Slot machines are hands-down some of the gambling world’s most timeless games in history, whether in physical or online form. There are literally thousands of slots games to choose from, and it’s impossible even to memorize them all in one lifetime. Online slot games have especially surged since the pandemic days.
However, one thing that never gets much talk is the development of online slot games. We will explore how traditional slot machines paved the way for the development of online slot games, revolutionizing how people experience and interact with these captivating forms of entertainment.
The History of Slot Machines
The First Gambling Machine
The first-ever slot or gambling machine to grace our world was from Sittman and Pitt, a New York-based company, in 1891. It was based on poker and consisted of 5 drums with over 50 card faces. In the late 19th century, this machine cost only a nickel to play and became so popular that it could have been found in just about any bar at the time.
The mechanism behind this machine was so simple in that players need only insert their money and pull the lever to receive their particular payout, which is when poker hands are lined on the reels. There are different payouts in accordance with the cards that are lined up, for instance, a royal flush could offer players the chance to pay for drinks or cigars, whereas a pair of kings would reward them with a beer for free. Of course, the types of rewards depend on what the particular bar where the machine is placed in will grant the players.
The First Slot Machine
The problem with the Sittman and Pitt gambling machine was the number of likely wins, which made it unrealistic in making a machine that awards automatic payouts for the winning combinations. This is where Charles Augustus Fey came into the picture. He introduced the slot machine that the world knows about today.
Although it’s not exact date isn’t known, it’s assumed that Chris may have made the slot machine somewhere between 1887 – 1895. Fey achieved this automatic payout system by replacing Sittman and Pitt’s machine’s 5 drums with three reels and instead of playing cards, there would be 5 symbols, including spades, diamonds, horseshoes, hearts and a liberty bell. The highest payout for this machine would be 3 matching bell symbols, which is what Fey decided to call his machine. As a result of this mechanism, the Liberty Bell gained widespread popularity.
Unfortunately, because Chris Fey didn’t apply for his machine’s design patent, numerous other manufacturers copied his work.
Money Honey
In 1963, Chicago-based company Bally introduced to the world the first-ever completely electromechanical slot known as Money Honey. Even though the reels were fully electric, the slot machine could still be started by pulling on the lever. Because of its foray into the electrical spectrum, Money Honey would go on to become the first slot machine with a bottomless hopper that resulted in up to a 500-coin automatic payout.
This new iteration would go on to become popular among casino-goers all around and lead to a surge in electromechanical slots. However, the iconic lever that once defined slots would become obsolete in newer models.
Video Slot Machine
In 1976, Fortune Coin Co., a Las Vegas-based company, inaugurated the video slot that would be manufactured in Kearny Mesa, California. This machine would utilize a modified 19-inch Sony Trinitron TV for the game’s display. The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel had the honor of being the first to feature this slot machine. Once it underwent crucial modifications to prevent any attempts at cheating, the Nevada State Gaming Commission gave the video slot its approval.
It would then catch fire in the Las Vegas Strip in terms of popularity. 1978, IGT (International Gaming Technology) would go on to acquire not just the video slot machine, but also its company Fortune Coin.
Reel ’Em
The next best thing wouldn’t come out until 1996 when WMS Industries Inc. introduced a video slot machine with a second screen bonus round. Players would know when they’re in the bonus round when the screen display changes. As such, the bonus round would also reward players with even more payouts. And this is when slots became really trendy in casinos to the point that they contributed to over 70% of the casino’s as well as taking about 70% of the space in those casinos.
Rise Of Online Casinos
When the world was experiencing the budding rise of the internet, it was only a matter of time before we would witness the birth of online casinos. At first, classic casino games like blackjack and roulette were made available, until slots would also find their way online. And just with physical casinos, online casinos would take up a larger slice of the audience and would also be a huge part of the online casino game collection.
