What is a Slot?

slot

A slot is a narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in the edge of a door, window, or piece of machinery. It can also refer to a position in a series, sequence, or group. The word is derived from the Middle Low German slitt, and has cognates in Dutch and German.

A slot may refer to:

In aviation, a slot is an authorization to take off or land at a specific airport during a specific time period, granted by air traffic controllers. This system is used to manage air traffic at busy airports and prevent repeated delays from aircraft trying to take off or land at the same time.

The term slot can also refer to:

In slot machines, a player inserts cash or, in the case of “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot on the machine and activates the reels by pressing a button (either physical or on a touchscreen). Symbols vary depending on the theme of the game, but classic symbols include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens. When a winning combination appears, the player earns credits based on the paytable. Bonus features often align with the theme and can be triggered randomly or triggered by special events. Modern slot games are usually digital and offer multiple betting options, including minimum and maximum bets, paylines, and optional side bets.