A slot is a narrow opening, especially one for receiving something such as a coin or letter. In the game of slots, there are a few key concepts that if you understand well enough can make a huge difference in your enjoyment of the game. This article aims to explain those concepts in easy-to-understand terms.
The simplest way to think of a slot is as a window into the machine’s random-number generator. Whenever the button is pressed or the handle pulled, the random number generator “looks” at the combinations on the reels and sets a new set of numbers. The reels then spin, and if the symbols land in the winning combination the machine will pay out.