A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as one for receiving coins in a machine. Also, the number of slots in a game or on a schedule. He booked a time slot for his meeting.

A slot is a place in a queue, line, or sequence where something can be assigned or put. To slot something in means to make it fit. The car seat belt slotted in easily.

In a slot machine, the player inserts cash or paper tickets with a barcode (in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines) into a designated slot. The machine then activates reels that spin and stop to rearrange symbols. When a winning combination is produced, the machine awards credits based on a pay table. Symbols vary by machine, but classic symbols include fruits and stylized lucky sevens.

A pay table is a document that explains how to play a slot machine and lists the potential payouts for various symbol combinations. It also provides information on how to trigger bonus features and other game rules. A pay table is normally displayed on the machine’s screen, above or below the area that contains the reels. It’s important to read a slot pay table before you begin playing, as understanding the symbols and their values is essential to maximizing your enjoyment of the game. Most modern online slots feature multiple pay lines, which can offer more opportunities to form a wining combination. This is why it’s always a good idea to check the pay tables of all slot games before you start playing.