A slot is a narrow depression, notch, slit or other narrow opening, especially one for receiving something such as a coin or letter. It can also refer to a position in a sequence or series: Her TV show was in the eight o’clock slot on Thursdays.
The first slot machines were electromechanical and operated by pulling a lever or pressing a button. Modern slot machines are controlled by microprocessors, which allow a single machine to accept multiple coins per line. They are also more reliable than the mechanical devices and require less maintenance. In addition, modern slot games can offer a wide variety of paylines, free spin bonuses, and special game features.
In the US, state governments regulate the ownership and operation of slot machines. Some states, such as Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Rhode Island, and Utah permit private ownership of slot machines; others, such as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont prohibit it.
The term’slot’ is also used to describe a device or part of a device that receives a slotted item, such as a key or door lock. A slot can also refer to a particular area in an utterance, such as the location of a hotel room or a time period in a schedule: The coach slotted him into the starting lineup. He slotted the piece of wood into the groove. He slotted his ideas into the theory. These examples are from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.