A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in a piece of machinery or a slit for coins in a vending machine. (Collins English Dictionary)
A machine that accepts cash or paper tickets with barcodes as a form of payment and then pays out credits based on the pre-set odds of winning. The odds are derived from a random number generator that assigns each spin a unique combination of symbols. Slots can be operated by pressing a button or lever, or they can be activated by scanning a barcode with a special scanner attached to the machine. Some machines have multiple reels that must line up with a specific pattern to award a payout, while others have different ways of determining a winning combination.
The pay table is a comprehensive list of all the possible winning combinations for a particular slot game. This table is often located in the help menu or on a dedicated information panel near the bottom of the screen. It’s a good idea to check out the pay table before you play, as it can make all the difference between winning and losing.
Many slot players believe that a machine is “due to hit” after going long periods of time without paying out. Although it’s true that some machines are programmed to pay out more frequently than others, there is no such thing as a slot that is “due.” In fact, casinos purposely place hot machines on end of aisles to encourage players to keep playing them, even though they may have lost money already.