A narrow notch, groove, or opening, especially one for receiving something, as a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: a position in a group, series, or sequence. From Middle Dutch slot, from Old Dutch *sleutana, from Proto-Germanic *sleutanana.
Modern electronic slot machines have a random number generator that decides whether or not to pay out based on the symbols that appear in the reels. Whenever a button is pressed, or in the case of “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode, the random number generator sets a new combination and signals the reels to stop at that configuration. After each spin, the machine determines whether it has paid out and if so, how much money it has awarded.
Some modern slot variations are themed around specific television shows, poker, craps and horse racing, and some have a wide range of bonus features. Regardless of theme, however, the basic rules and payouts are identical to those of classic mechanical slots.
A common belief among slot players is that if a machine hasn’t paid off in a while it must be due to hit soon. This is a false belief. Payouts on slot machines are determined by the random-number generator, which is constantly running dozens of numbers per second. Each time a button is pressed, or in some cases, the handle pulled, the random-number generator sets a new set of numbers to match those that have appeared on the reels.