A scheduled time and place for an aircraft to take off or land as authorized by an airport or air-traffic control.

You checked in early, got through security, found your gate, queued up to get on board and struggled with the overhead lockers before finally settling into your seat. But then the captain says something a bit unexpected: “We’re waiting for a slot.” What is a slot and why can’t we take off as soon as we’re ready?

A slot is a position, a time, or a chance. It’s also a term used to describe the location on a computer motherboard where expansion cards can be plugged in. A slot may be an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), PCI (peripheral component interconnect), or AGP (accelerated graphics port) slot. In addition, some computers also have a RAM (random access memory) slot.

In casino gaming, a slot is an opening where coins or paper tickets with barcodes can be inserted to activate the machine and begin spinning reels that reveal symbols. The machine’s paytable displays how many credits the player can earn by matching a winning combination of symbols. Symbols vary by game, but classic examples include fruit, bells, and stylized lucky sevens.

One of the best tips for playing slots is to read the paytable before you start playing. This will give you a good idea of the odds and payouts for different symbols, as well as any bonus features that might be included. It’s also a good idea to set a time limit for your slot session and take regular breaks. This will help you stay in control and not lose more money than your budget allows.