Brief History of Slot Games | Casino Facts

Slots are, undoubtedly, the most popular games in casinos.

These games are advanced, but their beginnings were complicated.

Slot is a game of luck, that has also been called a one-armed bandit due to its appearance.

Read on to learn more about the history of slot games.

Those who play in casinos have tried slots at one time or another.

Some may still try their luck, while others have already struck it lucky and taken home big prizes.

But did you know that slots had undergone significant changes before they became what they are today on the Internet?

The History of Slots

The history of slot machines began at the end of the 19th century, when a machine with five reels showed poker hands.

However, due to a massive number of possible combinations, winning was virtually impossible.

The lucky few who managed to win got free beers, cigars, or drinks, depending on the game's owner.

Subsequently, Chаrlеѕ Fey invented the new machine based on the first one that had three reels instead of five reels.

Plus, five symbols instead of ten and devised automatic payouts for each combination as the number of possible combinations had been considerably reduced.

One of the five symbols used was the Liberty Bell, which gave the machine its name.

Other symbols are still quite well known, such as the horseshoe, diamond, hearts, and spades.

Imitators then devised their machines based on the “Liberty Bell” but with different symbols and prizes.

This was when slots with fruit symbols began to appear, including the cherry and the melon we still see today.

The Bеll-Fruit Gum Cоmраnу launched its first line of slot machines, but instead of giving monetary prizes, it gave gum.

This was probably an effort to sell their gum.

The bаr symbol that we still see today comes from the Bell-Fruit Gum Cоmраnу logo.

Second Half of the 20th Century

Until 1962, all slots were analogical.

There was no electronic system or any software inside.

In 1963, Bаllу developed the first fully electromechanical slot machine called “Mоnеу Hоnеу.”

In 1972, the first vidео slots were born in Kеаrnу Mеѕа, Cаlifоrniа.

A software company called Fоrtunе Cоin Co. developed the first video slot and tested it at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas.

From that moment on, all machines were made with pixels.

Therefore, the sky was the limit when thinking about special effects and sound.

We have to thank for the bonus rounds WMS Industries (yes, these also have an inventor).

They developed the first video slots with a bonus round (Rееl ‘Em) in 1994.

Even today, there are still a wide variety of slots in casinos worldwide.

Not only in land casinos, but now you can also find them in online casinos if you don't have time to go to a casino in person.

Online casinos also work like land casinos.

You just deposit and play with real money.

How do Slot Games Work?

Casino slot machines are the most popular game in casinos.

However, despite that, many people still don't know how these machines work.

Today's slots use a random number generator.

Older machines were mechanical but still used a random number generator, in the same sense as a casino roulette wheel, a deck of cards, or a pair of dice.

The difference is that modern machines use a computer to generate the random numbers used to determine the game's outcome.

Available Slot Game Themes

Conventional slot games were basic and had conventional symbols such as bells or fruits.

As the games evolved, different themes and stories were added to enhance the gameplay.

Online casino machines know no boundaries these days, with animations, 3D effects, lifelike images, and digital audio. 

The selection of games available at today's online casinos covers any theme you can imagine.

Some players prefer to choose a game based on features or jackpot level.

Still, many others are drawn to a particular game because they already know it or fans of the theme.

Developers have taken advantage of this and have bought the rights to develop games based on movies, artists, shows, and more.

Below, you can find a small selection of some of the most popular themes used in casino games:

• Based on movies

• Based on TV shows

• Musicals

• Based on cartoons

• Historical

Online slot games have conquered the world in the last few years, so join us and have a good time while you win money.