In the game of ice hockey, the slot is the area in front of the goaltender and between the face-off circles on the offensive zone. It’s an advantageous position for wingers and centers as it gives them the opportunity for a wrist shot with a straight-on view of the net. The slot is also known as no man’s land because defenders are quick to establish it as a dangerous spot for shooters.

Historically, slot machines were mechanical devices that only paid out on the winning line — up, down, sideways or diagonally. Today’s computerized slots offer multiple paylines that can be programmed to weight symbols differently. That way, the odds of losing symbols appearing on a payline can be made to look disproportionately large to compensate for the fact that they appear on fewer stops than winning ones.

The word “slot” can also refer to the area of the screen where a reel is displayed or the number of slots on a motherboard. A “slot” can also be an expansion slot for an ISA, PCI or AGP card.

The term slot can also refer to a gambling device, although that use is less common. In the US, slots are the largest source of gambling revenue, with one estimate that they generate more than 85 percent of casino profits. However, it’s important to note that this type of entertainment can have a significant negative impact on the health of people with gambling problems.