Slot machines are among the oldest and most captivating games in both online and brick-and-mortar casinos. They are usually the most abundant games in casinos thus providing an ideal game for every kind of player. The advent of online casinos added the perfect boost to the slots industry. It led to the faster creation and increased use of creativity and innovation that has resulted in the classic blend of slots available.

More players are also engaging in these games and the casinos are alive to this fact. They have taken radical steps to entice and encourage them to try their favorite slots. This has made it easier to find no wagering bonus that offers the extra motivation to sign up and play these games. The contentious question here is, where did it all begin? Read this article for a strong and well-researched overview of the history of slot machines and the changes and advancements that have taken place.

The 19th Century

Slots began to appear in the latter parts of the 19th century. The Sittman and Pitt Company and an inventor with the name Charles Augustus Fey were the main creators of that time. The first slot game was invented by Sittman and Pitt, a company that was based in New York. The poker machine was released in 1891 and it consisted of five drums and fifty gaming cards.

It is believed to have been responsible for the name one-armed bandit since it required the players to insert a coin into the machine and pull the lever, thus the name. It had simple gameplay and payouts would be made by lining up poker hands on the reels. Just as it is now, the general rule is that the house always wins. Hence, two playing cards, the jack of hearts and the ten of spades, were removed to raise the house edge. It lowered the chance of hitting a royal flush.

This game was common in bars and pubs. Since it did not have an actual payout system, the bar would be responsible for awarding wins, which were in the form of cigars and drinks. These games certainly added a perfect twist to the bar activities of the time.

Another prominent figure of the 19th century is Charles Augustus Fey. He is believed to have inspired the current generation of slots but a small mishap prevented him from getting the credit and financial rewards of inventing the profitable machine. The slot was referred to as the Liberty Bell since the highest possible winning was hit by getting three bells.

The slot also had simple gameplay. It had some similarities with the Sittman and Pitt machine, though the differences were clear. The drums were substituted with three reels while the gaming cards were substituted with five symbols, which included the following:

• Spades;
• Diamonds;
• Horseshoe;
• Liberty Bell;
• Hearts.

The main breakthrough is that the machine would give automatic payouts, an element that was lacking in the other poker machine. As a result, the machine caused a spectacle and rapidly gained popularity across various regions.

Perhaps you may be wondering, what was Fey’s mistake? As it will be discussed later, the Liberty Bell inspired the later slots. Unfortunately, Fey had not patented the slot’s design so other developers were free to produce similar machines and make money from them. This was the rookie mistake that prevented him from fully enjoying the benefits of his brilliant invention.

Early 20th Century

The Liberty Bell era spilled over to the 20th Century and it continued to dominate the industry at this time. Many companies produced the same machine and they were quite popular among gamblers. Unfortunately, there was legislation that resulted in the banning of slot machines in 1902. Did it deter from making slots?

Hell no, the Liberty Bell continued to be made. The only difference was the mode of awarding the payouts. The main issue was the use of cash so it was canceled and replaced with other forms. This was the beginning of the term fruit machines. The slots were referred to as fruit machines since they used fruit symbols and the prizes were given in the form of candy.

In 1907, another manufacturer with the name Herbert Mills also added a small twist to the slots industry. He created the Operator Bell slot machines, which were just as sensational as the Liberty Bell. It was rapidly embraced and soon after, it was found in many places across the region. It introduced the use of the BAR symbol.

All these machines were one-armed bandits. They consisted of a lever that would start and stop the reels leading to the revelation of the outcomes. This is perhaps why the players felt like they were in so much control.

The Electromechanical Slot

<strong>The mechanical slot era ended in the 1960s and ushered in the era of electromechanical slots, which later inspired the modern era of slots.</strong> In 1964, the Money Honey slot by Bally was launched. It retained the lever and was responsible for starting the game but the reels ran electrically. The machine offered a maximum winning amount of 500 coins.

This slot provided the perfect transition for the gamblers since it retained the lever, which was very familiar to them. It ushered in the use of graphical themes on screens as opposed to mechanical reels. The electromechanical reels dominated the 60s but were later replaced by even better machines.

Video Slots

Fortune Coin Company, a Las Vegas company, became the first developer to create video slots. It was first played in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel and was soon licensed to legally operate by Nevada State Gaming Commission. It used a screen as the display and it became quite popular in casinos. The Fortune Coin with the name Reel Em. However, they are prominent in the history of slots because the machine was the first to have a bonus round on a second screen. They caused a big spectacle at the time and became very popular in brick-and-mortar casinos. These slots later inspired the development of online slots. Here is a summary of the notable slots in this history:

The evolution of slot machines did not end there. An interesting development in the technological world led to an innovation that has led to what we enjoy now.

Online Era

The online casino era began in the 90s. Initially, it faced a lot of criticism and skepticism from the regulators as well as the gamblers. The governments were worried that they would facilitate money laundering and other illegal activities in the black market. The gamblers, on the other hand, were simply resistant to change. They did not imagine that it would offer anything close to the real gambling experience in actual land-based casinos.

The Internet was slowly gaining momentum, computers were becoming more common, and various sectors were trying to embrace this new development. The gambling sector was no exception since various developers started to create online casino platforms and online games. This humble beginning later led to the development of fantastic platforms like no wagering casinos and so much more.

The first online casino is believed to be the Temple of Isis that was created by an Australian developer by the name Eyecon. Microgaming also had major interests in the development of slots and online casino platforms at the time and continues to show great prowess to date. Other developers that showed prominence, in the beginning, include IGT, Aristocrat, and NetEnt.

Slots were easy to develop since random number generators were already in existence. Hence, they were easily incorporated into these games to help in deciding the outcomes. Initially, only the simple classic slots were available in online casinos but things have changed drastically. The developers use sophisticated technology to develop slots that have enhanced graphics, staggering sounds, unique bonus features, and huge payouts. The types of slots that are currently available in online slots include:

• Classic Slots;
• Video Slots;
• Progressive Slots;
• Fruity Slots.

Despite the growth and enhancement of these games, it is obvious that their inspiration comes from the earlier slots. Currently, online gambling is a booming multibillion-dollar industry that is competing favourably with the already established land casino gaming industry.

Mobile Slots

The online slots industry has advanced further and led to the development of mobile slots. You can play these games on common mobile phones and tablets like Android and Apple devices. These devices have become more powerful thus allowing them to handle the slots excellently. You will certainly have a great experience playing mobile slots while on the move through the apps or the instant play format.

Slot machines have gradually evolved from one-armed bandits to electromechanical slots, to video slots, and finally to modern sophisticated online games. You can always find an ideal slot game for you due to their diversity. The strong and steady growth of this industry has been a blessing to gamblers and it is yet to hit its climax.