A narrow notch, groove or opening, such as one for a key in machinery or a slit for coins in a vending machine. Also: a position in a group, series, sequence, or program. (From Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition.)

A slot can be either a physical or virtual space. In the latter case, it is a set of parameters in which data is stored. A slot is usually allocated to a specific query by BigQuery when it is created, but this allocation can be modified as necessary.

In online gambling, slots are the virtual spaces where bets are placed and where players collect their winnings. Slots may contain a variety of different symbols and game options, including free spins, jackpots, scatters, and wild symbols. In addition, each slot can have a particular pay table, which describes the number of credits a player will receive if the correct symbols line up on a pay line.

Whether you’re playing for real or play money, you should always familiarize yourself with the pay tables of your favorite slot games before starting to gamble. A quick online search will reveal a lot of information about the different features and payback percentages of each game. It is a good idea to also watch video results of popular games before wagering any money, as some sites will give you an indication of the payout percentages that a slot has been programmed to return.