A slot is a narrow depression, groove or slit that opens to admit something, such as a coin or piece of paper. A slot can also refer to a position or role, as in “he was slotted in at four o’clock”.
A coin-operated machine that displays a pay table and allows players to insert cash or, on ticket-in, ticket-out machines, paper tickets with barcodes, into a designated slot to activate the reels and display symbols. Often, the symbols vary depending on the theme of the machine. Some are wild, allowing them to substitute for other symbols to form winning combinations.
The player activates the slot by pressing a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen) to spin the reels and then stop them to rearrange the symbols. If a matching combination is produced, the player receives credits according to the pay table. The credits are displayed on the credit meter, which is usually a large seven-segment display but, in video slots, may be a stylized text display that suits the game’s theme.
The Slot receiver is a wide receiver who lines up just inside the line of scrimmage, between and slightly behind the outside wide receivers. He must be able to run precise routes, because his blocking responsibilities are more extensive than those of the outside wide receivers. He must block nickelbacks, safeties and sometimes even defensive ends. He must also chip or run back blocks on running plays.