A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as a keyway in a piece of machinery, a slit for a coin in a vending machine, etc. Also: a position in a group, series, or sequence.

It’s the moment we all dread on flights – when you’ve checked in, made it through security, queued for the gate, struggled with overhead lockers and settled into your seat only to hear the captain announce “We’re waiting for a slot.” But what is a slot exactly and how do you avoid sitting around for hours at the airport without ever taking off?

In order to activate a slot machine, the player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. The reels then spin and, if the symbols match a winning combination, the player earns credits based on the payout table printed on the machine. Symbols vary depending on the theme of the game and can include classic items like fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens.

When choosing a slot, players should consider the number of paylines and their risk tolerance. Generally, more paylines increase chances of a payout but also come with a higher risk of losing. To help limit their risk, players can look for slots with a max bet that fits their budget and examine the pay tables of each machine to make sure they have a good payout percentage. This is referred to as the return-to-player (RTP) percentage and is a great way to judge whether or not a slot is worth playing.