A slot (plural slots) is a narrow opening, especially one for receiving something, such as a coin or letter. Also called a groove, notch, or slit. (From Middle English slitt, from Old English sleutana, from Proto-Germanic *sleutanaz, from Proto-Germanic *sleutananaz) In computing, a device or program that occupies a specified place in a computer’s memory or on a disk, such as a hard drive, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

In the early 20th century, many people found gambling on slot machines to be entertaining and exciting. They were popular in many parts of the United States, including resort areas like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. This popularity led to widespread public support for state-sponsored lottery and bingo programs, which aimed to keep gambling profits high.

Despite their popularity, casinos faced increasing competition from specialized electronic games, such as video poker and blackjack. The introduction of the electromechanical slot machine in the 1960s increased the number of ways to win money by allowing players to insert coins and change denominations. By the 1970s, new technology allowed slot machines to display more than 100 symbols and offer a wider range of payouts.

Dixon et al. (2019) reported that problem gamblers tend to endorse dark flow experiences more than nonproblem gamblers. They speculate that the arousal from gambling can serve to distract players from painful mental experiences that occur in everyday life. This distraction is enhanced by the attention-capturing rewards and intermittent reinforcement in slot play.