A slot is a position or time where something can be put. (Source: Merriam-Webster)
At their core, slot machines are a gambling device that allow players to wager money on spinning reels’ outcomes. Players push a lever or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, insert a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot to activate the machine. The machine then spins the reels and stops them to rearrange symbols into a winning combination. The number of potential combinations, the paytable for the machine, and the odds of hitting a particular symbol determine the outcome and corresponding payouts.
In addition to paying out for matching symbols on pay lines, slots often include bonus rounds and scatter pays. Scatter pays can result in free spins, pick-a-prize interactions, or second screen bonuses that may lead to additional cash prizes or jackpots. Video slot games can have representations of up to five reels on a single screen, and some have multiple sets of reels that spin simultaneously.
The key to understanding how slot works is that there is a random element in the outcome of each spin. Even though many players believe that a certain outcome is ‘due’, this simply doesn’t happen. Each spin is controlled by the random number generator that selects numbers that correspond with different positions on the reels. Only those combinations that result in a payout receive a payout, and the exact amount is determined by the paytable for the machine.