A narrow notch, groove or opening, as in a keyway in machinery or a slit for coins in a vending machine. Also: (especially in linguistics) a position within a construction into which a single one of a series or sequence of morphemes can fit. Compare slot (def 2).
A slot is a game of chance in which the reels spin and stop to rearrange symbols when the player pushes a button or pulls a handle. The combinations that appear determine whether the player earns credits based on a pay table or other bonus features. The number of possible combinations may vary from machine to machine, but they all depend on a random-number generator that makes a thousand mathematical calculations every second.
Some people – known as lurkers – watch slot machines for a while, then jump in and hope they’ll hit the jackpot on their first or second spin. This is a waste of time. Even if you’re sitting right next to someone who wins the big prize, it’s not the same as if you had stayed and played in the same machine.
Most casino slot machines have a Pay Table area that lists information on how each reel combination pays out and some or all of the game theme rules. This information is often displayed permanently on the machine or, with touchscreen displays, it may be available through a series of images that can be switched between to view all possible payouts.