Part I: Games & Gaming · Slot Machines & Electronic Gaming

EGM (Electronic Gaming Machine)

Slot Technology

The formal regulatory term for any electronic device used for gambling, including slot machines, video poker machines, video keno, video lottery terminals, and electronic table games. EGM encompasses the full hardware system: the gaming cabinet, the main logic board (motherboard), the RNG, the power supply, the display(s), the input devices (buttons, touchscreen), the bill validator, the ticket printer, and all internal meters. In regulatory contexts, “EGM” is preferred over “slot machine” because it captures the broader category of electronic gambling devices beyond traditional reel-spinning games.

In practice

In Australia and New Zealand, “EGM” is the standard regulatory term. In Nevada, “gaming device” is the statutory term. Many Asian jurisdictions use “electronic gaming equipment” or EGE.

One entry from the Casino Industry Glossary — 1,157 terms written for surveillance, compliance and operations professionals rather than for players. Definitions describe industry usage; where a term carries a regulatory meaning, verify against the instrument that governs your jurisdiction.