Tracing Slot Machines From Liberty Bell Mechanics to Algorithm-Driven Online Games Today Worldwide
Slot Machine Starts a Type of Gambling
The oldest slot machine represented the start of a type of gambling that would become one of the casino games with the broadest reach in the world.
Right from the earliest slot machine to the current online slot machines, the history of slots is evident through their development in line with technological advancements. This historical essay takes the reader through the history of slots from the very first slot machine to the current online slots.
History of the First Slot Machines
Charles Fey was a San Francisco mechanic who built what’s widely considered the first slot machine in the late 1800s.
In 1895, he unveiled the Liberty Bell, a three-reel machine that used just five symbols: a cracked bell, horseshoes, diamonds, spades, and hearts. The Liberty Bell symbol became the highest-paying combination, giving the machine its name.
Unlike earlier gambling devices that required human operators, Fey’s invention featured an automatic payout mechanism.
When three matching symbols aligned, the machine dispensed coins directly to the player. This mechanical simplicity, combined with instant rewards, made the Liberty Bell commercially successful and easy to replicate.
Early Mechanical Slot Machines
Following the success of the Liberty Bell, manufacturers began producing similar machines. Early slot machines were entirely mechanical, relying on springs, gears, and levers.
Players pulled a side lever to spin the reels, which is why slots became known as “one-armed bandits”.
Fruit symbols were later introduced, including cherries, lemons, and plums. These symbols originated as references to chewing gum flavors when machines offered gum instead of cash prizes to bypass gambling restrictions. The bar symbol, still common today, traces back to the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company.
The History of Slot Machines in the 20th Century
The history of slot machines took a major turn in the middle of the 20th century. In the 1960s, electromechanical machines replaced purely mechanical slots.
Bally Manufacturing brought out the first electromechanical slot machine in 1963. This enabled more complex games with possibilities of higher payouts.
This period also marked the introduction of progressive jackpots. Machines could be interlinked to contribute to a collective pool with a percentage of their stake.
This would eventually spawn classic games such as the Megabucks slot machine, which is famous for prize payouts running into millions of dollars with odds determined by mathematical principles.
The Rise of Video Slot Machines
During the 1970s and 1980s, video technology revolutionized slot machines. The initial video slot machine was created in 1976. This involved the use of a TV screen that could generate simulated reels.
This replaced reel mechanics with random number generators that allowed the software to determine the results instead of using mechanics for the reels.
Video slots enabled the development of games that would feature multiple paylines, bonuses, and graphics, among other features. These slots were beneficial since they were not limited to players found in casinos but enabled the development of digital slots.
Online Slot Machines and Digital Expansion
Online slots came into existence in the 1990s with the emergence of online casinos. Software slots were developed with mechanics equivalent to video slots, but with more flexibility.
Online platforms made it possible for thousands of games to be established without having to occupy physical space.
Contemporary online slots employ verified random number generators and are governed by the relevant gaming commission in regulated jurisdictions. A host of features, like free spins, cascading reels, or volatility, is determined through mathematical models and not by outcomes of chance-based mechanics.
Mobile friendliness further opened the door, allowing players to spin the slots on their smartphones or tablets through touch-sensitive screens.
Cloud-based servers and better graphics engines have brought the online slots to par with video games played on home consoles.
Differences between Early and Modern Slot Machines
There are definite differences between classic slots and digital slots. Classic slots came with fixed reels, limited graphics, a single payout line, and their maximum payout was dependent on the number of physical coins that the machine contained.
Conversely, current slots come with thousands of possible paylines, dynamic bonus games, and limitless jackpot prizes. Results are calculated instantly through algorithms, unlike the physical movement of reels in earlier slots.
Moreover, slots found online offer in-depth information about return-to-player percentages as well as the specific game of each slot machine.
Everything Evolves, Even Slot Machines
Right from the oldest slots developed by Charles Fey to the online slots that are globally available today, the history of slot machines has developed along with technological advancements and not by chance.
Each era, from the mechanical to video slots, brought with it technology-based advancements.