How to Read a Slot Paytable
In computing, a slot (or slot number) is an amount of CPU time that can be devoted to executing a single program unit. A program unit can be a process, thread, queue, or any other kind of application-level entity that consumes CPU resources. In most systems, the slot number is used as an index into a queue to allocate processing resources to running jobs. The term is also used to refer to the number of available slots in a system, or to a particular set of available resources that can be assigned to a job.
In slot machine games, a pay table is an essential guide that explains how different combinations of symbols payout and activate game bonuses. It is sometimes found prominently displayed on a machine’s exterior or, for online machines, integrated into the digital screen. Knowing how to read a pay table will help players understand the basics of slot game rules, and can increase their chances of winning.
Charles Fey’s slot machine was the first to allow a player to choose from a variety of symbols. This allowed more winning combinations and a higher jackpot, giving it its name. Previously, poker-type symbols had been the only choice, but Fey’s machine featured diamonds, hearts, spades, horseshoes, and liberty bells. Three aligned liberty bells was the highest possible win.
Before a spin, the player inserts cash or, in ticket-in, ticket-out machines, a paper ticket with a barcode. A computer then generates random numbers for each symbol in the reels. The machine then identifies which symbols match those on the pay line and awards credits, according to the payouts listed in the slot’s paytable. A winning combination will also trigger any bonus features listed on the pay table.
While casinos often claim that slot machines get hot or cold, this is not true. The odds of a slot machine winning a prize remain the same every spin. However, a win is often followed by several more losses.
When creating a custom slot type, you can assign an utterance to it, which allows you to use that utterance in your bot’s responses. You can also add synonyms to a slot type, so that Dialog Engine recognizes multiple phrases and words for the same slot. For example, you could map the slot type “flight code” to “airport”, “city”, and “number”. You can define additional slot types by clicking Add Slot Type in the left pane. Alternatively, you can use a regular expression to define your own slot types. See the Using regular expressions to create slot types section for more information.
