A slot is a narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin or letter. A slot in a machine or container is where something can be placed to make it work. A slot is also a position or time in a schedule or program. If you slot something into something, you put it in its proper place.
A modern slot machine is a machine that displays reels and pays out credits according to a paytable. The player can insert cash or, in the case of “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with barcodes to activate the machine. The machine then evaluates the barcodes and determines if there is a winning combination of symbols. Most slot games have a theme, and the symbols and bonus features are aligned with that theme.
The first slot machine was invented in the 19th century by New Yorkers Sittman and Pitt. Their machine had five drums and a total of 50 poker symbols, and players could win by lining up three of these. Charles Fey improved upon this design with his Liberty Bell machine, which had three reels and paid out when the symbols lined up in a specific pattern.
The term “slot” also refers to the time allowed for a plane to take off or land at an airport. It’s an important tool for air traffic control at busy airports, as it limits the number of flights that can be scheduled at a given time.