A slot is a narrow opening, especially one that accepts a coin or other small item. It can also refer to a position or position in an activity, such as a career or game of sports.

In slot games, a pay table explains what symbols are available and their payouts. It may also list bonus features and their rules. These can range from free spins and pick-style games to sticky wilds and re-spins. The pay table is often coloured and designed to fit the theme of the slot.

Another important piece of information in a slot’s pay table is how many paylines it has. A traditional slot can have a single payline, but more modern slots may have several, offering more chances to form a winning combination with each spin. Some slots even have different types of paylines, like horizontal or diagonal lines.

The house edge of a slot machine is the percentage that the casino earns on all bets, over the long term. It is not the same as a player’s expected loss per spin, which will vary depending on the individual player and their bankroll.

A good slot should have a high RTP rate (return to player) and high volatility, which means that it will return more money to players than other games. However, focusing solely on a game’s return rate is not the best approach, as years of experience have proven that great slots are ones that successfully combine payback rates, betting limits, and bonus features.