Slot – Position in a Game or Sequence of Games

A narrow opening, as in a door or in a piece of machinery. Also: (in computer games) a position in a game, or in a sequence or series of games, that one can play to earn credits.

In slot games, players place cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot on the machine to activate the reels. The reels then stop and rearrange the symbols in combinations that pay out credits based on the machine’s paytable. The payouts are independent of previous game results. The number of symbols and bonus features vary by game, but classic symbols include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens.

In hockey, the low slot is a key area in front of an opponent’s goal where wingers and centers have a good chance to score without a deflection because they have a straight-on view of the net. The defense tries to establish the slot as no man’s land by laying big hits on small wingers. The term is also used for the position of chief copy editor in a newspaper.