Slot machines – how MERKUR gaming machines work
Flashing symbols, immersive sound effects, spinning reels and that one moment when everything falls into place: slot machines have a unique appeal all of their own. But how do slot machines in casinos and arcades actually work? We’ll guide you through the process step by step and show you how MERKUR gaming machines really tick – from activation right through to success on the reels.
approx. 5 min.
Slot machines – how MERKUR gaming machines work
How do MERKUR slot machines work? The quick guide at a glance.
It’s actually quite simple. Here’s your quick guide from activation to success:
- Activation: Depending on the arcade, activate your machine using an access card, ID verification or directly at the PIN centre.
- Choose your game: Pick your favourite from 80 main games or access a specific title using its game code.
- Set up: Select your stake level and use the stake button to convert euros into bits.
- Play: Spin the reels, match symbols and achieve successes.
A closer look: how do slot machines work in detail?
The principle is simple: you press start and the reels spin symbols across the screen. If enough matching symbols land on a payline – usually from left to right – you’ve got a match. So, how do you get started with your first spin? Nice and easy: we’ll guide you through it step by step.
Step 1 – Activating slot machines: access card, ID verification or PIN centre.
Nothing works on a slot machine without activation – whether in an arcade or on a machine in a hospitality venue. At a MERKUR Arcade , the process works as follows: when you arrive, a member of staff will first carry out a brief admission check, including age verification and a self-exclusion check.
You will then usually receive an activation card with an NFC chip. Hold this against the PIN centre, a terminal that shows you which machines are currently available. Select your machine, receive a PIN code and enter it on the machine. You’re then ready to start.
There are also other ways to activate a machine:
- Some PIN centres work via ID verification, meaning you do not need a separate activation card.
- In some arcades, you will receive a machine-specific activation card that you insert directly into the card slot on the machine.
Important: don’t forget to log out after playing. Once you have cashed out your balance, log out of the machine. This makes it available for the next guest and allows you to switch easily to another machine.
Step 2 – Choosing your game on the slot machine: from Top 10 to My Top Game.
Once you’ve activated your machine, it’s time to choose a game. At the top of the screen, you’ll find the menu with 40 game buttons – the machine’s main games. Use the red arrow button directly below to move through the selection in blocks of ten. New games always appear at the beginning of a block and are marked with a red flag, followed by the most popular titles.
Want to see more? Simply swipe down from the top edge of the screen to view all 300 game titles available on the machine in alphabetical order.
Two useful tips from us: the MERKUR suns in the top right-hand corner of a game button indicate which games feature Action Games . And if you use a zoom-in gesture on a game button while in the menu view, the game description with screenshots will open.
Two features make choosing even easier:
- Top 10: Still undecided? The Top 10 button shows you the ten most popular games on your current machine.
- My Top Game: Every MERKUR game has a three-digit code. Using this code, you can launch your favourite game directly on any machine via the My Top Game library.
By the way: three classics from the Lucky Pharaoh series secured top positions in the Top 10 MERKUR Games of 2025 . Taking the number one spot was Lucky Pharaoh Sunny Spins .
Step 3 – Operating a casino slot machine: what does each button do?
Now we’re getting to the important part. First, choose your level – it determines how the game is played and what a success can be worth. Then it’s time to spin the reels and collect symbols across the paylines. To save you searching around the machine, here’s an overview of the most important buttons:
| Button | Colour | Function | Good to know 💡 |
| Stake Button | Yellow | Converts euros into bits – your gambling balance | Every five seconds, a single click converts your money into bits. By chance, 10 bits more or less may be credited to your bank bits balance. More details on money management follow later. |
| Start Button | Green (round) | Spin the reels | Located on both the left and right sides of the machine. Press once for a single spin. Hold it down to activate the “Spin Until Success” mode, and the reels will continue spinning automatically until a success is achieved. |
| Start Button | Green (square) | Sets the reels spinning continuously, even after a success | Automatic reel spin feature in an amusement game. Holding the button down activates Fast Start mode with increased reel speed. |
| Ladder / Level Button | Red and White | Dual function: adjusts your level and takes you to the risk ladder | Changes your selected level. If you have just achieved a success, this button takes you to the risk ladder. |
| Max Level / Card Risk Button | Black and White | Selects the highest level with one press. Also activates the card risk feature | After a success, choose red or black. Double your success or lose it all – the outcome is down to chance. |
| Payout Button | Red | Transfers your balance from the cash storage | Perhaps the most satisfying button of all. You’ll find it right next to the coin slot. |
Step 4 – In-game highlights: slot machine symbols and features you should know about.
A quick glance at the top screen tells you everything you need to know: the individual paytable shows exactly what each symbol is worth in your chosen game, usually evaluated from left to right across the paylines. Two symbols deserve special attention, provided your selected game includes them:
- Wild: substitutes for other symbols, helping to create successful combinations.
- Scatter: often unlocks the door to free spins.
The appearance of wild and scatter symbols varies from game to game. In Eye of Horus , for example, it is, unsurprisingly, Horus himself. And this is where things get really exciting:
- Free spins: triggered via the scatter symbol, often with a special symbol being selected. If a success combination includes that exact symbol, it expands across the entire reel, suddenly opening up much greater possibilities.
- Action Games: awarded for top successes. A wheel of fortune in the shape of the MERKUR sun spins, with its rays carrying values from 0 to 1,000 bits or even awarding seven additional Action Games.
Looking for even more excitement? MERKUR games have plenty of other special features in store. Find out more here:
And then there’s that one moment after a success: take it or push your luck? On the risk ladder , you climb step by step, multiplying what you have just achieved. If you prefer something faster, try the card risk : red or black, one click, and chance decides whether your success is doubled or lost.
How slot machines worked in the past: from lever to touchscreen
The first slot machines featured a lever on the side, such as Charles Fey’s famous Liberty Bell, introduced in 1895. That is where the nickname “one-armed bandit” comes from. The reels were spun by muscle power, and the symbols typically featured fruit, bells or numbers.
Today, arcades are home to true high-tech marvels, with high-resolution displays, razor-sharp graphics and surround sound. Yet the basic principle remains unchanged: matching symbols still hold the key to success.
Bits, euros and payouts: how money management on a slot machine works.
Euros become bits, bits become successes, and successes are converted back into euros. On MERKUR slot machines in Germany, you can deposit a maximum of €10 at a time, either via the banknote acceptor or coin slot. The money is first credited to your cash balance.
With a click of the yellow stake button, you can then convert it into bank bits. During this transfer process, the spinning mini reel randomly determines whether the staked amount, or 10 bits more or less, is credited to your bank bits balance. You can stake and convert a maximum of €60 into bits per hour.
And what about your successes? These are initially stored as bank bits. Using the transfer arrow between bank bits and your cash balance, you can convert them back into euros. Every five seconds, 200 bits are converted, up to a maximum of 40,000 bits or €400 per hour. Once converted, you can collect the euro amount using the red payout button.
Want to experience MERKUR slot machines live? Head to a MERKUR Arcade near you
Enough reading. Now it’s time to press the button, spin the reels and experience it for yourself. After all, nothing beats the real reel-spinning action of a slot machine on site, complete with sound, lights and the unique atmosphere. You can get started right away at one of more than 250 MERKUR Arcades near you.
