A narrow notch, groove, or slit, as in a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: a position in a series or sequence: She’s got the six-o’clock slot on Thursdays.
A slot on a computer or game console is a location where data can be stored. In games, slots can be used to store player and character information, and to control the flow of game play.
In a slot machine, symbols line up on reels to form combinations that pay credits according to the machine’s payout table. Some machines have bonus symbols that trigger different bonus rounds and/or free spins. Others have wild symbols that substitute for other symbols to create winning combinations. The amount of money a player wins depends on the size of his or her bet.
People often believe that a slot machine is “due” to hit when it has gone long periods of time without paying out. However, this belief is unfounded. Every spin is independent of any previous results, and a machine’s chances of hitting are entirely random.
A pay table explains how each symbol and combination of symbols pays, including jackpot levels, and which bet sizes are associated with each prize. A slot’s pay table is usually displayed prominently on the machine and is a critical tool to understand a machine’s mechanics.
