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: He slotted into place as the leader of the chorus.
A slot in a computer is a location where an expansion card can be inserted, such as a PCI or AGP (accelerated graphics port) slot. It is also a position in a schedule or program, such as a time slot for an activity:
In a slot machine, a player inserts cash or, on “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode, then activates the machine by pressing a button (physical or virtual) or pulling a handle. The reels then spin and stop, revealing symbols that pay credits based on the game’s pay table. Many slot games have a theme, and classic symbols include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Bonus features and jackpot levels often align with these themes.
Although some people believe that a machine is “due” to hit after a long losing streak, there’s no such thing as a mechanical advantage in slot machines. The random-number generator that produces the results runs through thousands of combinations every second, and the odds of pressing the right combination at exactly the right moment are incredibly minute. This doesn’t mean that it is impossible to win at slots, but it is important to understand how the process works before playing.