A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in a keyway in a machine or a slit for coins in a vending machine. Also, a position in a series or sequence, such as a job or a place on an airplane.
A slot is the place on a computer motherboard where an expansion card can be placed. The expansion cards can add additional functionality to the system, such as a video card for increased graphics performance or extra memory for more applications to run simultaneously. A slot can also be a term for the position of a component within a system, such as a power supply unit or an optical drive.
Casino slot machines operate the same way as other gambling games. The player inserts cash or, in ticket-in, ticket-out machines, a paper ticket with a barcode, into the machine and then activates the reels with a lever or button (physical or virtual). When the reels stop spinning, symbols line up in a row on the payline to award credits according to the pay table. The payouts vary depending on the type of symbols and the theme of the slot.
It’s a common misconception that if a machine hasn’t paid off in a long time, it is “due.” While it’s true that some machines are hotter than others, there are no guarantees that any particular machine will be a winner. In fact, the opposite is true: a machine that has been hit recently is more likely to pay out again soon than one that hasn’t.