A slot is a thin opening or groove in something, like the slot that accepts a letter or postcard. It is also the name of a computer port or expansion card. In some games, a slot is the term for a particular line of symbols that can be lined up to win credits. These lines may be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. Some slots can include wilds or scatters, which can substitute for other symbols to make winning combinations or trigger bonus features. Most slot games have a theme and are designed to match that theme in the way they use symbols and bonus features.

One common myth about slot is that a machine that has gone long without paying off is “due to hit.” This is not true, and it can cost players a lot of money. A good way to play slots is to always know how much you are risking and to avoid chasing losses.

In addition to the slot definition, you can define custom slot types that map values to utterances. For example, you can create a location slot that maps any city name to a travel bot. You can also define a numeric slot that matches any amount value.