A narrow notch, groove or opening, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for coins in a vending machine. Also: a position in a group, series or sequence.
A slot is a device in which coins or paper tickets are inserted and a lever or button is pushed to activate the mechanism. It causes the reels to spin, and if certain combinations line up, a prize is awarded. In modern casinos, electronic random-number generators are used to produce the results. A slot’s pay table lists the number of credits a player will receive if the symbols on the winning payline appear. The symbols vary from traditional card suits to themed icons fitting a particular game’s theme. Some slots also have bonus features, such as wild symbols that can substitute for other symbols to complete a win. Another popular feature is a “must-hit-by” jackpot, which is listed as definitely awarding at or before a specific amount of money. It is not a good strategy to play such machines, however, because other slot vultures will have already spotted the machine and beaten you to it.