Slots started out as flashy, blinking machines that spin reels with all sorts of symbols like cherries, bars and lucky sevens. They’ve been around for over 100 years!
Let’s take a fun journey down memory lane to see how these machines have developed, from their previous mechanical existence to the computerized screens that we see today.
First Slot Machines
The first slot machine was invented in the 1890s by a man named Charles Fey. He lived in San Francisco, and he had named his machine the Liberty Bell. It had three reels that rotated and just a few symbols like horseshoes, stars, and bells.
If you got three bells in a row, you won the jackpot for the big prize. It was not an electrical machine, it was mechanical. You would pull a lever on the side and the reels would rotate around on gears. Becoming Popular in the 1900s, slot machines soon were found in bars, saloons and even barber shops.
Going Digital
During the 1970s, they developed video slots. These no longer had real spinning reels. Instead, they had screens that showed animations of reels spinning. This opened up an entire new universe for game designers. Now they could incorporate bonus rounds, cool effects and all manner of innovative themes, like pirates, space or even ancient Egypt.
By the 1990s and 2000s, slots were basically small computers. They used Random Number Generators (RNGs) to pick what the result would be. That is, the machine chooses the result entirely by chance, so it’s fair. Casinos added more fun features like bonus games, free spins and jackpots where players could win millions or thousands.
Slots Go Online
Once the internet went mainstream, online casino slots were one of the most popular games to play on sites like Betway. Now you do not even need to go to a casino. You can now play slots using your phone or computer. Online slots are even more revolutionary since they can incorporate video clips, music and plotlines like in a video game.
Some of the online slots are connected to huge prizes called progressive jackpots. That means every time the game is played, the jackpot grows and rises until it’s claimed by some Betway fan and it could be millions of dollars.
Today there are thousands of different slot machines. Some online and some land-based. Modern slots are colorful, exciting and full of sounds and animations. But one thing has not changed, they’re still mostly games of chance.
People play slots because they’re easy to understand. You don’t need to learn tricky rules. You just press a button and hope for the best.
Conclusion
Slot machines have come a long way, from simple devices with three reels to complex, high-tech games with plenty of lights, sounds and big prizes. Whether it is an old-fashioned “one-armed bandit” or a luxury video slot on your phone, the goal is the same.
Line up the symbols and win. While the machines have changed a lot over the years, the fun and excitement of playing slots have remained constant for over 100 years.
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