In aviation, a slot is an authorization to take off or land at a specific airport on a particular day and time during a specific period of time. These slots are used to manage air traffic and avoid lengthy delays at extremely busy airports.

When a player places cash or, in the case of ticket-in, ticket-out machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot on a machine, it activates a series of reels that rearrange and display symbols until the pay table displays a winning combination. When a player hits a winning combination, they earn credits based on the payout schedule listed on the machine. The pay tables can be found on the face of the machine, above and below the area containing the reels or, on video machines, within a help menu.

Some important traits that all slot receivers must have are speed, great hands, and precise route running. They need to be able to run just about any route the quarterback throws their way and must be able to sync up with the quarterback to catch the ball at exactly the right moment. In addition, slot receivers must be able to block, especially when blocking for running backs on outside run plays.

With these skills, slot receivers can be a game-changing part of any offense. They are hard to defend, which is why they’re so popular in the NFL today. Some of the best slot receivers in the league are Tyreek Hill, Cole Beasley, Wes Welker, and Juju Smith-Schuster.