A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in a keyway in machinery, a slit for a coin in a vending machine, or a position within a group or sequence.
Also found in Webster’s English Dictionary
A position or time for doing something, as a meeting, an interview, or a job. He slotted his appointment for Tuesday at 3pm.
In the past, slots were mechanical devices that allowed a limited number of combinations per reel. With the advent of microprocessors, however, manufacturers could program slots to weight particular symbols on each reel. This allowed more winning combinations to be made.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a penny slot is how many paylines it offers. Some machines allow you to select the number of paylines you want to wager on, while others have a fixed number that cannot be changed. Choosing the right number of lines will determine how much you can expect to win on each spin and whether or not bonus rounds, jackpots, or free spins are available.
Some players believe that certain slots are “hot” and pay out more frequently than others, while other machines are “cold.” These beliefs are based on misnomers, however, as all payouts on modern slot games are completely random and determined by the inner workings of the machine. Players can also believe that certain machines in a casino’s location will payout more often than those elsewhere, but this is untrue as well.