A narrow notch, groove or opening, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also, a position in a group, sequence or series, such as an appointment or job. (in ice hockey) the unmarked area in front of an opponent’s goal that affords a good vantage point for attacking players. (in computing) a storage area in a computer or file system into which data can be saved or from which data can be retrieved. Also, a position in a sequence of events or a computer program’s operation. (in linguistics) an element in a construction or phrase into which one of a set of morphemes can be fitted. See slot (disambiguation).

In a casino, a slot is an arcade game where a person inserts coins into a reel to spin. The symbols land randomly on a payline to create winning combinations and a jackpot can be won if the symbols match up. Many online casinos offer slots.

Some people believe that slot machines get looser and tighter to meet their specified payback, but anyone who has done the math knows this isn’t true. The randomness of the symbols that land, married to the paytable, dictates the payback. This is clearly explained on the PAR sheets that manufacturers provide for their games. The math is simple enough for a high school student to calculate, even if they’ve never played the game before. (It’s a bit trickier with bonus rounds.)