A slit, or other narrow opening, used for receiving something, especially a coin or letter. Also, a position in a series or sequence, or a job opening.
A slot is a container that waits for or calls out dynamic content on a Web page. Its contents are dictated by a scenario using an Add Items to Slot action or by a targeter that references a repository with slots.
In a game of chance, a machine that pays off regularly and often enough to attract players, but not so frequently as to deplete the bankroll. Slots with high volatility are usually characterized by higher jackpots, but lower average payouts per spin.
The part of a plane or other air vehicle where the engines are located, as opposed to the fuselage, tail, or other body sections. A slot may be designed for a specific aerodynamic or structural purpose, such as providing for efficient flow of air around the wings, tail, or undercarriage, or it may be used to carry ancillary equipment such as fuel tanks, cargo containers, and passengers.
On an airline flight, the time period between when you check in at the kiosk and when the airplane is cleared to take off. During this time, the airline is still working to make sure all of your paperwork is in order and that everyone has cleared security. It’s no surprise that this can result in long wait times at the gate.
In gaming, a space or position in a game board where a player can place a bet, or’stake’, to activate the reels and possibly win a prize. Slots are usually indicated by a standardized color or pattern, and some machines require the use of paper tickets with barcodes (‘ticket-in, ticket-out’ machines). Some slot games allow players to select their own bet size, while others preset the amount they can wager for each spin.
A machine’s symbols and pay lines are listed in a table, known as a paytable. Each symbol has a different value depending on its appearance and function, and the odds of hitting certain combinations are determined by the number of other symbols that appear on the same reel. These tables can be found above or below the display screen on most electromechanical slots, and within a help menu on many video slots.
As microprocessors were introduced to slot machines, they became able to weight particular symbols and vary their frequency on each reel. This could give the illusion that a missing winning symbol was “so close” to appearing on the payline, whereas its true probability was much lower. It is for this reason that many players believe that ‘hot’ machines are located at the end of casino aisles, and that they are ‘due to hit’ soon. While this belief is widely held, it is incorrect. Hot slots are simply programmed to return more money to players over a given period of time than other machines. These machines may also be programmed to reset their weightings and probabilities after a set amount of play.
