A slot is an authorization to take off or land at a specific airport at a particular time during the day. Air traffic controllers use slots to control the flow of aircraft and avoid repeated delays caused by too many planes trying to fly at the same time.
In a video slot, symbols are arranged on a reel and when a winning combination appears, the player earns credits according to the paytable. The payouts vary from game to game. Some machines have a Wild symbol that can substitute for other symbols to form a winning line, while others feature a number of different bonus features. Symbols are usually aligned with the theme of the game, which is also displayed on the screen.
Variance is the frequency with which a slot pays out its winnings, and can be a good indicator of how well a machine will perform. A low variance slot will pay out small amounts frequently, whereas a high variance slot will pay out large sums less often.
A slot is also a position in a sport, particularly hockey. The area in front of the opposing goal that allows speed players to get a straight-on view of the net, giving them a much better chance of scoring without deflection. The slot is also the target of defenders, who must guard it carefully. The Felgo library includes a Slot element, which lets you add a variety of slots to your game.