A narrow depression, groove, notch, or slit, especially one adapted for receiving something, as a keyway in machinery, a slit for a coin in a vending machine, etc. Also: a position in a series, sequence, or set; a place or time for something. [From Middle Low German slitt, from Old Norse slod]. Compare slit (def 1).

Many people prefer slots to table games, partly because they are easier to learn, but mainly because they offer some of the most life-changing jackpots in Las Vegas casinos. A slot player drops coins into the machine, presses a button or pulls a handle, and if the symbols line up in a winning combination, they earn credits according to a paytable. Depending on the machine, this payout can be a small amount or a multi-million dollar jackpot.

Some machines have special symbols that award a bonus when collected. These may be a particular type of fruit, a stylized lucky seven, or some other item that matches the theme of the machine. Other slots allow players to win by lining up matching symbols across multiple reels, or even across several machines connected to each other.

Most slots have a random number generator that sets a combination of numbers each time a signal is received — anything from a push of the button to a handle being pulled. This means that even if you play the same machine for a long time and see someone else hit a jackpot, it’s very unlikely that the two events are related.