A narrow opening or hole, especially one that accepts a coin or similar item. A slot is often a part of a door or other machine, and can be found in vehicles and other objects. A slot can also refer to a position or job, such as the role of chief copy editor at a newspaper: “He has the slot.”
A period of time that an airline can take off or land at an airport. A slot is usually assigned for a specific day and time, though there is some flexibility (as anyone who has had a delayed flight will know). The slot system is designed to keep takeoffs and landings spaced out, and allow air traffic controllers to manage airline schedules efficiently.
The amount of money a slot pays out over a large number of spins, or at most a single game session. It can be influenced by the player’s decisions (such as selecting which paylines to bet on), the type of slot and the overall design.
The rules of a slot game, as shown on the machine’s screen. These will normally include the minimum and maximum bet, a description of the symbols and their payouts, and how much the player can win for landing 3, 4 or 5 matching symbols on a payline. It will also explain any special features such as free spins, scatter or bonus symbols, and how these are triggered. The pay table may also provide details of any jackpot feature or progressive jackpot, if available.