A narrow opening into which something else may be fitted: a slot in the wall for hanging a picture. Also: a position in a group, series, or sequence; a place on a schedule or timetable: He got the last available slot at the Gazette.
A designated space in a machine into which a coin may be inserted. A slot may also refer to a position on a video game screen or in a casino where you can place bets. Usually, the number of slots is limited by a gambling establishment’s license.
In the U.S., a slot is an assigned time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by the air-traffic control authority. A flight’s slot is determined by a combination of factors, including weather, congestion at the destination airport, and the availability of landing slots for the route being flown.
Depending on the type of slot machine, you can insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot to activate the machine. A microprocessor in the machine then determines the odds of hitting a winning symbol and issues credits based on that probability. The payout amounts are listed on the pay table, which is typically printed above and below the area containing the reels on the face of the machine or within a help menu on video slots.
In football, a receiver who lines up in the slot is called a “slot receiver.” These players are typically shorter and faster than traditional wide receivers, and they often run routes that require them to elude or evade tacklers. They are also important blockers for ball carriers on running plays.