A slot is a narrow opening, such as a hole or groove, that something fits into. It can also refer to a position in a group, series or sequence—for example, a time slot on the calendar.

The earliest slot machines were electromechanical, and used tilt switches to make or break a circuit when the machine was tilted or otherwise tampered with. This caused the reels to stop, and the machine to pay out a small amount—often just enough “taste” to keep the player seated and betting. Modern electronic slot machines do not use tilt switches, but any kind of technical fault (door switch in the wrong state, reel motor out of balance, etc.) can still cause a machine to malfunction and stop paying out.

In a slot game, the object is to create a winning combination of symbols when the reels stop spinning. Depending on the type of slot, a winning combination can consist of as few as three symbols or as many as five. The values of each symbol are displayed on a paytable, which is located above or below the slot machine’s reels. The more symbols that appear on a payline, the higher the payout.

Slot games are available in a variety of styles and themes, with some featuring progressive jackpots. They can be played for free or with real money. Before playing, players must choose a coin denomination and the number of paylines they want to activate. Some slots also offer a Max Bet button, which sets these parameters to the highest possible values.