What Is a Slot?
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A slot is a position in a queue or schedule where an activity can occur. For example, a visitor can reserve a time slot to visit a museum, or an airline can reserve a flight to arrive at an airport.
Slot is also a part of the name of some machines. The term slot originally referred to the narrow opening in a machine into which coins could be dropped and which was a feature of electromechanical slot machines. It later came to mean the position in which a reel stopped.
A slot is also a place where a component can be inserted or removed. If something slots into a slot, it fits there easily. For example, a person might slot a CD into a player or slot a seat belt into a car seat. A slot can also refer to a specific position in a game of chance. For instance, a gambler might choose a particular slot in order to increase his chances of winning. A casino might offer a variety of slots with different paylines, jackpots, and other bonuses. A player can also select the number of paylines he wants to wager on. A slot that allows players to choose the number of paylines is considered a free slot, while one that automatically wagers on all available paylines is called a fixed slot. The odds of winning a slot depend on the probability that the selected symbol will appear on the reels.