With the news yesterday that Vegas casinos had been given the green light to return to 100% capacity, and with the USA likely to be moved on to the UK’s ‘travel green list’ in early June, perhaps you’re planning a trip to the home of slots to spin some wheels soon?
Going in without a plan and knowledge of this most iconic of machine’s history would be a rookie error. To enjoy your trip to the full, it’s first essential to understand the history of the place and the nature of the game.
As such, we’re glad that the maxim that ‘’whatever happens in Vegas should stay there’’ isn’t always respected, and certain myths and stories are allowed to leave the city intact.
They say that to understand slot machines, you first have to be at one with the slot machine. You have to dine out on the fruit, light the candle, and hammer, spin and freewheel your way around the carousel. Hell, with dexterity, you can even tame the one-armed bandit.
Interestingly, the basics of the game have stayed resolutely traditional over time, and perhaps this is part of their appeal. That said, the way we in which we play the simple slot game has developed in so many ways, from the one-armed bandit machine in land-based casinos to the advanced technology of video slots that are available to play online, whenever and wherever you like.
If you’re keen to learn more about the history of the slot machine, then let’s dive in below.
THE FIRST SLOT MACHINE
The origins of the slot machine can be traced as far back as the late 19th century, although they weren’t the game that you’re familiar with now. In fact, these mechanisms were more likened to poker, and were a precursor to the slot games of today.
The most notable version of this archaic slot machine was invented by Sittman and Pitt of New York in 1891. It consisted of five drums that displayed a total of 50 playing cards, with the aim to line up a poker hand on the reels, after inserting money and pulling the lever, which would result in a pay-out.
At this stage, the machine had no automatic pay-out mechanism, and so the prizes were awarded from the bar (as most were stationed in saloons). The prizes were also non-monetary, and would include awards such as free drinks and cigars.
The first to be classed as an official slot machine, was invented by Charles Augusts Fey of San Francisco in the late 1800s. It was deemed a slot machine as it involved the highly-anticipated automatic pay-out system. But in order to do so, the complexity of the poker-themed machines that came before it was simplified.
The five drums became three reels, and the vast range of playing card symbols were reduced to just five icons. The familiar hearts, diamonds and spades remained, but were joined by additional symbols of horseshoes and a liberty bell. The highest pay-out came from landing three of the liberty bell symbols, and so the name ‘Liberty Bell’ was coined for the inventive machine.
The slot machine’s popularity boomed, but as Fey did not patent his designs, many versions of a similar game were then produced. By 1909, San Francisco alone had 3,300 slot machines in the city.
FRUITY FLAVOURS
As time went on, laws around gambling tightened, and the slot machine was banned in the United States in the 1900s. But this did not affect its popularity. Instead, manufacturers offered food prizes instead of cash pay-outs, referring to the machines as chewing gum dispensers. To represent the different flavours of gum available, symbols of fruit were introduced.
Horseshoes, bells, fruit – all sound familiar? Thanks to its colourful history, these iconic symbols are still used in the various online slots that we can play today.
THE BIRTH OF VIDEO SLOTS
Fast forward to 1964, and the first electronic slot was released, named ‘Money Honey’. It still harkened back to its history, as involved the pulling of a lever. But the mechanism inside was operated entirely electronically and enabled an automatic pay-out of up to 500 coins.
The game was hugely popular, and so an increased demand for electronic slots began. Over time, the lever was removed, to be replaced with the button. Then, in the 1970s, the first video slot was developed. The company Fortune Coin used a video screen for the display of the physical slot machine, and was first available to play in Las Vegas.
Since then, the offering of the slot game has come on leaps and bounds, thanks, firstly, to improvements in technology allowing for bigger and better slots in Vegas casinos and beyond. And then, because of its introduction into the world of online casinos. Bonus rounds, sleek graphics and engrossing themes are all the norm for video slots nowadays, which have gone beyond their land-based counterparts.
This article will in no way help you play slot machines more successfully, and is only intended for entertainment purposes. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly. Click HERE for more information.