What Is a Slot?

The word slot is a noun and can mean:

A slot in a door or window; a groove or track on which a wagon, carriage, or vehicle moves; a slot for a lock or bolt. It can also refer to:

An area in a game of chance or a video poker machine where players place their bets. A game in which winnings are calculated by the ratio of money wagered to money won.

When it comes to online slots, pay tables are a key piece of information to keep in mind. Essentially, they list how much you can win by landing certain combinations of symbols on specific paylines in the game. They’re typically laid out clearly, and most of the time, they match the game’s theme in some way.

For example, older machines would have bells, spades, diamonds, and horseshoes as symbols on their reels, while modern video slots might have cherries, lemons, and playing card icons like Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks. Some games even feature special symbols that can trigger a multiplier to your winnings subject to wagering requirements.

Another important thing to look for in a pay table is information on how to trigger the game’s bonus features, as these are what can help you hit those life-changing jackpots. You can usually find this in the ‘INFO’ or ‘RULES’ sections of the pay table, and some casinos may split these into different slides or pages so you can scroll through them easily.