A narrow notch, groove, or opening, such as a keyway in a piece of machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine. Also: a position in a group, series, or sequence; a job opening; a place or space for something.
In computing, a slot is an assigned position for expansion cards or other devices in a motherboard. A slot may also refer to the space available for memory on a computer.
It’s possible to install multiple expansion slots in a single motherboard, but each slot must be configured to accept the same type of card. The slots are typically labeled with an alphabetical name (such as ISA, PCI, or AGP), and a number that indicates how many slots are available. For a visual example of these labels, see the motherboard definition.
The slot is an important concept in offer management, but there are a few different views on what it means. Some people believe that slots pay out more often at night, while others argue that it is just a matter of luck and that the jackpots are evenly distributed throughout the day.
Charles Fey invented the Liberty Bell machine in 1899, which used a lever to pull a reel and was designed to give players a taste of gambling without having to leave their saloons. The machines became popular after World War II as governments were drawn to their potential for tax revenue. Today, electromechanical slots have been replaced by electronic games with moving symbols and video displays. Psychologists have found that video slot machines cause their users to reach debilitating levels of gambling addiction three times faster than traditional casino games, even if they’ve previously gambled responsibly.