A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in machinery, a hole for coins in a vending machine, or the space between the tips of the wings of certain birds during flight. Also used as an allocated time for taking off or landing at an airport.
In a slot machine, the probability that a given symbol will appear on any particular reel is determined by its “taste” — the amount it pays out over many pulls. A low taste means that the machine has been “hot,” while a high taste means that it has been “cold.” A hot machine will pay out small amounts frequently, whereas a cold one will make long dry spells between payouts.
The term “slot” is also used to refer to a player’s psychological state, in which they become obsessed with the game and begin to believe that they can control the outcome of each spin. This is often accompanied by compulsive behavior and a desire to spend more money than they have available. In fact, slot machines are the only gambling device where this behavior is rewarded.
In hockey, the low slot is the area directly in front of the net, where a center or winger has the best chance to score a wrist shot because of their clear view of the goalie. This is why defenders will often lay out big hits to smaller wingers to prevent them from entering the low slot.
