One-armed bandit, fruity, puggy, pokies, or just slots… wherever you’re from and whatever you call it, the humble slot machine has been around since the 19th century and remains as popular as ever. Available at both land-based casinos and online, with a variety of games to choose from, there’s huge international appeal. For those playing in a bricks-and-mortar casino, Play slot games, the spinning of the reels, noise of the slots and ker-ching of money is more than enough to entice and excite; while in the online environment, companies have set out to replicate that experience while players can enjoy a game from the comfort of their own home. There have been some incredible advancements over the years, but first, let’s take a look at where it all began for slot machines.
The swinging sixties saw the rise of electromechanical slot machines. Bally was the first company to create a slot machine with electric reels, called Money Honey. The game still needed to start with a mechanical lever, but the electric reels were a game changer. The first mechanical slot machine was the Liberty Bell, invented in 1895 by car mechanic, Charles Fey (1862–1944) of San Francisco. The Liberty Bell slot machine had three spinning reels. Diamond, spade, and heart symbols were painted around each reel, plus the image of a cracked Liberty Bell. Despite the evolution of slot machines and reel symbols being comprised of just about anything, many video slots still choose to use classic fruit symbols. The likes of Double Bubble, one of the most popular video slots around, draws on classic features and symbols while still providing players with a modern spinning experience.
Who invented the slot machine?
The very first origins of a slot machine surfaced in 1891; however, it wasn’t until 1895 that car mechanic Charles Fey was accredited with the title ‘inventor of the first slot machine’.
As mentioned, the first slot machine was developed in New York by Sittman and Pitt in 1891. The game wasn’t anything like we are used to today and was very much based on poker – consisting of five drums and a total of 50 playing cards. These machines were incredibly popular in New York bars and soon made their way to countless pubs. Players were invited to insert a nickel, the drums would spin the cards and the object of the game was to land a strong poker hand. However, the pay-outs weren’t automatic and winners would have to go to the bar and receive their free drink, or round of drinks, or whatever the prize may be. But the house could remove cards, thus putting the odds in the bar’s favour, so that it was harder to get a royal flush; and the drums were also changed around to decrease the player’s chances of a win.
Fey invented a machine similar to what we know today, four years later. His Liberty Bell was the original design with only three reels, but unlike the previous version of a slot, this was able to pay-out automatically. Fey’s machine also contained other symbols (not just those found on playing cards), including horseshoes and liberty bells (hence the name). Like the slots we are familiar with, the symbols needed to line-up in order to pay-out – and Fey had massive success with competitors copying him. The original Liberty Bell can no longer be played, but can be found at a museum in Reno, which displays gambling memorabilia and antique machines.
The banning of slot machines
In 1902, slot machines that awarded monetary prizes were banned by many states in the US and this paved the way for fruit machines – with the prizes consisting of sweets or chewing gum. These machines used fruit symbols, which still appear today. In 1907, Herbert Mills produced a machine called the Operator Bell and the following year, the slot was found in most tobacconists, bowling alleys and salons. It was the first slot to feature the ‘BAR’ symbol we recognise today, as well as fruit symbols such as melons and cherries.
How the slot machine developed
After Mills’ machine, the slot machine remained purely mechanical and it wasn’t until 1964 that the first fully electronic machine was released. To start the Money Honey by Bally, players needed to pull the lever; however, the reels were entirely electric and the machine had a bottomless hopper which allowed of an automatic pay-out of up to 500 coins.
A decade later, video slots were introduced and that’s when the industry really took off. The first video slot was manufactured by Las Vegas-based company Fortune Coin. The game had a 19-inch display screen and was first made available at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas. After some cheat-proofing and modifications, it was deemed suitable by the Nevada State Gaming Commission and then it became hugely popular on the strip.
Video slots weren’t introduced to online casinos until 1994 and initially, they matched land-based casinos. Developments have seen differing numbers of reels on games, progressive jackpots and multiple bonuses; as well as a wide range of themes and symbols. Companies have continued to be innovative to ensure that slots remain as popular as ever.
Ever since their inception, slot machines have enjoyed a dominant position in the casino scenario. But the virtual online slots at Lottoland that we enjoy so much have had quite a journey.
Best Slot Machines To Play
For how long have the online slots been around?
Not very long. The history of slot games dates back to the late 19th century.
Charles August Fey made the first slot machine in 1894 and placed it in a local salon in 1895. Immediately, the massive hit proved that the slot machines were about to go places. Fey continued working on it and made Card Bell- the first three-reel slot, Liberty Bell- the first proper slot machine as we see today.
Soon, the competition began, and a lot of legal cases too sprang up, in conflict with the churches. This struggle also saw a novelty in marketing, and the slot machines were now promoted as chewing gum dispensers. They did not know that this step in the early 19th century would standardize the fruits and bars symbols.
Several attempts were made to prohibit gambling, but the world governments saw the tax revenue these machines could generate. As an opportunity for profit posed itself for the government, they started legalizing the slot machines. Innovations began, and finally, slot machines emerged as an integral part of the casinos.
The Electromechanical Slot Machine
Today, when we look at these dated machines, they seem to be pretty primitive. But they were all the rage in the middle of the 20th century. The electromagnetic slots introduced new means of payout like the three-coin multiplier.
There were no other significant changes, as the slot machine was still entirely mechanical. Pull the lever, spin the reels, bet on your luck to win!
Video Slots Machines
Trust us when we say this, the players were so used to the mechanical spin games, that they despised the video slot games. Slowly, with cable TV and films, these machines gained momentum and became famous.
In the 1980s, the first progressive jackpots slot game was available in Las Vegas. This actually paved the way for the digital revolution to make its space in slot games. By the end of the 20th century, gambling rules around the major countries were revised and made more relaxed.
But as always, new changes come in and take away the old entirely. With the coming of the internet in the early 2000s, slot games saw the ultimate evolution.
Online Slot Machines
As said, the single most grand evolution of slot games is the move to the online medium. There are no longer real games happening around machines. You can bet and gamble from the convenience of your own home, still making real money. The rapid development of technology in the modern age has replaced many land-based slot games.
With the recent global pandemic, more gamblers have shifted to the online slot games.
They have a number of benefits like:
- Easy-to-bet
- Simple payout options
- Multiple games to choose from
- Increased chances of winning
- Quick support from the service team
- Interactive playing with people from all over the world
These changes have been quicker than any other slot game evolutions ever. The journey traversed in a hundred years was almost doubled in the last two decades, with the significant incorporation of:
● Advanced Graphics
Gone are the days when playing a slot game was all about putting a coin and spinning the reels. The groundbreaking online slot games like those of online slots at Lottoland are more immersive.
Each animation and slide is designed carefully to give the player a memorable experience, while gambling. They still spin the reels and wait for their luck to give them a treat. Only now, the skins and visuals are way better.
There are many fandom based skins as well – such as those of Game of Thrones and Marvel Comics. They feature high-quality graphics and also short clips from the original productions, central to the theme of the gameplay.
They keep the gaming experience fresh as new because now, the spin game is more than winning. It is the victory in every single game, in the grand affair of playing, and ultimately bagging the winning gamble.
The Slot Machine Store
● Technological Innovations
All of the recent progress has been possible because of the growth of technology. But the most substantial changes were seen in 2012 when 3D gaming entered the mainstream slot games.
The Sushi Bar was the first open 3D online slot game. It proved to be a game-changer as other 3D slots also emerged. Most famous examples include Mamma Mia and More Gold Diggin’.
● Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is the next massive change coming in slot gaming. In 2019, this began with a major release of Jack’s World, following the story of Jack and the Beanstalks. It is impressive how close attention has been paid to the storyline. The game is already rated as one of the best VR online casino games.
Even the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, has advocated that VR is the future of the world.
Now, the slot games are also catching up with this change. Many pioneering VR slot games are releasing every month, gaining immense popularity. Right now, there is no limitation to the imagination, as the present becomes history, and the future takes over.
Takeaway
With all of these modifications, slot games are really going places. But this is not the end. Online slots at Lottoland are continually being improved upon your suggestions and feedback. The world of slot games has always been progressive, and the story of its evolution will also continue.