A slot is a narrow opening into which something can fit, such as a hole for a coin in a machine or a time slot on a calendar. The word is also used to describe a position in a group, series, or sequence. For example, “I have a meeting at 11:00 this morning.”
A game of slot is played by inserting coins or, in the case of ticket-in, ticket-out machines, paper tickets with barcodes into a slot on the machine. Then the player activates the machine by pressing a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen), which spins reels that stop to rearrange symbols and award credits according to the pay table. Most slot games have a theme, and the symbols and bonus events are aligned with that theme.
The pay table is usually displayed on the machine and explains how to play the game and the various payout values for different combinations of symbols. It also explains how paylines work and what the minimum and maximum bet amounts are. In addition, if the game has any special features, such as free spins rounds or mystery pick games, the details will be included in the pay table.