A slot is a narrow depression or opening, especially one into which something fits or slides. It is also a position or period of time in a schedule or program. I have a haircut scheduled for the 2 pm slot.

In slot machines, a player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot on the machine. Then the machine activates, spinning reels that rearrange symbols and sometimes award credits based on a pay table. Symbols vary from game to game, but classic symbols include fruits, bells and stylized lucky sevens. Most slot games have a theme and bonus features aligned with that theme.

The game is won if a winning combination of symbols lines up on the pay line. Winning combinations are typically paid out in multiples of the amount wagered. On older electromechanical machines, the pay table was listed on the machine’s face, above and below the area containing the reels; modern video slots often display the pay table in a help menu.

The word slot derives from the same root as sleuth and probably has several meanings related to being secretive or devious. It can also refer to a narrow hole in a door or window, or the place where one’s finger goes when making a mark. In Australia, the term is used for a small space in the goalposts where a kick or punch goes to score a goal.