What is a Slot?
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A thin opening or groove in something, especially a slot in a door. Also:
A slot in a machine that accepts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. The machine then displays symbols on its screen and pays out credits based on the pay table. The pay table generally shows the regular paying symbols, as well as any bonus features and their payout values. Most slots have a theme, and the symbols and bonus features typically align with that theme.
In air traffic management, a quota for an aircraft to take off or land at an airport on a specific day and time during a particular period of time. Air traffic controllers use these slots to manage congestion at extremely busy airports, preventing repeated delays that result from too many flights trying to take off or land at the same time.
In gambling, a slot is a machine that accepts coins or paper tickets with barcodes, and gives out credits according to the paytable. It may also have one or more reels and a lever or button to activate the machine. A slot machine can be programmed to accept various denominations of coins, and can also be set to pay out a jackpot or other sum based on the number of coins inserted. A slot can be a standalone machine or be part of a larger casino or other gaming establishment.