a narrow opening or slit, especially one for receiving something, as coins or letters. Also, a position in a group, series, or sequence.

In a slot machine, a device with reels that spin and display symbols, a player inserts cash or paper tickets with barcodes (in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines) into a designated slot and activates the machine by pushing a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen). The machine then pays out credits based on the pre-determined odds of winning as shown in a pay table. Most slot games have a theme, and the symbols vary according to that theme.

Psychologists Robert Breen and Marc Zimmerman[60] have found that players of video slots reach a debilitating level of involvement with gambling three times as quickly as those who play traditional casino games, even if they’ve never had any other form of gambling problems. This is partly because of the heightened level of anticipation associated with the slot machine experience, and the absence of a break between pulls that gives a gambler time to assess his luck.

In football, a wide open receiver position that is becoming increasingly popular in place of the full back. Slot receivers are fast players who can gain a lot of yards on short passes and get in open space with few defenders, making them valuable for teams that emphasize running the ball. They can also be a threat to opposing defenses when matched up against linebackers or cornerbacks.