A slot is a dynamic placeholder that either waits for content (passive) or calls out for it (active). Slots work with scenarios and renderers to deliver content to the page. Scenarios can either use an Add Items to Slot action or a targeter to fill the slot with content; the renderer then specifies the presentation of that content.
The term ‘slot’ can also refer to a narrow opening or groove, particularly in a machine or container, or a position within a group, series, sequence, or schedule. It can also mean a reserved time period, as in a time slot on a calendar, or the position of a team in an ice hockey face-off circle.
In computerized slot machines, players insert cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot and activate the machine by pressing a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen). The reels then spin, and if the symbols line up on a winning payline, the player wins credits based on the amount wagered. Some machines have multiple paylines, which may run up, down, sideways, or diagonally.
Many slot games have a bonus round that gives the player a chance to win additional credits without paying extra. The bonus round may consist of a mini-game, where the player picks objects to reveal prizes, or it may involve a special reel set with themed symbols. In addition, some slots offer regular multipliers, like 2X wilds, or progressive multipliers that increase with each consecutive win.