush, “slots” use the principles of probability and chance to beguile players and create a profit for owners. The design of slot machines has evolved from mobile mechanical parts to mostly electronic components over the course of the last century, but their charm and attraction remain strong. With the advent of computer servers and live streaming of data, slot machines are poised to intrigue and befuddle a new generation of gamblers hoping to hit the jackpot.

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Introduction

The gambling industry brings in billions of dollars every year all over the world. Places such as Las Vegas and Monte Carlo have built their reputations on gambling establishments with hundreds of games ranging from poker to electronic horse racing and with all kinds of luxurious accoutrements from flashy shows to nightclubs. People travel from many different places, sometimes bringing a month’s worth of savings, so that they can participate in these games of chance and experience the casino atmosphere. More often than not, they leave having lost more money than they have won, but having enjoyed the experience nonetheless.
Since its introduction in 1893, the most popular form of gambling has been the slot machine. Slots are simple, giving rewards when the correct combination of symbols has surfaced. They rarely cost more than five dollars and require only the push of a button or the pull of a handle to play. Flashing lights, exciting sounds, and large grand prizes entice players who hope to strike it rich. Because they do not require skill or practice to play, these machines give everyone the chance to win. Immortalized in movies such as Casino and Ocean’s 11, slot machines continue to be the most profitable game in any casino. In Las Vegas alone, slot machines accounted for 67% of total casino profits in 2006 [1].
Various models of slot machines are in use today, but the most popular contains a combination of electronic and mechanical parts. Using the fundamentals of probability, slots are uniquely engineered to appear simple while disguising their true inner workings from the public. The slot machine combines engineering acumen, mathematical know-how, and psychological deceit in a single, attractive package.

History

In San Francisco in 1893, Gustav F.W. Schultze invented a small countertop gambling machine to capitalize on the strong gambling tendencies that resulted from the Gold Rush. This device accepted a nickel, which caused a colored disk to begin spinning. After the disk stopped, a connected star wheel determined the payout. A slide then cut the correct number of coins and dropped them into a payout cup. During the late 1890’s, Charles Fey perfected this machine by adding three wheels instead of one and changing their orientation so that they flashed symbols of playing cards through a window. Using more springs, cams and levers, Fey contrived a mechanism that allowed the reels to stop in succession, creating an atmosphere of suspense [2]. With over a thousand different possible combinations and a 75.6% payout of money played (meaning the owner kept 24.4%), Fey’s contraption known as the “Bell” became the standard archetype for slot machines and a popular attraction in saloons.

Does California Allow Slot Machines Jackpots

Herbert S. Mills further perpetuated the popularity of the Bell machines. By increasing the reliability and decreasing the cost of manufacturing slots, Mills was able to ship these machines throughout the new territories of the United States. He also pioneered the inclusion of a pack of gum with play in order to skirt the growing number of laws restricting the use of these gambling attractions. In essence, gamblers could only play once they performed the legal transaction of “buying” the gum. In 1906, Mills introduced his own slot machine with the now-classic bell and other symbols (Fig. 1) supplanting the original card signs on the slot reels [2]. Furthermore, he expanded the window opening from one to three lines to add another factor to entice people to play, as players could now see how close they were to winning.

Slot innovation continued in the twentieth century. During the 1920s, slots were revamped to accept quarters and even silver dollars. Sometimes skill elements were added, such as buttons that allowed the player to attempt to stop each specific reel at a moment of his or her choosing. Most importantly, the concept of the jackpot was incorporated. Windows showing a buildup of coins proved to be effective bait for many players.
In 1963, Bally Manufacturing Company introduced the first electronic slot machine. Electromechanical sensors replaced the mechanical slides and allowed for brand new features. All three lines in the slot window could offer payouts, as well as diagonal matchups, allowing for many more winning combinations [2]. Furthermore, multiplier machines could accept multiple coins for larger prizes. Soon, logic cards and integrated circuits replaced the switches and wires. In 1981, Michael S. Redd founded International Game Technology (IGT), a public company that pioneered a radical new invention in slots. Redd took all the recent electronic breakthroughs and coupled them with a computer that replaced the original wheel randomizer. This computer generated random numbers that instantly decided the payout and where each “reel” would stop. A motor simultaneously carried out these directions on the slot screen. These machines remain the basis for slots in today’s casinos.

The Modern Electronic Reel Slot Machine: A Piece by Piece Breakdown

Slot machines produced today are a far cry from their mechanical ancestors. Computer chips have replaced spinning wheels, and electronic credits have replaced coins. This fusion of new age electronics with old fashioned nostalgia creates a machine that, while simple in theory, beguiles players on a regular basis.
At the heart of all modern slot machines is a computer chip called the Random Number Generator (RNG). This device replaces the original spinning wheel found in gambling machines from the first half of the twentieth century. The RNG is capable of continuously generating thousands of random numbers and, in the case of the three-reel slot, thousands of three-number combinations every second [3]. Each of these three numbers in the combination serves to designate where the reels will stop.

To simplify the thousands of combinations into discrete slots on reels, each random number in the combination is divided by a set value (typically, slot machines use 32, 64, 128, 256, or 512 as that value). The computer records the remainder of this quotient, which by mathematical law cannot exceed the set value [4]. The remainder is mapped to a certain symbol that is physically distributed among the number of slots the reel contains. A virtual representation of this mapping using a set value of 128 and a reel with 22 slots may be seen in Fig. 2.

This is how the odds swing in favor of the casino. The quotient remainders are not all distributed equally among the actual slots on the reel. Blank spaces are weighed heavily, as seen in the Percent Chance of Choosing Symbol column, as are those that have a lower payout. Furthermore, each of the three reels is weighted differently. For instance, the first reel is most likely to hit the jackpot slot, while by the third reel the likelihood is minuscule. Along with a heavy weighting to blank spaces surrounding the jackpot, this creates a “near miss” effect and keeps the player in suspense [3].
The RNG is part of a larger Computer Processing Unit (CPU) that controls other various functions of the slot machine. The basic functions include the Start switch, Max Bet switch, token or credit sensor, and RAM to store the various hit combinations, reel stops and payouts. Depending on the style of machine the CPU also may control the hopper, which stores tokens or coins, or the credit account of the player [5].

For a machine with actual spinning reels, once the random numbers have been generated, the machine uses a stepper motor to turn each reel and stop it at the predetermined point [4]. A stepper motor is an electromechanical device that uses electrical pulses to drive a shaft or spindle in discrete increments. These incremental movements are related to the frequency and sequence of the electrical pulses, allowing for total movement control [6]. If the machine only has a screen, then a piece of software animates a virtual spinning reel.

Overall, the slot machine’s actions are controlled by a simple algorithm based on basic programming principles like IF switches and loops. The algorithm begins once the on switch is triggered (usually by the insertion of a token or credit). At this point, the start button or “lever” is pulled, which leads the RNG to choose the random numbers that will control the positions of the reels. The step motor simultaneously spins the reels until they arrive at the correct position. If the selected combination corresponds to a payout, many machines will trigger a program of flashing LED lights and sounds, and the payout will be awarded. Otherwise, the game ends, and the player must trigger the start switch once more by adding a new token or credit. In addition to this simplified loop shown in Fig. 3, some machines include special jackpots or other attractive motions and sounds in order to create a more satisfying experience for the gambler.

Slot-Machine Innovations

By today’s standards the technology employed in slot machines has not advanced very significantly. Fig. 4 shows some of these newer slot machines. The Random Number Generator central to the slot machine’s function has existed for decades. Even newer slots with more than three reels, multiple payout lines and interactive games are child’s play when compared with a current video game system. However, new innovations to the world of gambling games are cropping up and copying many existing prototypes of networked machines.
In recent years, slot machine designers have worked closely with video game architects in order to bring some of the visual appeal found in virtual gaming to the gambling arena. Video monitors, 3D graphics, and group competition are all making their way into slot construction [7]. Furthermore, slots have taken on a pop culture persona in order to keep up with a younger generation of gamblers. Games featuring “Lord of the Rings” and “Sex and the City” themes have already appeared at gaming expos. Designers have even added multi-level games to help bring gamblers back.

One of the most intriguing developments in slot technology involves connecting slots to servers, much as office computer networks are designed. This innovation would allow casinos to easily manage minimum bets, percentages paid, and the type of game available on a machine. Furthermore, these activities or factors could be adjusted based on the time of day, level of activity at each floor, or even the players’ personal information [8]. These networks will also allow different games to be recommended for different players as well as the streaming of live television to built-in screens.

The appeal of slots has always been the atmosphere of suspense it creates with its spinning reels coupled with the appeal of “easy” money. The average person can easily set the minimum bet and playing is as simple as pressing a button. Recently, slot machines have been overshadowed by other table games such as poker, which is extensively televised, and the live excitement of craps. Changing with the times and utilizing new technologies will allow popular gambling machines from the past to remain as attractions to new generations of gamblers.

References

    • [1] “Nevada Reporting Huge Casino Profits.” Online Gambling Paper. n.d. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://www.ogpaper.​com/news/news-0222.h​tml>.
    • [2] Jack Kelly. “Slots: Perfecting a machine to take away your money.” American Heritage of Invention and Technology-Online 16.2 (2000): 34. Web. 13 Jul. 2010.
    • [3] Michael Bluejay. “How Slot Machines Work.” Top Ten Las Vegas Tips. n.d. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://vegasclick.c​om/games/slots/how-t​hey-work.html>.
    • [4] Tom Harris. “How Slot Machines Work.” HowStuffWorks. 26 Feb. 2002. Web. 15 Jul. 2010.<http://enterta​inment.howstuffworks​.com/slot-machine.ht​m>.
    • [5] Haruo Inoue. 1997. Slot Machine. U.S. Patent 5,609,524, filed July 12. 1995, and issued March 11, 1997.
    • [6] “Stepper Motors.” Omega Engineering Web. 16 July 2010. <http://www.omega.co​m/prodinfo/stepper_m​otors.html>.
    • [7] Christopher Palmeri. “Face-lift for the One-Armed Bandit.” Business Week 21 Dec. 2009: 77. Web. 15 July 2010. <http://www.thefreel​ibrary.com/FACE-LIFT​+FOR+THE+ONE-ARMED+B​ANDIT-a01612094149>.​
    • [8] Quentin Hardy. “Well-Armed Bandits – Forbes.com.” Forbes Business News. 19 May 2008. Web. 16 Jul. 2010. <http://www.forbes.c​om/global/2008/0519/​054.html>.
    • [9] “Old Downtown Las Vegas History.” EarlyVegas. n.d. Web. 20 Jul. 2010. <http://www.earlyveg​as.com/downtown.html​>.
    • [10] Rusman. “Playing in an Online Slot Machines for Players.” Games and Entertainment Reviews. 6 Aug. 20101. Web. 11 Oct. 2010. <http://www.komiks-d​k.net/slot-machines/​playing-in-an-online​-slot-machines-for-p​layers.html>.

On this page, we’ve compiled an in-depth summary of the current state of online gambling in CA, touching on various topics from the legality of gambling in the state to current regulatory debates. We’ve also compiled a list of safe and secure online casinos for California residents that you can view below, which have all been in business for 10+ years with no issues. If you’re looking for a legal, safe, and trusted California online casinos, you’re in luck!

What Are the Top Real Money Online Casinos in California?

RankOnline CasinoKey InfoBonus InfoVisit Casino
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California is known for being a trendsetter when it comes to most industries in the United States. It’s no surprise that legalized online gambling in California has grown far ahead of many other locations in the United States.

Why These CA Online Casinos Are The Best

They Offer Legal, Trusted Gambling Games to Residents and Visitors

The entire reason you’re probably here is to figure out which online casinos offer services to California residents. You’ve probably heard mixed answers about the legality of online gambling in California and, therefore, are not sure where you can and cannot play.

Because of that, the number one trait that makes California online casinos great is simply the fact that they offer services to California residents and visitors!

Just because an online casino says it services US customers does not mean it is a good fit for California gamblers. In order for us to recommend an online casino to you, we need to know for sure that it services California gamblers.

They Offer Games Californians Love to Play

What good is an online casino if it doesn’t have the games that Californians love to play? We’ll answer that question for you—it’s no good at all. The California online casinos that we’ve recommended offer an extremely wide variety of games, including favorites like blackjack, craps, roulette, three card poker, keno, slot machines, pai gow, sic bo, and more! If you’re looking for an easy way to play your favorite gambling games for real money in California, check out one of the recommended online casinos from the up-to-date list at the top of the page.

They Have Banking Options That Work Fast

Does California Allow Slot Machines For Real

Not every banking option works everywhere in the world. There are specific banking options that work better and faster for California residents. When we’re analyzing the quality of California online casinos, we ensure that they have several high-quality online casino banking options that work great for Californians.


While we don’t need tons of options, we do want to see at least a couple of great deposit options and a couple of great withdrawal options. You’re only going to need one, but we want options just so you have a better chance of seeing an option that is a great fit for you.

The Ultimate in Convenience

The entire point of using online casino sites is to provide convenience. California is an extremely spread out state in some areas, which means you may be hundreds of miles from the closest land-based casino. Additionally, that land-based casino might not offer the games you want to play. This is where online casinos come in. The idea of an online casino is to solve these problems and bring convenience to players across the state.

But this convenience goes away if the online gambling site doesn’t set things up properly. It should be super simple for you to create an account, make a deposit, find the games you like, play, and withdraw your winnings. If any of these things aren’t super simple, we’re not interested in the site and you won’t see those California online casinos recommended on this page.

Is Online Gambling Legal in California?

These days, the United States is one of the more confusing countries in the world when it comes to online gambling laws, with dozens of states having different rules and nuances of how they treat the topic. When it comes to California, it is perhaps the unique exception. There are currently no specific regulations that explicitly prohibit online gambling for residents of the state.

Because of this, Californians have little worry when it comes to playing online casino games, and currently, there are a number of trustworthy sites offering online casino games, sports betting, and poker across the state.

There is no specific law or set of laws making it illegal for CA residents to play casino games online but, as is the case in most of the United States, there are no laws regulating the industry either.

Does California Allow Slot Machines For Sale

Unlike the state lottery, casinos that operate online are not subject to any sort of government scrutiny and, in many ways, can operate without fear of legal ramifications. For this reason, many bills have been proposed with the end goal of legalizing and regulating the online casino industry in the state.

Up to this point, however, any and all legislation aimed at legalizing and regulating online casinos has either stalled or has been flat-out rejected.

What Does This Mean for You?

There are two important takeaways you should get from this. One, it is not illegal for you to gamble online in California. You are free to play the games you want for real money without fear of negative repercussions. Two, the market is unregulated, which means that you will not have some of the added protections and oversight you would get in a regulated market.

This makes it that much more important that you choose to gamble online in California. The good news for you is that casinos make a lot of money. For them to continue making money, they have to continue having happy customers that are getting the entertainment value they desire. If they are not operating reputably and taking care of their customers, word will get out, and their cash cow is going to dry up. This places a huge incentive for online casinos in California to do things the right way as if they were being regulated.

Still, not every online casino follows that mindset. There are some California online casinos that only look at the short term and don’t care about their long-term sustainability. Because of this, it is also important that you take advantage of resources like this site to help you determine where the best casinos online are. If you want to ensure you’re betting with one of these reputable sites, stick to the recommended list we’ve provided at the top of the page.

The Future of Online Gambling in California

Despite what has been a mostly fruitless endeavor up to this point, experts believe that California is one of the next states that will establish legalized intrastate online casinos. Each year, it seems as though a larger number of bills for the complete and total legalization and regulation of online casinos gets put into circulation.

It is only a matter of time until one of them is signed into law. With that being said, online gambling sites are what many would consider to be the least of California’s governmental problems. With almost constant drought, severe debt, and many other issues on hand, it becomes difficult for activists to convince politicians and voters alike that establishing an online casino network is something that should be done soon. Many efforts have been made, and only few have succeeded.

The fact that the California government does not oversee them does not mean that the California online casinos which offer their games are not trustworthy. These casinos are regulated abroad and most are very reliable; you just have to sign up with time-tested ones with stellar reputations. To help you with choosing a legal CA online casino to play at, we have reviewed and researched dozens and recommend the best online casinos for California residents at the top of the page.

Legal Status of Brick and Mortar Casinos — California

In California, there are plenty of brick-and-mortar locations all over the state. One thing that all of these casinos have in common, however, is that they are all Native American-run and almost always located on Native American land. This sounds like a rather conservative policy for an otherwise liberal state, but the wider scope of gambling and casinos in California is not as restrictive as it may first appear. Of course, this all depends on where you reside in the United States.

The land-based casinos in California usually offer all the classic favorites such as slots, roulette, keno, baccarat, blackjack and the like.

While California law does not allow for casino games like roulette and slots to be played off Native American land, it does facilitate the playing of poker games such as Texas Hold ‘em and Omaha.

Card rooms—as they are known in California—number in the tens of dozens and seem to be growing in number all the time. Poker is the dominant offering of California’s card rooms, however, blackjack variants and other more obscure games can be found being played as well. Basically, so long as the game is centered around playing cards, the rule of thumb is that it can likely be found at a card room. Naturally, some card rooms are better than others, and thus, the offering of one card room is never equal to that of another.

Additionally, if you play non-poker, gambling-type games in one of these card rooms, you’ll notice that the “bank” or who you are playing against will actually be another player at the table who is being paid to be there. It’s a confusing system and clearly a workaround for the state laws, but the outcome is the same. You are able to play your favorite games without fear of negative repercussions.

Does California Allow Slot Machines Work

There are brick and mortar, Native American-run casinos all over the state, however, online gambling is still the easiest way to play any and all casino games at any time of day. When it comes down to it, someone who is looking to play casino games in California will either have to do so at CA online casinos or on Native American land. As you might have guessed, this predicament means that online casino play in California is quite widespread. It’s this common knowledge that is driving the push to legalize and regulate real money online casinos.

In recent years, pro-casino activists have lobbied politicians to promote and/or vote for bills to expand the way in which Californians can gamble at brick-and-mortar sites, but most of those efforts have so far been for naught. This is interesting, too, because California is historically one of the more liberal states in the country. Some of the largest land-based casinos currently operating in California include the following:

Local California Land Based Casinos

CasinoAddressPhone
Pechanga Resort & Casino45000 Pechanga Parkway(877) 7112-WIN
Cache Creek Casino14455 CA-16(800) 452-8181
San Manuel Casino777 San Manuel Blvd(800) 359-2464
Thunder Valley Casino1200 Athens Avenue(916) 408-7777
Viejas Casino & Turf Club5000 Willows Road(800) 847-6537
Morongo Casino Resort49750 Seminole Drive (800) 252-4499
Pala Casino Resort11154 Highway 76(877) 946-7252
Red Hawk Casino1 Red Hawk Boulevard(888) 573-3495
Barona Casino & Resort1932 Wildcat Canyon Rd(888) 722-7662
Table Mountain Casino8184 Table Mountain Rd(800) 541-3637

California Online Casinos and Gambling FAQ

  • Abbreviation: CA
  • State Motto: Eureka
  • Capital City: Sacramento
  • Population Estimate: 39.5 million (1st)
  • Website: https://www.ca.gov/
What Is the Legal Age to Play at online casinos in California?
In California, the minimum age for participation in lottery games is 18 years old, but one must be 21 to play at the state’s card rooms. Because there are no laws in effect at the present moment, we feel safe saying that one should be at least 21 years of age before they play at California online casinos.
What Are the Best Online Casinos to Play at in California?
If you’re looking for the most trusted, safe, and overall best California online casinos, you’re in luck. Our review team has spent countless hours scouring the web for the top sites. At the top of this page, we’ve included a link of the best of the best to ensure you have the greatest online gambling experience while you’re living in California or visiting the west coast.
Yes, online blackjack is currently legal in California at the casino sites we recommend on this page. All of the operators listed offer many popular variants of blackjack, including single and double deck, Spanish 21, progressive blackjack, and others.
Slots are also completely legal in California and can be enjoyed at one of the many California online casinos. All of these gambling sites offer a wide variety of games such as video slots, reel slots, progressives, and bonus rounds from leading providers.
Why Is Craps (Dice) Illegal in California Land-Based Casinos?
Presently, craps is prohibited in land-based casinos in the state, as regulators feel there is no skill involved in the game and it’s too risk-centric for players. That being said, you are free to play craps online from California without restrictions at sites like Cherry Gold Casino, one of our top rated site.
Similar to craps, roulette is currently banned from land-based casinos in CA, due to the fact there is very little skill involved for players. It’s also viewed as having too high of a house edge against players. There are electronic variants that are available in some land-based casinos in California. If you do want to play the game from inside California state lines, finding an online casino site is the way to go. All of our recommended CA casinos on this page do offer the ability for players from CA to play roulette online, so that’s your best bet if you want to play from within the state.
As is often the case in the United States, depositing funds can vary. Most often, the preferred methods by which you can fund an online casino account is by way of credit/debit card or by bank transfer. Other forms of deposit may be accepted, but these two tend to be the most common. In many online casinos open to California residents, other ways of depositing funds in online casinos include Money Gram or Western Union transfers, as well as cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.
Though you may be able to deposit by way of credit or debit card, it is not likely that California residents will be able to cash out their casino winnings via this method. Instead, you will find that most online casino sites transmit winnings by way of paper check or direct bank transfer. You can usually also request to be paid your casino winnings by bitcoin.
Is Dealing with Online Casinos in California Safe?
Machines

Does California Allow Slot Machines Work

If you know that there exists no framework for regulated and legalized online casino play in California, you might be wondering how anyone is able to trust the many sites that offer their services in the state. The fact of the matter is that, while you may not be able to take an online casino to court in California, a small bit of due diligence will lead you to trustworthy, reputable online casinos in California. Plenty of well-respected names in the online casino industry operate in CA, and these are names that can be trusted.

Legal Slot Machines In California

Most notably, the online casinos we recommend for California residents have all been operating for many years and have strong reputations to defend. In case of issues, they will resolve them immediately so that their stellar reputations are not sullied. These online casinos also use time-tested technology and reputable casino games, therefore, you can be sure that if you decide to make a deposit in one of these casinos, your depositing process will be safe and secure and the games you will play will be fair and give you an honest chance to win money!