Slot machines are a fascinating part of casino culture. They’re so simple to play – almost too simple, right? You might think that people would get bored of pulling that reel over and over, or pressing a button repeatedly. But you’d be very, very wrong. Slots excite one of the most basic parts of our brains – the part that loves to see what might happen next. It could be a normal spin, or it could be a life-changing jackpot. You just never know what could happen on a given spin.
In this post, we’ll cover the history of slots, from the first gambling machines all the way up to the modern era of crypto slots. Our story begins over a hundred years ago in Brooklyn…
The Pre-Slot Era (1891) – The Poker Machine
The first gambling machine was developed by a company called Sittman and Pitt of New York. Their machine was based on poker and used five drums that held a total of 50 playing cards (10 each). To play the game, players would insert a nickel and pull a lever. This would set the drums spinning, which would ultimately land on a poker hand when they came to a stop. The player would then inform the proprietor of the establishment (e.g., a bar), offering the game of winning hands. This would earn players prizes like free drinks or cigars. Amazingly, the first slot machine didn’t have any prize money! And you had to know poker, or you weren’t going to understand whether you had won anything or not.
The Liberty Bell (1895) – The First Slot Machine
The oldest slot machine is called the “Liberty Bell.” If you want to know when was the slot machine invented, we’d put it at 1895. This means that slot machines were invented before air conditioning, the radio, and the vacuum cleaner! As for who invented slot machines, we’d tell you it was Charles Fey who first introduced his slot machine in San Francisco.
The Liberty Bell featured three spinning reels and, unlike the Sittman and Pitt machine, introduced automatic payouts. The reels were adorned with symbols like horseshoes, spades, hearts, diamonds, and of course, bells. This is where the history of slot machines truly begins. Three reels and one payline were all you needed back then to keep people’s attention.
The Operator Bell (1907) – Fruits and BARs Appear
Slot machines were off and running, but there was a long way to go to improve them. One person who took things forward was Herbert Mills, a Chicago manufacturer. Mills made a commercialized machine he called the “Operator Bell.” This slot machine introduced fruit symbols, such as cherries, lemons, and plums, and the iconic BAR symbol. What was the inspiration? It was the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company. Now you know.
Slot machines later gained a foothold in Nevada when the state legalized gambling in 1931. They became popular attractions in casinos, offering entertainment and prize money for casual players. You didn’t need to know any rules of the game or any strategy at all. Just put in your money, pull the lever, and take your chances. The golden era of early slot machines was dawning.
Money Honey (1963) – An Electronic (Not Mechanical) Slot
The decades rolled by, and developments in electronics hit so many industries. Slot machines were no different. A company called Bally developed the first fully electromechanical slot machine, “Money Honey.” This machine relied on electrical components, which opened up the possibility for higher payouts and more complex game features. It was also the first slot game to feature a bottomless hopper and automatic payouts of up to 500 coins. These games are another type of classic slot machine that people yearn for when they get nostalgic about old Las Vegas.
Video Slots Take Over – The Spirit of ’76 (Casino Style)
Slot machines predate the invention of the television, but it was television that really turned slots into the sensation they are today, with machines flashing and ringing all over the casino floor. Video slot machines were introduced by Fortune Coin Co. in Las Vegas in 1976. These machines used a modified 19-inch Sony TV screen to display the game. While operations might have seemed a bit opaque to a lot of players, these slots were eventually approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission, setting the stage for them to take over the live casino industry completely.
Within the next decade, slot machines with random number generators (RNGs) became mainstream. These games ensured fair play by determining outcomes independently of previous spins, replacing the mechanical and electromechanical systems used earlier. Games reliant on RNG take a seed value and typically perform a number of calculations to arrive at a game result in accordance with the game’s stated odds.
Reel ‘Em In (1996) – Chasing the Almighty Bonus Round
It’s hard to imagine slot games without special bonus rounds you can trigger on a separate screen, but they weren’t invented until 1996. It was then that WMS Industries released “Reel ‘Em In,” the first video slot machine with a second screen bonus round. Now, the games were getting more exciting and interactive, with a feeling like you were entering a special VIP payout zone when you triggered a special feature. These would revolutionize the game quite a bit, and special features are still undergoing continued innovation.
So many special features have been added to the basic game of slots. Here’s a quick run through of the games that “changed the game:”
- Scatter bonuses triggering free spins were introduced in the mid-to-late 1990s, with Cash Splash by Microgaming being one of the first games to popularize them.
- Progressive jackpots became a major feature in the late 1990s, with Major Millions helping show what was possible.
- Expanding wilds emerged later, with games like Tomb Raider in 2004 exemplifying the trend.
- Sticky wilds followed, with Dead or Alive coming out from NetEnt in 2009.
- Cascading reels, also known as tumbling reels and “the avalanche feature,” were popularized by Gonzo’s Quest from NetEnt in 2010.
- Walking wilds were popularized by games like Jack and the Beanstalk in 2011.
- Hold and spin mechanics were introduced by Aristocrat in games like Lightning Link in 2015.
- The Megaways engine, a revolutionary concept allowing for thousands of ways to win, debuted with Dragon Born by Big Time Gaming in 2016.
- The bonus buy feature appeared in White Rabbit Megaways by Big Time Gaming in 2017, letting players directly access bonus rounds. This feature is quickly becoming a favorite for developers of new games and players alike.
- Cluster pays mechanics appeared in Aloha! Cluster Pays by NetEnt in 2016, offering a unique way to form winning combinations.
The Online Slot Explosion of the 2000s
The rise of online casinos brought slot machines to the Internet. Developers began creating virtual versions of popular machines, enabling players to enjoy them from home. It quickly became possible to play slots any time you wanted and also to choose from an incredible variety of games. It was no longer possible to arrive at a favorite game or machine and find someone else sitting in your seat. With online slots, your seat is always open.
Mobile Slots and the Smartphone Casino Revolution
Mobile gaming further expanded access to slot machines in the 2010s, allowing players to spin reels on smartphones and tablets. Now you could play not only anytime, but anywhere. It took some time to get things functioning smoothly on the small screen, but modern mobile slots are really fun to play and work pretty seamlessly, even with advanced features.
Cryptocurrency Slots
Our favorite innovation. In the modern era, slot machines and casino operators like mBit Casino have embraced blockchain and cryptocurrency technology. This has enabled provably fair gaming and has facilitated deposits and withdrawals using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
What will come next is anybody’s guess.