A slot is a narrow opening in a machine or container, such as the hole that you drop coins into to make a machine work. It can also refer to a position in a schedule or program, such as a time slot for an appointment with a client. When you say that something slots into place, it means that it fits easily into that spot. She slotted a fresh filter into the machine. The word can also be used figuratively, as in “He dropped a coin into the slot and dialled.” From Middle Low German schot, from Old Low German schotta. See also hole, groove, slit, vent, window, position, niche and spot.
A slot machine is a machine that pays out winning combinations of symbols. It also has a pay table that lists how many credits a player will receive for the different symbols that appear on the reels. Many slot machines have a jackpot and bonus round that require players to accumulate symbols or credits to activate them. These machines are known as accumulator or banking machines and they can be quite profitable for players that understand how to play them.
Before you spend any money on a slot machine, test out its payout percentage. Put in a few dollars and see how much you get back over the course of half an hour. If you are consistently breaking even, that may indicate a loose machine. If you lose more than 30% of your budget without a big win, stop playing and move on to another machine.