A narrow opening, especially in a door or window. Also: a slit or aperture for receiving something, as a coin or letter. (Dictionary.com)

A time or space in which to do something, especially a job or chore. He slotted his work around his family responsibilities. (From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.)

In the past, players dropped coins into slots to activate games and cross their fingers that their symbols would line up in certain combinations – the ‘x’ figure being how many times your single line bet will be multiplied. This changed when bill validators and credit meters were added, making it easier for bettors to think of their wagers as credits rather than cash.

Online casinos now offer players a whole host of slots, each with different paylines, credits and payouts. Some even have special symbols and bonus features. It’s important to understand that while some of these have a higher Return to Player percentage than others, it’s still completely random what will happen when you spin the reels.

The best advice for playing slots is to set a budget in advance and stick to it. Know when to walk away; you don’t want to spend all your winnings in one go! It’s also a good idea to play max coins to increase your chances of hitting multiple paylines, which will give you more chance of landing a big payout. Whether you’re playing in person or at an online casino, always read the paytable carefully to understand how the game works.