rivernilecasin | December 12, 2020 | Updated on: December 15th, 2020
Slots history is a well-documented part of the gambling industry, including everything from the first game to modern Las Vegas-style gaming machines.
We’ve compiled this comprehensive guide for slot lovers who want to discover these games’ history. Plus, a list of the premium online casinos offering highly-rated games that have evolved to include innovations you could only dream of.
Slots history is a topic discussed by true slot fans; those that play slots both online and in land-based casinos. Whether online or in land-based casinos, slots are by far the most popular casino game. If you’re an avid fan you’ll definitely want to know everything about this game. However, sometimes new gamblers want to know everything about slots before spinning the reels on them.
So, we decided to put together a brief history of the slot machine, how the online slot was born, and what the future holds for this popular form of gambling. In addition, you will also find a list of online casinos for slot players. Start learning how the one arm bandit became the slot machine that we know today.
At our highly-recommended casinos, you will also find the best slot machines and different variations that you can enjoy. There you can enjoy slots with three or five reels and a lot of paylines giving you an opportunity to win big. Read our history of slots below!
A Brief History of Slots
Throughout the world, slots are known by various names such as slot machines, one-arm bandits, pokies, and fruit machines. The popularity of this casino game cannot be understated and it’s hard to imagine that before 1895 the world had no idea what these machines were.
The slot machine was born from a desire for an easier way to play poker, a poker machine of sorts. This idea of a poker machine was then brought to life in the form of a slot machine. The gambling world has Charles Fey, aka the father of the slot machine to thank for this entertaining game. In 1895 Fey, an inventor from San Francisco invented the first slot machine which he named the Liberty Bell.
The gambling machine featured a mechanical system of reels and levers; a far cry from what you see in land-based casinos today. Liberty Bell’s gameplay was simple and required you to match only five different symbols to win. These included bells, money, and fruit symbols.
The limited number of winning combinations created a way for an automatic payout and catapulted the invention into stardom. Thereby, making its inventor massively popular.
Technological Advances in the Slot Machines
Naturally, the modest Liberty Bell took the gambling world by storm which quickly led to further development thanks to growth in technology.
In the 1960s, Bally Company created the world’s first electromechanical slot. This was a major development in slots history as it paved the way for more complex slot machines. More reels, more symbols, and even more game modes were added before the slot became completely digital. At this point, bonus rounds, bonus features, and a plethora of themes were explored.
At the same time, random number generators took over to control the randomness of the electronic games. These ensure fairness for every spin and make slot games more exciting.
Slots were a thriving casino game across all casinos, pubs; wherever you could find them really. It didn’t take long for these physical machines to be translated into an online version.
History of Online Slots
Modern slot machines are entirely digital, allowing you to play wherever and whenever you want to. Developers of online slots launch new and improved slots several times a year. While the market may be saturated with slots, the number of gamblers that prefer slots over traditional casino games grows too!