Slot – What is a Slot?

A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as a keyway in a piece of machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: A position in a group, series, or sequence, as in a game of poker or in air traffic control, wherein an aircraft may be scheduled to take off or land at a specific airport on a particular day during a specified time period.

In football, Slot receivers are a type of wide receiver who line up between and slightly behind the outside wide receivers, but close to and within the line of scrimmage. They’re often smaller than boundary receivers and can stretch the defense vertically off their speed, running shorter routes on the route tree such as slants. They can also catch and run, acting as a true running back on pitch plays and reverses. Because of their pre-snap alignment, they’re a crucial part of the blocking game and must be able to deal with nickelbacks, safeties, and outside linebackers.

In a casino, a slot is a mechanical or electrical device that accepts cash or paper tickets with barcodes as wagers and activates reels to produce a sequence of symbols that pay out credits based on the machine’s paytable. Slot machines can be found in a variety of denominations, making them suitable for players with any budget. Slots are games of chance, however, so a successful slots player must be able to master bankroll management.