What is a Slot?

Slot

A slot is an aperture in which something passes. It can also refer to:

A narrow opening or groove; a notch or recess.

In computing, a slot (also known as an expansion slot) is an engineered technique for adding capability to a computer in the form of connection pinholes (typically in the range of 16 to 64 closely-spaced holes) and a place to fit an expansion card containing circuitry that provides some specialized capability, such as video acceleration or disk drive control. Almost all desktop computers have a number of slots available to accommodate expansion cards.

The slot is a position in American football that has been growing in prominence as teams shift to more spread-oriented offenses. These players, often called slot receivers, are smaller and faster than traditional wide receivers, allowing them to exploit coverage weaknesses with routes like slants and quick outs. They are also effective in flexbone formations, where they can be used to replace a fullback on certain plays.

There is much discussion about the impact of gambling on society. While the gaming industry argues that only about 1 percent of people have serious problems with gambling, the public perception is that it is ruining families and communities. In reality, though, the majority of people who gamble do so responsibly and are not at risk of addiction or irresponsible spending. The problem is the image of gambling as a high-stakes, low-return activity that appeals to a small minority of people.