The history of Slots is an extensive one. As spinning the reels has existed for decades – there’s a lot to learn.
Slot games and their historical backgrounds go on a journey of innovation, cultural impact, and lots of evolution.
This evolution has resulted in some of the most popular online slot games, including Eye of Horus and Fishin Frenzy Big Catch Jackpot King.
So, if you want to find out a bit more about these elements and how some of the most popular games began and evolved for the creation of Slots online – read on…
The beginning
The slot machine journey officially began in the late 19th century (1891), when a company named Sittman and Pitt of Brooklyn, New York, created a machine that had five drums and 50 playing cards.
Back then, you would insert a nickel into the game and pull a lever to spin the drums.
The original objective was to form a Poker hand and potential payouts were made based on how strong the hand was.
Direct payments did not exist then, so prizes that you could receive consisted of items from the bar in which the machine was situated.
The first modern slot machine
After the birth of the slot machine came the birth of the first modern slot machine, which was created by Charles August Fey – a mechanic from San Francisco.
In 1895, Fey created the ‘Liberty Bell’ slot, which consisted of three spinning reels and five symbols – including horseshoes and of course, a liberty bell symbol.
This was the first time that a slot machine gave out automatic payments – the game soon gained popularity and was more widely seen in bars and saloons.
Mechanical to electromechanical
As the mid-20th century came about, it brought a major technological advancement in the form of a change from solely mechanical slot machines to electromechanical ones.
These more modern machines included electrical components, which allowed for more complex game features and jackpots.
One of the most famous ones introduced was ‘Money Honey’ – created by Bally Technologies in the 1960s. It paved the way for modern slot machines, as it featured a bottomless hopper for automatic coin payouts.
Today’s slot machines
As we were introduced to the internet, the 1990s saw a rise in online casinos, which hosted a range of games, including online Slots.
Gamers could now enjoy some of their favourite Slots from home or on the go with a reliable internet connection.
These have different features, like progressive jackpots and extra rounds that could result in a range of mini-games.
The themes are now more diverse with plenty to choose from, including mythology and popular movies and TV shows.
Online, you can now even play 3D versions of the game, and with more developments to come in the future, there will be even more for players to choose from!
This includes Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) forms of the games, which are likely to become more widespread in the future – so will you be giving these games a go?
With a brief journey into the slot machine landscape, do you prefer more traditional slot games or modern ones? Or, do you like to mix up your gameplay with a bit of both?