What Are Slots?

A narrow opening or slit, especially one for receiving something, such as coins or a letter. Also called a slotted opening or groove.

A position or assignment: He had a great slot as the editor of the Gazette.

Ornithology A narrow notch between the tips of the primary feathers of some birds, which helps them to maintain a flow of air over their wings during flight.

An assigned time and place for a plane to take off or land, authorized by airport or air-traffic controllers: The flight was scheduled for the next morning at 8 a.m. It would leave in just a few hours, but there was a problem with the aircraft that delayed it.

On a video slot machine, the service light is located in the uppermost part of the machine. It flashes in specific patterns to let a casino employee know the machine needs service, has won a jackpot or has a security issue.

In the world of online slots, it can be difficult to keep track of paylines, symbols and bonus features. The HELP or INFO buttons on many video games will provide you with the information you need, but it’s also wise to pick machines based on your preferences. For example, if you prefer simpler machines with just a single payline, stick to those, while if you love to see wilds trigger cluster pays and other creative bonus events, try some of the newer offerings.