In a casino slot machine, each symbol that hits on a payline triggers a different payout value. The pay table displays how the regular symbols work together and their payouts, as well as information on any bonus features a slot game may have. The coloured boxes in the payline table example above display how the symbols need to land to trigger a specific bonus feature.
A narrow depression, notch, or opening, especially one for the reception of something, as a coin or a letter: He got the 8 a.m. slot on the schedule.
An authorized period of time, as for a takeoff or landing at an airport: The flight was given a slot on the crowded runway.
The volatility of a slot is an indication of how often it will give you small wins and how big the average win size will be. This is determined by the amount of variance in the distribution of the random-number generator’s numbers between spins. The higher the volatility, the more volatile a slot will be.
Until recently (and still in some casinos), slot machines were operated with real coins. However, this has changed with the introduction of bill validators and credit meters. These now allow players to place wagers without having to physically drop money into the slot. As such, the distinction between real money and virtual currency has blurred in many online casinos. In general, higher volatility slots will pay out less frequently and have smaller jackpots than low-volatility slots.