What is a Slot?
A narrow opening or slit, usually in the form of a hole or groove, for receiving something such as coins, a key, or paper. Also called slit, vent, or aperture. He dropped a coin in the slot and dialed.
In computer science, a place in memory or on a disk where a particular type of object can be stored. Also known as a save slot.
A slot in a machine, or a time and location when an activity can take place, such as an airplane’s flight schedule or an appointment in an office. A job position that is not already filled or assigned: He is hoping to get a full-time slot next year.
Originally, slots were mechanical devices that spun reels and paid out prizes when certain combinations appeared on the payline. Modern machines are electronic and use a computer to determine winning combinations. This allows for a higher number of possible symbols, more paylines, and larger jackpots.
In the casino industry, a machine that displays one or more video screens and accepts cash or credit tokens. The slot may also offer bonus games, such as a wheel of fortune.
Slots have a long and complicated history, beginning in the 19th century with New York-based companies Sittman and Pitt, who created what is thought to be the first mechanical slot machine back in 1891. But it was a German-born San Francisco mechanic by the name of Charles Augustus Fey who revolutionized the game with the Liberty Bell in 1887 – a machine that was similar to today’s slot machines.