A narrow notch or opening, such as a keyway in a machine or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: (aviation) An allocated time for a scheduled aircraft to take off or land at an airport, in order to avoid conflicts with other operations.
In slot machines, a random-number generator assigns a unique number to each possible combination of symbols on a reel. When a signal is received — either from the button being pressed or, in the case of older machines, from pulling the handle — the program sets those numbers to spin. When the reels stop, a combination of matching symbols is displayed to the player, and the player earns credits based on the paytable.
While there are a lot of different slot games out there, they all work in similar ways. Some have bonus features like Free Spins, Wild Multipliers and Progressive Multipliers that can increase the chances of winning without paying extra. Some even have themes that can bring in more players and create a sense of loyalty.
It’s important to know the terminology used in the slot game world to make sense of all the features and bonuses on offer. To help you get started, I’ve put together a list of the most common terms used in slots. By understanding these, you’ll be able to get the most out of your experience playing slot games.