1. hole, gap, vent, opening, position, vacancy, window
A slot in a machine is the area where a player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. The machine then activates reels that spin and, if the right combination of symbols lines up with the pay table, earns the player credits according to the paytable.
Modern slots use random number generators to pick the sequence of symbols that stop on a particular reel in a given spin, meaning that each spin is independent of all others and that winning is entirely up to luck. Despite this, there are a few things players can do to increase their chances of winning, such as knowing the rules and bonuses that are available for a specific slot game.
Before you play any slot game, read the pay table. This will provide you with a list of the regular symbols, payouts, and jackpot values for that slot machine. It will also explain how the pay lines work (if any) and, if the game has any bonus features, what those entail. Bonus features can include free spins, pick-a-prize interactions, and second screen bonus events.