A slot is an airline’s allocation of time slots at an airport. They’re used when an airport is constrained by runway capacity or parking space (as at Heathrow). Having a slot allows the airline to operate more efficiently, cutting back on delays and fuel burn.
A casino slot is a machine that accepts cash or paper tickets with barcodes (in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines). It has a reel that spins and stops to rearrange symbols to create combinations. When a winning combination is made, the player receives credits according to the paytable. The symbols vary, but classics include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Many slot games have a theme, and bonus features often align with that theme.
When playing slot, a pay table is the first thing to look for. This is a list of the available symbols and how much you can win for landing matching ones on a payline. It can also explain any special symbols in the game, such as Wild symbols or Scatters. Pay tables usually appear when the slot loads, although they’re sometimes embedded in the help screens of modern games.
In football, a slot receiver is a specialist wide-out who specializes in catching short passes. They are typically smaller than traditional wide-outs, but are faster and can make defenders miss. They’re a key position in modern spread offenses and are depended upon to pick up third down yardage. A good slot receiver gains 8-15 yards at the most, and is usually matched up against an opponent’s third or fourth cornerback.