A slot is a narrow opening that receives or admits something, such as a coin. In slot machines, the slots are narrow openings in a metal plate where the reels spin. A player can insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a slot to activate the machine and start spinning the reels. When a winning combination of symbols is formed, the player earns credits according to the paytable. Symbols vary by game, but classic symbols include fruit and bells. Most slot games have a theme, and the symbols and bonus features are usually aligned with that theme.

Psychologists Robert Breen and Marc Zimmerman[58] have found that players of video slot machines reach a debilitating level of involvement with gambling three times more rapidly than do those who play traditional casino games, even when the latter are played in a controlled environment. They also find that the more a player plays a slot machine, the more quickly they reach this level of involvement.

In the game of ice hockey, the high slot is the area in front of the goal that allows a defenseman to take a slap shot. A well-placed one-timer from the high slot can be very difficult for a goalie to stop. A slot is also a place where information is tracked and analyzed, such as in an organization’s workflow process. A slot can be used to track urgent deadlines and to set objectives that support positive outcomes.