From the clunky mechanical devices that lined up in smoky saloons to today’s mesmerising online slots, slot machines have come a long way. This journey reflects the changing needs of gamblers across the globe.
Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell Machine ushered in a new era of automated payouts and straightforward gameplay. This innovation set the template that future machines would ascribe to.
Mechanical Reels
The first mechanical slot machines were the iconic one-armed bandits. These classic gambling devices were found in the smoky saloons and dusty casinos of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were simple, with only three reels and the clinking sound of coins as they spun.
Fey’s invention set many of the basics that are still part of slot machine play today: paylines, varying symbols and automatic payouts. The games also introduced false wins – a precursor to the jackpots we know and love today.
With the advent of virtual reels, slot game developers could create progressive jackpots that grow with every wager placed. These are a popular attraction that appeal to players worldwide.
Electronic Reels
As slots gained popularity, manufacturers began introducing new elements and designs. For example, they started offering a variety of reels and paylines, and incorporating themes that appeal to players.
Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell machine introduced some of the basics that continue to be part of slot machines today, including three reels, varying symbols and automatic payouts. The machine also set the trend for accepting multiple coins and accumulating jackpots by the number of coins wagered.
Bally’s Game Maker was the first mainstream electromechanical machine to work on a video platform, giving players a choice of games without changing cabinets. This innovation fueled a surge in video poker, keno and blackjack offerings that make modern slot machines much more than one-armed bandits.
Symbols
Symbols are not just a decorative element to slot games; they have specific meanings and implications that can influence a player’s odds of winning. Players may not realize it, but each of the symbols adorning the reels of their favorite slot game holds a special significance in gambling history.
Charles Fey’s Liberty Bell machine introduced some of the basics of slots that still remain today: three spinning reels, a payline, varying symbols and an automated payout system. Games like Money Honey sparked more creativity, but it was the 1980s that really saw a boom in slot machine innovation.
Modern video slots offer more ways to win than ever. Using random number generators, these machines can feature multiple paylines and numerous ways to trigger a payout.
Paylines
While the physical satisfaction of pulling a lever still remains a beloved feature, modern video slots are vibrant and feature-packed. They allow for multiple paylines and bonus rounds that bring a whole new layer of complexity to gameplay.
Instead of a standard set of symbols such as cherries, lemons, and lucky number seven, modern slot games can feature a wide variety of themes including licensed franchises and popular culture icons. They also often offer skill-based bonus rounds that give players a chance to control the frequency of their winning sessions. In addition, some machines are capable of awarding payouts without having to physically withdraw coins or cash from the machine.
Bonus Rounds
The evolution of slot machines continues to this day, with sleek animated graphics, movie/TV-themed games and a host of additional features. Players can choose from a vast selection of themes, jackpots and paylines to create their perfect game.
By the early 1950s, manufacturers began accelerating their creativity. Operator Bell and other early Mills slots used a variety of symbols to give players more ways to win.
Bally innovations continued with the electromechanical Money Honey in 1963, which used a coin hopper to circulate coins for payouts, allowing jackpots to rise as the machine was played. Computer technology also made progressive jackpots possible with International Game Technology’s Megabucks in 1986.
Online Slots
The Liberty Bell’s invention set the stage for slot machines to grow into the intricate, high-tech computerized games that are now found at casino floors and online. From classic fruit symbols to branded titles, there are endless opportunities for players to find their favorite slots.
Inge Telnaus’s patented virtual reel in the 1970s was another key breakthrough that allowed manufacturers to vary the odds of large jackpots and add new symbols.
Online slots took the convenience and variety of video slots to a new level by making them available 24/7. Now, gamblers can spin the reels from anywhere in the world with a laptop or mobile phone.
