A slot is a narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as one for receiving a coin in a vending machine. A slot can also refer to a position in a group, series, or sequence, such as the slot of the first place winner at the horse races or the slots on an ice hockey rink.
The pay table of a slot game shows the symbols that can appear and how much you can win for landing a certain number of matching symbols on a payline. The pay tables are usually displayed in a graphic way that fits in with the theme of the slot, and some of them have bright colours to make them easier to read.
All modern slot machines use a random number generator (RNG) to decide the outcome of each spin. Once the spin button is pressed, the RNG generates a range of numbers that are then divided by a standard number to produce a final quotient. This quotient is then used to find the corresponding reel locations, and the computer causes the reels to stop at those placements. If you’ve landed on a winning payline, your cashout amount will be displayed alongside the total credits remaining in the slot. In addition, some slots will show the amount of money that has been paid out recently to players as a percentage of the total wagers made on the slot. This is called the hot slot statistic and it can help you choose which slots to play.