A slot is a narrow opening, especially in a machine or container. It is also a place in a schedule or program where an activity can take place. People may book a time slot for something in advance.

In slots, the Pay Table area lists information on jackpot amounts for specific reel combinations and the game theme rules. Depending on the slot machine, this can be permanently displayed or (most commonly with touchscreen displays) an interactive series of images that can be switched between. Not all possible wins are shown on the screen; this can vary due to space limitations or a desire to limit the number of available combinations that need to be reviewed.

Lurkers are people who play slots after a long losing streak in the hope of hitting the jackpot. While this tactic does improve their odds, they should realize that a jackpot can hit at any time and that each spin is independent from previous results. It also takes a very large amount of money to make a significant profit on a slot.

The Bet Max button is used when credits are showing and the player wishes to automatically bet the maximum amount permitted by the machine. The Change button or Handle is used to request a change of denomination and/or assistance from the machine attendant. When this button is pushed the tower light will illuminate to indicate that the request has been received and a slot attendant has been summoned.