A slot is a narrow notch, groove or opening, such as one for a key in a lock, a slit in a door to let in air or sunlight, or the hole for a coin in a vending machine. A slot may also refer to a position in a sequence, series or group, such as the third place in a poker game.

A slot may also refer to a device or system that allows a person to input data and then output the results, such as an ATM machine or a smart card reader. Alternatively, the term can refer to a small compartment, such as the one in a keyboard that holds extra keys.

In football, a slot receiver is a wide receiver that lines up in the area between and slightly behind the outside wide receivers. Slot receivers are usually shorter and faster than traditional wide receivers, so they need to have good route-running skills to avoid getting tackled or beat by coverage. They also need to be able to block on running plays where they aren’t the ball carrier.

Some slot receivers are called “slotbacks,” as they are often used to block against other teams’ best tight ends and fullbacks. The slot receiver is a critical part of most offensive formations, and he can be a target on almost every passing play. However, because he is closer to the line of scrimmage than other wide receivers, he has an increased risk of injury.

The word slot can also refer to a position in a game, such as the first player or team to reach a score that meets a minimum requirement for a bonus round. A slot can also refer to a specific number of spins in a casino game, or the amount of money that can be won on a single spin. In the latter case, this is sometimes referred to as a jackpot.

In a slot machine, the symbol that appears on the payline wins credits if it matches a winning combination of symbols on the machine’s display. These symbols vary depending on the machine, but classic symbols include bells, fruit, and stylized lucky sevens. Each machine has a different payout table, which is displayed on the machine’s face or in a help menu on a video screen.

A slot machine can be activated by inserting cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. A button or lever then activates the reels, which stop to rearrange the symbols. A player may win additional credits if the new arrangement matches the winning combination. A slot machine’s display also shows how many credits the player has won and may have a service light that flashes to indicate that change is needed, hand pay is requested or that there is a problem with the machine. Traditionally, the number of symbols on a slot machine’s reel was fixed, but as technology advanced, manufacturers began to use electronic components that allowed them to weight particular symbols.