When people talk about slot, they’re usually talking about a particular casino game, but the term can also be used to refer to a position in a group, series, or sequence. For example, a journalist might be described as having the “slot” for a certain newspaper or magazine. A slot is also a feature on a computer, such as an ISA, PCI, or AGP slot.
In casinos, slot refers to the small opening in a machine where you insert coins or paper tickets with barcodes. When you push a button, the slot’s digital reels with symbols will spin repeatedly until they stop and if they match a winning combination listed in the pay table, you’ll earn credits. The payout amounts vary between different casinos and games.
The word is also a part of the vocabulary of sports, such as in football or hockey. In football, a wide receiver who lines up between and slightly behind the two outside wide receivers and the offensive linemen is said to be in the slot. In hockey, a player who skates toward the opponent’s goal without skating into the face-off circle is said to be in the “slot.”
When it comes to online slot machines, there are many more features to keep track of than the simple coins and symbols of electromechanical slots. To help players, many online slots display information tables on their screen with detailed information about a game’s symbols, payouts, prizes, jackpots, and other features. You can find these tables in the menus at the bottom or top of a game window.