A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: (in sports) the space between two face-off circles on an ice hockey rink.
In aviation, a time slot is an authorization for an aircraft to take off or land at an airport on a specific day and in a given period of time. It’s a tool used to manage air traffic at extremely busy airports, and to prevent repeated delays from too many aircraft trying to take off or land at the same time.
On a slot machine, a pay table displays how a combination of symbols must line up to trigger different payout values. It will also usually display any bonus features the game may have, along with how to trigger them. Pay tables are typically displayed above or below the area containing the reels on older machines, and in the help section on video slots.
Winning a jackpot isn’t guaranteed in any slot game, but knowing how they work can increase your chances of success. The first thing to do is understand how progressive jackpots trigger. Some of them require you to bet above a certain amount, while others just depend on luck — it’s up to the random number generator to decide whether or not you win. You’ll also want to read the rules of each slot game, as these will vary from one to another.