A slot is an opening or groove in a surface or part of an object. The word is also used to refer to a position in a series or sequence, especially a time slot in which an appointment or flight is scheduled to take place. The word can also refer to a position in an organization or hierarchy, or a slot on a team.

Having a flight booked is one thing, but actually getting on board and taking off is another story entirely – you’ve checked in, gone through security, queued to get your seat, struggled with the overhead lockers, and settled into your window seat only to be told that “We’re waiting for a slot.” So what exactly is a slot?

Payouts on slot machines are based on mathematical algorithms, rather than actual physical reels. When a player presses the spin button, they trigger an algorithm that decides whether they win or lose by calculating how many matching symbols land on a winning payline. A slot’s pay table explains how this process works, and how much you can expect to win for landing certain combinations of symbols.

The pay table will also explain how a slot’s bonus features work, and how you can trigger these. These can range from free spins, to re-spins, sticky wilds, expanding wilds and more. This information is normally displayed in a clear and easy-to-understand way, so you’ll never find yourself unsure how to play a new slot game.