A slot is a narrow opening or cavity. In a computer, the term “slot” may also refer to an expansion slot for installing additional card-based devices (such as PC Cards) that give the machine more functionality. A slot is also a place in a schedule or plan where something can be placed. For example, “I can slot you in at 2 p.m.”
In a slot machine, a player inserts cash or, in “ticket-in, ticket-out” machines, a paper ticket with a barcode into a designated slot and activates a random number generator (RNG) algorithm to determine whether a spin is a win or loss. The player then earns credits based on the payout table and symbol combination. Most slot games have a theme and include classic symbols such as fruits, bells, and stylized lucky sevens.
While sound has been an integral feature of slot machine play since the early 1900s, little research has examined the effects of sounds on gambling behaviour. The results of this study indicate that when winning symbols are accompanied by sounds, players overestimate the number of times they have won. This effect is exacerbated when losses are disguised by sounds. These findings suggest that sounds increase the arousal of slot machine playing, and therefore, contribute to pathological gambling behaviour.