History of Slots and How They Work

The evolution of slots made them bigger and better than ever before. It’s not just about the looks – the narrative has changed too. What was a simple and fun game for kicks in the past is now a proud member of casino games that offers prizes beyond your imagination.

History of Slot Machines

The history of slot games begins with another type of game and machine. It all started back in 1887 when Sittman and Pitt invented the first poker machine. The game was based on poker and had 5 drums (today’s reels) with a total of 50 cards in it. It wasn’t a gambling game back then – it was usually available in pubs and bars, with a spin costing only a nickel. Insert the coins, pull the lever, and play. Wins were paid at bars in the form of drinks or cigars since the machine had no payout mechanism. While this isn’t the first slot machine, it directly influenced it.

Charles Augustus Fey is the ‘father’ of the earliest slots. Based on the poker machine design, he developed an entirely new machine, this time with automatic payouts. This happened sometime between 1887 and 1891. The machine had 3 reels instead of 5 drums, being the earliest predecessors of slots. It was called the Liberty Bell machine because it featured fruits, diamonds, spades, and a liberty bell as symbols.

The Liberty Bell Slot Machine

Liberty Bell amassed many fans, but as Fey didn’t patent it on time, others were free to copy it. Just a decade later the first fruit machines were born. They offered prizes in the form of snacks or fruits. The highest payouts were given for 3 matching fruits on one of the few pay lines – a copy-paste idea from the Liberty Bell. By 1910, these machines were all over pubs and bars. The BAR symbol that later flourished was introduced somewhere around this point. The gaming industry had a new star – this is how slots were born.

Decade by decade, their design and features improved. Much later after the Second World War, slot machines with levers started appearing in Las Vegas casinos. Vegas slots were different – they offered huge jackpot monetary rewards, and the concept caught fire. Slots were reimagined in the coming decades, and fully ‘rebooted’ after coming online.

The Rise of Online Slots

At the beginning of the 2000s, the world saw the arrival of online casinos. With them came a new and much-improved version of slot games. They were virtual this time around, and much more entertaining than their counterparts. The lever was missing – it was only a legacy feature in some games. Now, you could win with matching symbols in any direction, and also win with new mechanics and intricate designs.

Nowadays, we have slots that don’t even look like their predecessors. They come with thousands of ways to win and jackpots beyond your imagination. It all started shyly in bars with drinks as rewards but has now grown to a game of immeasurable proportions and incredible winning potential.

The first video slots began to appear in the mid-1990s with the advent of Big time Gaming's first online casino. In 1996 VMS Gaming released the first video slot, Reel Em in. Later, the first progressive jackpot slot, Megabucks, was released by International Game Technology.

Reel’em In

Vintage vs. Modern Online Slots

By now, it should be pretty obvious that vintage and modern slots are quite different. While there are modern titles that replicate the best old-school machines, in essence, they look and play differently.

• Modern slots don’t have a lever as vintage slots do – they have a Spin button.

• The number of pay lines has gone up – gone are the days of slots with only 3 or 5 pay lines (although they do still exist).

• Gameplay mechanics have changed drastically – you can now win in all ways rather than just horizontally and vertically.

• Modern slots can pay thousands of times the bet compared to vintage slots.

• Visually, modern slots look more akin to video games rather than traditional slot machines.

How do Modern Slots Work?

Modern slots are quite different than vintage machines, and in more than just one way. It’s not just about looks. They’re controlled by complex algorithms that make them fair and have more reels and pay lines than ever.

• RNG: Short for Random Number Generator, is a device that randomizes the outcome of each spin. It’s how modern online slots stay fair. The RNG can’t be cracked or adjusted, promising fair and random results no matter the slot game.

• Paylines: The original slot machines only had a single or a few pay lines. Things are much different nowadays, where slots come with thousands of ways to win. As long as there are matching symbols on adjacent reels, you win.

• Reels: The number of reels has drastically changed. Most modern slots feature 5 reels, while some, like Megaways slots, have 6. Check out Eye of Horus Megaways to see how the Cascades work and get a feel for what this mechanic offers. Cluster Pays slots such as Reactoonz are another example of how the number of reels has changed – there are many more now than the original 3.

Eye of Horus Megaways – Reel Example

Reactoonz – Reels Example

• Jackpots: While Vegas slots had jackpots, they are much bigger nowadays. There are two types – fixed and progressive jackpots. The first one is self-explanatory. The latter keeps rising with rarely a cap on the amount. These slots, like Mega Moolah, offer prizes beyond your imagination. Many players have hit millions on a single spin, even though the chances are quite low.

Mega Moolah by Games Global

Mobile Slots

One of the biggest differences between old and new slots is the fact that the latter is available on the go. There are more mobile slot players these days than those willing to sit in front of their computers. Thanks to the HTML5 platform and other technological advancements, it’s possible to play slots anytime and anywhere.

There are no special hardware requirements. You need a stable Internet connection, of course, but apart from that, any Android or iOS device will do.

Provably Fair Slots

Crypto casinos are the new black, and if you’ve ever visited one, you’ve probably read that the games are Provably Fair. This is a new technological concept exclusively available in crypto casinos that ensures the games you play are fair.

It gives players a chance to test the process on their own and ensure that the game is truly fair. For now, only cryptocurrency casino sites have it. But, it is a concept that can eventually reach regular online casinos.

Conclusion

Slots have come a long way from their shy beginnings. They once offered a pack of gum or drinks, but they’ve outgrown their role and have become bigger than ever. It’s not unusual to see a player hit a life-changing win on a progressive jackpot, and that kind of winning potential is why modern online slots are better than their counterparts.

They have evolved in the best possible ways in regard to gameplay, mechanics, and rewards. They look, sound, and play much better than the Liberty Bell, and will continue to develop in light of new technological developments.

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