A slot is a narrow opening, groove, or notch, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for coins in a vending machine. Also a position or time allocated for an aircraft to take off or land at an airport. Slots are used in the United States and around the world to manage air traffic and prevent repeated delays that result from too many flights trying to take off or land at the same time.

A slot machine is a gaming machine that accepts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. The player activates the machine by pressing a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen), which spins reels that then stop to rearrange the symbols. When a combination of matching symbols appears on the payline, the player earns credits based on the machine’s paytable. The pay table is usually displayed above and below the area containing the machine’s wheels, or in a help screen on video slots. Themes vary widely, but classic symbols include fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens.

Before playing a slot, read its paytable and rules carefully. It’s important to understand how each machine pays out and which combinations are possible. You can find these on the machine’s face or, in video slots, by touching a “help” icon or “i” on the touch screen. Also be sure to check the machine’s minimum bet size – even those called penny machines are rarely exactly one cent.