A narrow notch, groove or opening, as in a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: an assigned or scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land (as authorized by air-traffic control).

A position, or a job or role in an organization, group, or sequence. For example, “The slot for a new assistant manager is still open.”

Pick a machine that matches your play style: Different machines have different rules, combinations and outcomes. Choosing machines based on the type of game you enjoy increases your chances of success and will help make playing more fun. Remember that luck plays a large role in slot success, so choosing the right machines is just as important as your overall strategy.

Avoid machines that have recently paid off: When you walk by a brick-and-mortar slot machine and see someone else just won, don’t assume it’s your lucky day. Even if you were the only player in that slot just moments before, it would have taken split-second timing to hit the same combination as the winner. The random-number generator is continuously selecting dozens of numbers per second, so it would have chosen something else had you stayed at the same machine.

Understand paylines: The winning sequence of symbols on a slot machine is shown on a payline. These lines can be vertical, horizontal or zigzag, and they can pay left to right or both ways. Some slots require you to identify the paylines manually, but others will automatically display them for you.