When Did Slot Machines First Appear in the US?
Slot machines have changed considerably since they were first invented. Who would have imagined that the classic slot machines of the past would evolve into the online slot games we play today?
The precursor to slots
In 1891, a company based in New York called Sittman and Pitt came up with a machine where users would pull a lever to line up winning poker hands on the reels. The odds of getting a royal flush were only 50%, as the ten of spades and the jack of hearts were missing. This machine appeared in bars, and players would collect their winnings there.
However, the winnings were not in cash, but in free drinks and cigars. This was a very long way from the real money online gambling that takes place today, where players can play slots, table games like poker, and even live dealer games from their mobile devices.
The Liberty Bell
Charles August Fey, an American inventor, created the first slot machine in 1894. Having a sharp mind, he was able to create coin-operated machines that became a hit. In 1898, he created the Card Bell. This was the first 3-reel slot machine that could pay out cash prizes automatically.
In 1899, the Liberty Bell was based on the previous designs. It made history, and some of the following variations of the Liberty Bell paid out winnings as fruit-flavored gum. The fruit symbols from those early machines still feature in classic slots today.
The Operator Bell and Money Honey
In 1902, manufacturer Herbert Mills based a slot machine on the famous Liberty Bell. By 1902, the Operator Bell was found in numerous shops, bowling alleys, tobacconists, etc.
In 1964, the Bally Manufacturing Company introduced a slot called Money Honey. It was the first fully electromechanical slot machine. Players still had to start the game with the handle, but the reels were electrically driven. It was the first slot machine able to pay out as many as 500 coins. Over time, the company phased out the handle, and players used a button to start a game.
Fortune Coin creates a video slot
In 1976, Fortune Coin created a video slot. It was first seen in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel using a modified Sony TV for the display. After some modifications to protect against cheating, it got approval to go statewide from the Nevada Gaming Commission. This ushered in a new era of slot gaming with machines all over the Strip.
The first progressive jackpot
In 1986, the first progressive jackpot slot machine was introduced by International Game Technology (IGT). It was called Megabucks. The winning pot didn’t have a limit as it increased each time a player didn’t hit the jackpot.
The first bonus round on a second screen
In 1996, WMS Industries Inc. released a video slot called “Reel ‘Em.” It was the first video slot with a bonus round on a second screen. When this bonus round was triggered, it was played on a separate screen altogether. Other features like this contributed to the growing popularity of slot machines. They eventually started taking up more and more floor space in casinos and making up a significant portion of revenue.
Online slot machines
Developers began to make online slots that used random number generators (RNGs) to ensure results were unpredictable. The first online slot game was Cash Splash by Microgaming. Since then, thousands of online slots have been created featuring excellent graphics and sound. Many of them feature unique bonus rounds that help to test your intelligence level.
Mobile slots
Mobile slots became available, and the release of the very first iPhone in 2007 opened new opportunities for developers and players. With the development of mobile-based casinos, more young people started playing online slots.
Today’s slot games
Video slot providers keep pushing boundaries. They keep coming up with new mechanics and other ways to keep players engaged, like unique bonus rounds. The Megaways engine, introduced by Big Time Gaming in 2016, was revolutionary. By changing the number of symbols that land on each reel during a spin, it offers thousands of different ways to win. Exciting new slot games are always in the pipeline, and the future of online slots is likely to be a bright one.