History of Slot Machines

Whether you are into a mechanical three-reel classic or an ultra-modern sparkly online slot, you're in to slots the same. Well, you aren't alone. Numbers prove that slots generate up to 65% of any casino’s revenue.

Maybe you have ever wondered where this exciting, fun, and addictive type of entertainment originates from? Continue reading to learn!

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It's All About Casual Fun

Considering that the end of the 1800’s, various kinds of mechanical machines have spread throughout America. The small stands in the corners of drugstores, shops, and bars providing casual gameplay for the general public. These machines include arcade games, pinball machines, and everybody's favourite slots.

While playing arcade games and pinball requires some skill, slots would be the ultimate fun for individuals who simply need to relieve stress. You don't need to think: just pull the lever and get rewarded. This is ideal for those at a drugstore seeking to kill sometime and those chilling at a bar with friends on a Friday night.

Slots: A Brief History

The gambling industry is about innovation and changing directions. The evolution of the slot machine is the living proof of it. There have been many twists and turns in the annals of slot machines. They went from bulky, hand-operated machines at the corner of a bar, in to your beloved, mobile-friendly, one-click time killers.

Chapter 1: The Olden Days and the Birth of Mechanical Slot Machines

Everything started in 1891, in Nyc, with Sittman and Pitt's mechanical machine. Gambling historians categorize this invention among the slots. Nevertheless , it was a poker machine with modified card settings for a higher house edge.

By the end of the 1880s, Charles Fey created a less complicated and more approachable idea. It had been The Liberty Bell, the first three-reel slot machine. Failing to patent the machine led to numerous copycats and their unseen popularity in the US.

Chapter 2: What's Up With Fruits?

In 1902, the direct cash payments got banned, making way to other, less "harmless" rewards, like flavoured candy and mint. To produce it more theme-appropriate, the manufacturers changed the symbols into fruits to indicate the gum flavour.

Chapter 3: Technological Advances

The mechanical slots dominated industry for nearly 60 years. Soon, the first electromechanical slots with automatic payouts experienced industry. It had been the year 1964, and the technology was booming. Bally created Money Honey, the first slot that used electricity to turn the reels.

Individuals were skeptical at first; thus, the maker thought we would keep carefully the lever at first. When people got used to it, the producers abandoned the lever. These machines had the ability to payout up to 500 coins per game.

Chapter 4: The First Video Slot and its Popular Appeal

When the Nevada State Gaming Commission approved the Fortune Coin for use in the state, it became even more well-liked by Vegas Strip visitors.

In 1996, video slots got an upgrade. WMS released the first video with a second screen bonus round. These slots peaked in popularity, eventually paving the way for today's slots.

Chapter 5: Internet Slots

New businesses emerged, and the old physical slots manufacturers hired programming teams to re-create their original games in the brand new environment. The newer entries started pushing the limits of what a computer slot means.

A new era of slot variety kicked in. Now, we have an astounding amount of game variations. They differ in the amount of reels, themes, payouts, bonuses, RTP and lots of other aspects. Nevertheless , history demonstrates slots conform to the most recent, most cutting-edge hardware available when their variety reaches a peak.

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Looking Ahead!

Today, slots have already conquered mobile devices. So, what could you expect further?

With some decent estimates, another technology to fully embrace slots will be the VR. While hundreds of small game developers appear and disappear from the landscape, the slot manufacturing veterans, like IGT and Microgaming, continue writing the next chapter of the slots' history.

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