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Casinos have existed since at least 1638
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First slot machine invented in 1894
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Went on to become most popular casino game
The Early Years of Slot Machines
At the end of the 19th century, inventors Sittman and Pitt created a five-reel machine that featured poker cards. This machine held 50 cards and provided single-player gameplay with the opportunity to win a payout. To succeed, players would need to insert a coin and push down on an arm to spin the reels. If a winning poker hand was created, the player would not receive a cash prize, but would instead be rewarded with a beer, cigar, or another gift.
By 1895, another American inventor, Charles Fey, released his own version, but this was different in several ways. Fey's machine, later called a slot machine, only featured three drums and images instead of playing cards. The slot symbols featured on his first machine were bells, horseshoes, diamonds, spades, and hearts. To operate it, players would also need to enter a coin, and then lower the lever.
The world's first slot machine, fondly nicknamed Liberty Bell, was also able to deliver real money payouts based on how symbols would land. This would be the first of many slot machines which, at the time, were more commonly referred to as one-arm bandits.
Development of classic slots
As interest in slot machines grew, several other inventors began creating their own versions. In 1907, Herbert Mills unveiled a slot machine featuring a variety of fruit symbols, including cherries and lemons. The popularity of these symbols would lead many to refer to these games as fruit machines.
Other familiar symbols, including BAR and lucky number sevens, were eventually added to slot machines, and some even began featuring themes. These games would eventually become known as classic slots, but at the time, they featured cutting-edge mechanical and, eventually, electronic technologies.
While the number and variety of classic slots continued to grow during the 19th century, most games kept the traditional three reels and one payline format. However, by the second half of the century, more electronic games started appearing at casinos, and this was a significant blow to the original machines.
Variations of the Classic Slot Machine
To stand out from what was becoming a crowded industry, some slot machine manufacturers began offering jackpot prizes or similar bonuses. Fixed jackpot machines would allow players to wager between one and three coins per spin, however, only entering the maximum bet would give them a chance to win the top prize.
Eventually, progressive jackpot slot machines started appearing. Offering players a chance to win a steadily increasing prize, these classic slots became popular attractions in Vegas and other casino destinations. However, unlike modern jackpot slots, the value of the jackpot on one machine was normally wholly dependent on the number of bets on that same machine or a row of machines.
In contrast, today's online jackpot games combine the bets of all players across multiple sites and often multiple games to deliver higher prizes.
IGT developed a progressive jackpot system that's similar to that offered by today's jackpot networks. So-called WASPs would combine bets placed on participating slot machines across multiple land-based casinos to deliver high-value prizes. As with all modern progressive jackpot games, a percentage of each wager is set aside to grow the value of the prize.
A few advanced classic slot machines also introduced bonus features or a higher number of winning combinations. To activate these functions, players would often need to place the maximum bets. This led to a common online slot myth where players believe that higher bets increase the likelihood of triggering a bonus. In reality, with a few jackpot exceptions, this is not the case for modern slots.
The Birth of Online Slots
The end of the 20th century brought with it an incredible change for slots. By 1994, the world's first online casino had opened its virtual doors and soon after, the first online slot was released. While it did not feature anywhere as many bonus features and special symbols as modern online slots, this electronic game helped to revolutionise the industry.
By the time online slots started being developed, land-based casinos had already made the transition from classic slots to video slots. Mechanical components could only support a limited number of winning combinations and payouts, but electromechanical equipment could push the limit significantly. Online slots, however, had no mechanical parts and this allowed them to work in ways that would be impossible or impractical for a physical machine.
Thousands of online slots are nowadays created each year. They are far cheaper to develop and recreate across multiple countries and languages than any classic slot machine ever built. However, numerous slot creators continue to use classic slots to inspire their new creations, allowing traditional paylines and nostalgic symbols to live on long after their original machines have rusted away.
Key Takeaways
- Classic slot machines owe their existence to single-player poker machines invented in 1891.
- The world's first slot machine was built in 1895 by American inventor, Charles Fey. This machine had three reels and one payline, and unlike the poker machine it was based on, was able to provide cash payouts.
- The development of slot machines continued throughout the 20th century. By using electronic components, manufacturers were able to include additional features, such as jackpots.
- Classic slot machine elements, including original symbols, are still in use in many modern online slots.
- Gambling on slots is entirely based on luck and you should never gamble more than you can afford to lose.