A narrow notch or groove, especially one for receiving something, as a keyway in a piece of machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: a position in a group, series, sequence, etc.
In a casino, a slot is a machine that pays out credits based on the combinations of symbols it displays. The symbols vary depending on the theme of the game, but classics include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. Some slots have a fixed number of paylines while others let the player choose how many. Either way, the player can expect a certain percentage back over time, which is called the return-to-player (RTP) rate.
The word ‘slot’ comes from the fact that these machines were traditionally mechanical and required the player to insert cash or paper tickets with barcodes into a designated slot. The slot would then spin and rearrange the symbols until a winning combination was produced, paying out credits according to the payout table. Today, most casinos offer electronic versions of these games, with reels spun by a computer or a microprocessor. The payout table is usually displayed on the machine’s face, and some have touch-screen controls.
Football
In the NFL, a wide receiver who lines up in the middle of the field is known as a “slot” receiver. This player lines up pre-snap between the last man on the line of scrimmage and one of the outside wide receivers. Because of their proximity to the middle of the field, slot receivers are often targeted on passing plays, and they must be able to read defenses quickly in order to avoid getting hit.
In computing, a slot is a place where a plug-in device such as an expansion card or memory module can be inserted. A computer with multiple slots can accommodate several different types of devices, allowing it to be customized for specific tasks or environments. In addition to adding functionality, some devices can use slots to provide a physical interface, such as a USB or HDMI port. A slot can also be used to facilitate the transfer of information between two devices, such as a printer and a PC. This is called interoperability.