A slot is a narrow opening, usually in a machine that displays or records data. A slot is also a position or time when an aircraft may take off or land, as authorized by an air-traffic control authority. A slot is a space on a computer’s hard disk or other storage device in which data can be stored.

In slot machines, symbols are arranged on reels that spin when a player presses the “play” button. Players win by lining up winning combinations of symbols along pay lines. A slot machine can have three or more reels and a variety of symbols.

During the early sixties, electromechanical slot machines began to introduce a new type of game called a video poker machine. Video poker machines are similar to slots, except that they allow multiple bets and return a percentage of the total amount bet.

The term “taste” is a reference to the small amount often paid out to keep a player seated and continuously betting. Only rarely will a machine fail to pay out even the minimum out over several pulls. This is because the probability of winning on a particular spin is independent of the previous results.

A candle is a light on the top of a slot machine that flashes to alert casino employees that change is needed, a hand pay is requested or a machine has a technical problem. It is a common feature on casino floor machines, and it can be activated by pressing the service button.