A position in a group, series, or sequence. The term derives from electromechanical slot machines that would often trigger a door switch or other circuit to break if the machine was tilted or otherwise tampered with, indicating a technical problem.
Online slot players frequently jump right in and play a game without first checking out its pay table or understanding its rules. This is a mistake because the pay table gives you important information such as how much you can win by landing certain combinations of symbols on a payline, the odds of hitting a bonus round, and what happens when you hit a Wild symbol.
When you spin a slot reel, the computer will record a random number sequence that corresponds to each stop on the reel. Then the computer finds the corresponding locations of the symbols on the reels and determines whether you’ve won or not. Depending on the slot you play, this process may take seconds or minutes, and the results will be visible on the screen as the reels come to rest.
Most slot games have a clearly labeled pay table that displays the symbols and their meanings, along with the amount you’ll win if you land three or more matching symbols on a payline. Some of them also have animations to help explain the mechanics of the game. In some cases, the pay table will even fit in with the game’s overall theme and design.