When entering a land based or online casino, there are many games from which to choose. However, the one game which continues to attract most attention is the slot game. The slot machine, also known as a fruit machine or pokies has been available since the late 1800s. Continue below as we take a deep dive into the history of what has become the most popular online casino game.
The First Slot Machine
When playing online slots, it is hard to imagine what the first slot machine was like but if we go back to 1891, we can find out. The gambling machine created by Sittman and Pitt of Brooklyn, New York, does not resemble the modern online slot game but it was the game that ignited the interest of the public and future designers. The game was based on poker and some people still refer to slots as poker machines today. Playing cards were placed into drums inside the machine and when a player pulled the lever the drums would spin and the aim was to get a good poker hand. There was no automatic payout on the first slot machine and players had to claim their winnings from the bar. Prizes included cigars and drinks but it was up to each establishment to decide what prizes they wanted to offer.
Automatic Payout
The original slot machine was a lot of fun to play and there was always a sense of achievement when going to collect a prize at the bar. However, due to the growing popularity of the machines, this process was becoming impossible to maintain and led to the creation of the first automatic payout slot machine. Designed by Charles Fey of San Francisco, the first automatic slot machine was simpler than the Sittman and Pitt machine, with three reels that contained five symbols. As the total number of winning combinations were reduced, it made it much easier for the machine to read a winning combination and make a payout. In 1899, Fey created the Liberty Bell slot machine and this became the most popular slot machine of the time. Many other slot machine manufacturers copied the design as the demand for playing slots was growing by the day.
One of the new machines to be spawned from Fey’s original design came with the addition of a chewing gum vending attachment. The gum that was available to purchase from the attachment was fruit flavoured and, as a result, the slot machine had fruit symbols on the reels, something we still see today.
Video Slot Machines
The 1960s saw the first fully electromechanical slot machines. The electromechanical nature of the machines meant that a payout of up to 500 coins could happen automatically, meaning there was not need for an attendant to administer the payment. Then, in 1976, came the introduction of the first video slot game. The slot machine was created in California by the Las Vegas–based Fortune Coin Co and used a 19-inch Sony colour receiver for the display. The first edition went on trial at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and there were some attempts of cheating by some players. These attempts were noted by the developers and having made some changes to the slot machine, video slots were approved by the Nevada State Gaming Commission and made available to the public in Las Vegas casinos.
Video slot machines became hugely popular in Las Vegas, with the number of machines growing inside the casinos. By the late 1970s, Las Vegas casinos had rows of slot machines, complete with seats so players could stay and play for longer periods. The video slot machine technology was proving so popular in Las Vegas, it was purchased by International Gaming Technology in 1978. The development of slot machines continued throughout the 1980s and early 90s, with special features such as dual screens, touchscreens, multiple paylines, and bonus games. It was an exciting time for players and slot machine developers and soon, computerised slots started to enter the market and these gave a different probability to each symbol on the reels.
Internet Era Changes the Game
The next and possibly biggest change in the history of slot machines came with the widespread introduction of the internet in the 1990s. Taking the best of the electronic video slots, online slots made the games available to anyone who had an internet connection. This was great for those who enjoyed playing slots but could not leave the home or who lived too far away from a casino or bar. The first online slots were simple digital recreations of land based slots and were not overly exciting when compared to the choice of online slots we have now. However, the novelty of being able to play slots at online casinos was enough to attract players.
Originally, the style of online slots closely matched the slot machines found in casinos but it did not take long for computer programmers to create new ways to play. New layouts and structures plus themed slots for television shows and movies further increased the popularity of online slots in the early years. There was some concern among groups of players about the fairness of online slots and sceptics were suggesting slots could be fixed because they were online. The introduction of Random Number Generators soon put an end to the speculation and ensured that each spin of the reels when playing slots online was random.
Progressive Jackpots and Mobile Slots
Slot machines always had fixed jackpots but playing slots online allowed for progressive jackpots, meaning the size of the jackpot increases with every bet placed until it is won. This allowed jackpots to rise to life changing amounts of money and took slots into fresh territory in terms of the money at stake. The development of smartphones and tablets saw the start of a new era for slots, with developers creating slot games specifically for the smaller, touch screen. Mobile slots offer the same high quality graphics, sound, and gameplay of desktop slots but with the convenience of playing anywhere.
So, slot machines have gone from being fixed in a bar, with a small set prize that must be collected from a person to digital slot games on mobile phones that can be played anywhere, with jackpots that can reach millions. Slots have stood the test of time thanks to their continued development in tandem with technology and it will be interesting to see what the next big development will be in the world of slot games.
