A slot is a thin opening in something that allows you to put things through. A slot can also refer to a specific time period, such as a TV or radio show’s “time slot”.

A pay table is an explanation of the rules of an online slots game. It typically lists all the possible symbols and their corresponding payout values, alongside the rules for triggering any bonus rounds. Depending on the game, these can range from free spins and pick-a-prize features to expanding wilds and sticky wilds.

It’s important to understand the pay table of any slot game before you play it. This will help you decide if the game is right for you, and what your chances are of winning. It will also tell you how much you can win for landing a particular combination of symbols on a payline (typically a horizontal one). Many modern slot games have multiple paylines, so it’s essential to check the pay table and understand what each one means before you play.

The other crucial piece of information is the game’s payout rate, or RTP percentage. This is an average that represents how much a slot machine will return to players over the long term, although your results may fluctuate during individual sessions.