When a slot player spins the reels, symbols on the paytable will display how many matching symbols need to land to trigger a payout. The table may also show what bonus features are available. If you’re playing for real money, you’ll want to protect your bankroll by aiming for moderate-sized wins, those in the middle of the pay table.

In the past, slot machines were mechanical and used physical reels. However, the modern casino industry has largely switched over to video slots that operate differently than their traditional counterparts. These machines use microchips to handle random number generation, game logic, and payouts. They also use large screen displays to show the digital reels and the symbols on them. The symbols can be straight, zig-zag, or run horizontally or diagonally on each reel.

The term slot is a generic name for the world’s most popular casino game, which has different styles, themes, rules, and names throughout the globe. These games are often referred to as fruit machines, pokies, puggies, or one-armed bandits, among others.

There are three categories generally reported in a slot machine earnings report: mass market play, VIP play, and slots. Each has its own set of terms and metrics that can be confusing for the average slot player. The following definitions will help clear up some of the confusion: