A slot is a position in a group, series, or sequence. It may also refer to a specific job or position in an organization or hierarchy.
When playing slots, a player inserts money or, in the case of “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot on the machine and pushes a button to activate reels that spin and stop at various positions. If a combination of symbols lines up, the player receives credits based on the pay table. Each slot game has a different pay table, but they all include information about the possible winning combinations, the number of pay lines, and how much a player can win for landing matching symbols on a pay line.
Airline passengers know that a flight is often delayed because the airline is waiting for “a slot.” The slot system keeps takeoffs and landings spaced out, so air traffic controllers can manage aircraft flow efficiently.
In baseball, a catcher is said to be in a “slot.” The catcher can move into any of several positions along the defensive line as necessary to cover a fast batter. This positioning gives the offense an advantage over the defense.
The term “slot” can also refer to the position in an athletic team where a fast player, such as a running back, is matched up with a slower defensive player, such as a linebacker. This is especially common in football, where teams are increasingly employing spread offenses that put fast players in space against a linebacker.