A slot is a small opening or cavity in something. It is a small space that can be used for various reasons, such as to hold a coin or key. You can also slot something into another thing, such as placing a DVD player in the TV. A slot can also be a position in a series or sequence, such as the job of chief copy editor at a newspaper.

Slots are also found in games of chance, such as poker and blackjack. There are even slots that allow you to choose from different types of reels, such as Megaways and pick-style games. These slots can be a great choice for players of all budgets, as they are available in many denominations.

Most online slots have a pay table to explain how to play the game and what to expect from each spin. The pay table will usually include pictures of each symbol in the slot, alongside how much you can win if you land a certain number of matching symbols on a payline. It will also list any special symbols, such as wild or scatter, as well as a minimum amount of required bonus symbols to trigger the feature.

In addition to describing the symbols in the slot, the pay table may also include a set of rules and guidelines for playing the game. Some of these rules will be specific to the individual slot, while others will apply to all online slots. Depending on the game, the pay table may have one or more pages and may be displayed with vibrant colours to make it easy to read.

The pay table of a slot machine will also typically display how the game pays out its winnings, and it will normally indicate whether the machine is progressive or not. In addition, it will usually give you the RTP (return to player percentage), which is an estimate of how much the machine will payout over a long period of time.

In the aviation industry, a slot is an allocated, scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land. It is granted by an airport or air-traffic authority, and airlines can request slots for their flights. Airlines are allocated slots according to the demand for a given route, with preference often being given to new entrants or those who offer unserved routes. Air traffic controllers are then responsible for ensuring that each airline is allocated a suitable amount of slots.

There was a time when slots were simpler and it was possible to print the pay tables directly on the machines. These days, however, slot machines are so hi-tech that they require large screens to explain everything that is happening. The information that is provided in the pay tables is collectively known as the “explainer”. It includes not only the rules and instructions for the game, but it also describes the bonuses, paylines, betting requirements and any jackpots.