When you play slots, the result of each spin is controlled by random number generators. When the machines receive a signal — anything from a button being pressed to a handle being pulled — it sets a series of numbers, and the reels stop on the combinations that correspond with them. Between signals, the random-number generator continues to run through dozens of different combinations each second. This has two practical effects for slot players: First, it means that if you leave a machine and see someone else hit a jackpot shortly thereafter, don’t fret; the split-second timing required to make a winning combination is so small that you would have been just as likely to have struck one had you stayed at the machine.
Secondly, it means that no matter how lucky you are in any particular session, you will eventually lose. This is why it’s so important to set your limits for the amount of money you’re willing to spend on slots, and stick to them. It’s also important to know when to quit: if you find yourself losing more than you’re winning, it’s time to walk away.
A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: The position or time authorized for a flight at an airport, or a slot in the schedule of scheduled flights.