A narrow notch, groove, or opening, as in a keyway in machinery or a slit for a coin in a vending machine.

The term slot is also used in reference to the position on a team’s offense or defense. A receiver who plays the slot is closer to the line of scrimmage than a wide receiver or tight end. The slot is becoming more prominent in football as teams shift to more spread offensive systems, allowing smaller players like Tyreek Hill or Brandin Cooks to stretch the defense vertically with their speed.

There are also degrees of randomness when playing a slot machine. The odds of hitting a jackpot symbol on any particular reel vary from machine to machine, and from one spin to the next. The odds get progressively worse as you go through the machine. This is because each individual reel is weighted differently.

Some experts believe that slots are increasing the incidence of problem gambling. But the gaming industry argues that only about 1 percent of all gamblers have a serious problem, and the number is declining.