If you’ve seen older photos of pachislot, with buckets of silver medals stacked behind the players, today’s parlours may surprise you. Many of the busiest machines are now smart slots (スマスロ, sumasuro) and smart pachinko (スマパチ, sumapachi). There are no medals to pour and no balls in your tray. Everything is counted electronically.
What makes a machine “smart”
According to Sammy’s official explainer (Sammy):
- Smart pachislot arrived in November 2022. Japanese Wikipedia describes smart slots as “medal-less machines” introduced in 2022 (ja.wikipedia).
- It uses electronic medals and needs a dedicated unit beside the machine. There’s no medal slot.
- Smart slots fall under the 6.5 standard of the 6th-generation rules. A smart-slot-only rule removes the game limit on the 有利区間 (“advantage zone”).
- A complete function stops play when a machine reaches 19,000 medals in a day, with advance notice at 18,500.
- Smart pachinko followed in 2023. The balls are sealed inside the machine and recirculate, so you never handle them.
Japanese Wikipedia also explains that the 6.5 standard measures the net medal limit (差枚) at 2,400 (ja.wikipedia 6号機 (パチスロ)). Our generations guide explains what that means.
How to spot one
| Prefix or label | Means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| L or スマスロ | Smart pachislot | pachinkokyujin |
| e | Smart pachinko | pachinkokyujin |
| S | Conventional medal pachislot | pachinkokyujin |
| P | Conventional pachinko | pachinkokyujin |
You can see these prefixes in our machine database, for example L Tokyo Ghoul (smart slot) and e Tokyo Ghoul W (smart pachinko).
Playing a smart slot, step by step
Sammy’s explainer describes the flow like this (Sammy):
- Insert cash or an IC card into the unit next to the machine.
- Press the lend button (貸出). Credits appear on the display.
- Press MAX BET.
- Pull the lever, then stop the reels with the three buttons.
- When you’re done, press the count button (計数) to transfer your credits.
- Take the card back and follow the hall’s process at the counter or prize terminal.
There’s no tray to empty and no staff to call to carry boxes. That’s why visitors often find smart machines easier on a first visit. The machine itself still works as an AT or A-type.
The “short break” button
Sammy describes a ちょっと休憩 (“short break”) function that locks the machine while you step away (Sammy). Halls set their own limits on how long you can be away, so ask staff, and never leave your card behind.
Smart pachinko in practice
On smart pachinko, the handle and screen work just like a normal machine (how to play pachinko). The difference is that the “balls” you rent and win are a counter on the display. Cashing out uses the card unit, as with a smart slot.
Why the industry switched
Sammy presents smart machines as a new standard built around electronic medal management (Sammy). TODO: add a sourced explanation of the industry’s wider reasons, such as hall workload and fraud prevention. We haven’t verified these yet, so we don’t state them.
Quick answers
What is a smart slot (スマスロ)?
A pachislot machine that uses electronic medals instead of physical ones. There's no medal slot. You insert cash or an IC card into the unit next to the machine, credits appear, and you play with MAX BET and the lever. Sammy dates the format to November 2022.
What do the L and e prefixes mean?
On machine names, 'L' (or スマスロ) marks a smart pachislot, and 'e' marks a smart pachinko machine. 'S' marks a conventional medal pachislot, and 'P' a conventional pachinko machine.
How do I cash out from a smart slot?
Press the count (計数) button on the unit, which records your credits on the card, then take the card to the counter or a prize terminal as the hall directs. Staff will help on your first visit.
Can I take a break on a smart slot?
Many units have a 'short break' (ちょっと休憩) button that locks the machine while you step away briefly. House rules on how long you can leave a seat vary, so ask staff.
Sources
- Sammy – smart pachislot and smart pachinko official explainer (Japanese)
- ja.wikipedia – 6号機 (パチスロ) (6.5 standard; smart-slot rules; secondary source)
- ja.wikipedia – パチスロ (smart slots as medal-less machines from 2022; secondary source)
- Pachinko job-site explainer – L / e / P / S prefixes (Japanese)
Facts on this page were last checked against these sources on 4 October 2026. Rules, prices and venues change, so always follow the signs and staff at the venue.
