A thin opening or groove in something, often used for letters and postcards. For example, a mail slot on a door. Also, the name of a casino game.

To play a slot machine, a player inserts cash or, in ticket-in, ticket-out machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot on the machine. The computer then causes the reels to spin and stop at specific placements to rearrange symbols and, if a winning combination is found, award credits according to the paytable. Most slots have a theme, with symbols and bonus features aligned to the theme.

The minimum and maximum bets a slot allows are listed on its pay table. This will typically also list special symbols, like Wilds, and explain how they work. It will also provide information on the game’s feature rounds, if any are present.

Another important piece of information is the slot’s volatility, which categorizes games based on their hit frequency and payout size. High-volatility slots offer more exhilarating wins but come with a higher risk of bankroll depletion. Low-volatility slots, on the other hand, offer more frequent and smaller wins with less fluctuation in session results. As a general rule, it is a good idea to choose the lowest-volatility slot you can comfortably afford as a player.