What is a Pachislot?
To discuss what pachislots are, we first need to give you the lowdown on pachinko.
Japan’s Pachinko parlors are well known by game enthusiasts worldwide. Pachinko is a game that bears a passing resemblance to pinball, and it’s a fair comparison. However, pachinko machines are their own class of game.
Pachinko requires players to catch metal balls in small holes on what looks like an upright pinball machine. Players need to hold on to as many of the balls as they can, and balls that aren’t caught don’t count toward the final point total. Like its Western cousin pinball, pachinko bears some elements of skill and heavy elements of chance.
The term “pachislot” comes from “pachinko” and “slots”. Pachislots combine elements of pachinko with traditional slot gaming. In recent years, both pachinko and slots have evolved to feature dazzling video screens and mechanical elements. Pachislots have followed suit. You can easily find mechanical pachislots, video pachislots, or machines that combine elements of both.
Pachislots look a lot like the slot machines you would find at a Vegas casino. But pachislots differ in that you can stop each individual reel by pressing a certain button. The goal is to stop each reel on the most valuable symbol. Like in classic Vegas slots, “777” is the most desirable result. Quick reactions and fast reflexes can give you a distinct advantage in pachislots, which is similar to the reflexive play of the pachinko machines.