A slot is a narrow notch, groove or opening, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. It can also refer to a position in a sequence or series, such as a time slot when booking an airplane flight. The term may also refer to an assignment or job opening. He was assigned to a new slot at work.
In video slots, symbols are lined up along “pay lines” to form winning combinations. Each symbol has a particular value, and the odds of a specific combination are set by the manufacturer. The manufacturer can also weight the symbols differently, so that some appear more frequently on a reel than others.
The pay tables of modern machines are listed on the face of the machine, often above and below the area containing the wheels. These tables list the number of credits a player will receive if certain symbols line up on the machine’s pay lines. They can also include information on wild symbols, which can substitute for any other symbol to complete a winning line.
A bonus round is a feature that is activated when the player reaches a certain point on the game’s main screen or within a special mini-game. Bonus rounds can vary widely, but most include a game-related task that the player must complete to win a prize. Examples of these tasks might include choosing between several items on a screen or spinning a wheel that contains prizes such as free spins or additional credits.