1. An opening or slit, especially one through which something can pass, such as a coin or a letter. 2. An appointment or berth; an opening or position, such as in a queue, on a train, in a theater seat, or in a class.

A slot is an area of the reels that awards credits when symbols line up on a payline. The amount awarded depends on the type of symbol and the paytable, which lists the number of credits each combination pays out and how many coins must be bet to trigger bonus games and other features. Some slot machines allow players to select which paylines they want to bet on while others automatically wager on all available lines.

The paytable is usually displayed on a screen above the reels, though it can also be found in a help menu on video machines. Most slots have a theme and the symbols vary according to that theme, with classic symbols such as fruits and bells or stylized lucky sevens. Many slots have special symbols that can trigger jackpots, free spins or other bonus games. Most slot machines have a fixed jackpot, which can be very large, but some also have progressive jackpots that increase over time and randomly pay out the total jackpot amount when triggered. Bonus games may be simple or complex, with some featuring memory like games and board game bonuses while others have a wealth of unique mechanics.