So, what makes them so popular? How did they evolve over the years? What can we expect from slots in the future? For answers to these burning questions, you have come to the right place.
Early Beginnings
Then, in 1894, Charles Fey pioneered the first ever slot machine, named the Liberty Bell, which featured three spinning reels and five symbols: horseshoes, spades, diamonds, hearts, and an image of a cracked Liberty Bell. As the first coin-operated slot machine, it was a huge hit. Instead of selling the machines, Fey rented them on a 50% commission.
In 1907, the first major slot machine transformations happened. Namely, the fruit symbols were added to the original card suit symbols.
Electronic Slot Machines See the Light of Day
The development of audio-video technology in the early ‘70s successfully paved the road to video slots. In 1976, Fortune Coin Company created Fortune Coin, the first video slot that used a 9-inch Sony TV to display the symbols instead of mechanical reels, which was a huge step forward. Fortune Coin was first offered in the Hilton Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. In 1978, the company was bought by IGT.
First Progressive Jackpot Slots
The machines across the US were connected through phone lines, and IGT guaranteed the funding of the first payout of up to $1 million. Anything more than that number would depend on the number of people playing the machines.
In 1987, the first progressive jackpot, close to $5 million, was hit in Reno.
Bonus Rounds Hit the Scene
Age of Online Slots
Compared to their land-based counterparts, these online slots had flexible and higher RTPs, and lower buy-ins. The first online slot game was Temple Of Isis by Eyecon, an Australian developer.
Now, we have slots with innovative mechanics, such as Megaways which can offer more than one million ways to make a winning combo, global progressive jackpots worth millions such as those found in Mega Moolah slots by Microgaming, and many other perks. Slots are played on desktop and mobile devices and feature complex themes and payout structures that few could predict at the early stages of online casino gaming.
Future of Online Slots
It seems that the future of online slots is already here. All it’s left is to see how the providers will adapt and deliver their products.
