In the world of gambling, slot means the place where a player places his or her bet. Players may put cash or, in “ticket-in/ticket-out” machines, paper tickets with a barcode into a slot on the machine and activate it by pressing a button (either physical or on a touchscreen). The reels then spin and stop to rearrange symbols to create a winning combination. When a winning combination is completed, the player receives credits based on the pay table. Most slots have a theme and the symbols and bonus features are aligned with that theme.
In American football, a slot is the area of the offensive line closest to the sideline and occupied by a wide receiver or running back. The slot is usually positioned slightly behind the line of scrimmage, and is used to create formations that employ multiple potential ball receivers. The slot receiver is often referred to as the “slotback.”