A slot is a dynamic placeholder that either waits for content (a passive slot) or calls out to a renderer to fill it. Slots work in tandem with scenarios and content repositories; you can use a single slot for multiple scenarios, but it is recommended that you only use one scenario to feed a slot.
When playing online slots, you will find that they usually come with a pay table that is listed on the screen as soon as the machine has loaded. This will typically appear above and below the reels and is often shown as a few straight lines or an icon that represents different features. For example, it will indicate whether the slot pays left to right or if it has an adjacent pays feature.
The information in the pay table will also include how much you can win by hitting a particular number of symbols on a given pay line. Some slot games will even show the winning combinations with colourful graphics and animations to make them easier to read. The pay tables will also highlight any special symbols that the game may have, like a wild symbol or scatter symbol.
The pay table will also explain how the slot’s bonus rounds function, if it has any. These can be anything from a simple free spins round to a more complex pick-me-up style bonus game. As the technology improves, you can expect these features to become increasingly elaborate and immersive.