|
Video Slots are universally loved and a major attraction for players at both online casinos and land-based casinos. Their appeal lies in their simplicity. For the most part, video slots are contraptions of techo-wizardry and complex random number generators. But the history of these fantastic gaming devices is anything but simple. The very first slot machine to make its debut was purportedly the Liberty Bell, over 113 years ago. While it is true that the slot machine has been around for quite some time, it is only in the past 35 years that tremendous leaps in technological innovation have taken place. Winding the clocks back in time One man is credited with inventing the slot machine. In 1897, Charles August Fey created what is today a worldwide sensation. Although it was a rudimentary device that was easily manipulated, it was the world’s first slot machine and was lovingly called the Liberty Bell. The machine contained only 4 symbols and 3-reels and a paltry jackpot of 50 cents. For the next decade the slot machine’s popularity grew at an alarming rate. But no major device alterations were made. The era of prohibition kept illicit gambling alive, but resulted in a ban on all gaming in several states in the USA. It was the swinging sixties that brought about a quantum leap in slot machine functionality. This was the dawning of the first electric slot machines. These new and improved machines consisted of lights, sounds and real electronic parts, not springs. The name of the new machine was Money Honey. By 1975 technological developments had advanced to such a degree that real video slots were born. The main difference with video slots over conventional slots was the omission of real spinning reels and a pull-handle. It was generally assumed that Fortune Coin and video slot games like it (using video screens and virtual reels) were untrustworthy. From the late 70s onwards, major gaming companies invested in the technology and soon Video Poker machines came into being. This was the beginning of the video slots revolution. By the time the 80s came around, there was further progress in gaming technology. New features were added and things such as progressive slot games, nationwide networks of games, and even bonus games were developed and promoted. These events gave birth to the mega-jackpots which characterise today’s progressive games. The video slot has well and truly dropped anchor in the gaming world. |
History of Video Slots
