Top 5 Most Popular Slots
Slot games have continued to evolve over the years, but the simple gameplay mechanics of vintage slot machines that many people love are still present even in the newest slot games produced or developed for land-based and online casinos with no download casino slots.
There have been thousands of slot games that were created and produced in numerous decades, but some are considered to be more important in the slot machine history and legacy. To learn more, here is the evolution of slot machines, from fruit slot machines to modern online slots and free slots with bonuses.
The gambling machine that inspired the first slot machine was developed in 1891 by Sittman and Pitt, a company based in Brooklyn, New York. This machine didn’t actually have slots, as it had five drums that contained 50 card faces. The gambling machine’s gameplay is based on poker, as the machine would give you a set of cards as your hand. Then, if you managed to get a winning combination from those random cards, you would get a prize.
What could be considered the first ever slot machine was developed between 1887 and 1895, and this machine was designed by a mechanic from San Francisco, California, named Charles Fey.
The machine, which was called the “Liberty Bell,” has a simpler mechanism compared to the one made by Sittman and Pitt, as it only has three spinning reels instead of five drums. Then, each of the reels contains five symbols, namely spades, hearts, diamonds, horseshoes, and the namesake Liberty Bell, which serves as the symbol of American independence.
After a few years, the Liberty Bell became one of the best-selling classic slot machines in the United States. It was eventually banned in California, but the demand for the machine was still high in other states despite the banning. These classic slots paved the way for the most memorable slot machine moments in gambling history, while today's players enjoy free slot games online and free slots no registration.
The Mills Novelty Company, who was a manufacturer of coin-operated machines, created their version of the Liberty Bell that has the same symbols as the ones on Charles Fey’s first slot machine. Later, Mills created the Operator’s Bell, a variant of the Liberty Bell that has a gum-vending attachment. In order for a player to get a piece of gum from the machine, they would have to match various fruit symbols on the reels. These fruit symbols include plums, cherries, lemons, and oranges. These symbols would also become classic symbols used in other vintage slot machines.
The first fully electromechanical slot machine was developed in 1963 by Bally, a company known for producing pinball and old slots. This slot machine was called Money Honey and features electromechanical parts that are more durable and easier to maintain compared to the parts used in older slot machines.
In addition, Money Honey also had a bottomless hopper and an automatic payout that allows you to get coins without the need to call an attendant. This innovation was a significant moment in the history of slot machines. Today, players can enjoy modern versions like free slots no registration required.
It was in the 1970s when the first digital slots with video screens and various electronic parts were introduced. The first video slot machine was developed by Fortune Coin Co. in 1976 in Kearny Mesa, California. Unlike the traditional slot machines with mechanical parts and reels, the video slot machine features a monitor or screen (which was a Sony Trinitron color receiver) that shows the digital reels and other features of the game.
The trial period for the first production units of these video slot machines was conducted at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. The trial period helped Fortune Coin Co. to refine and modify the video slot machines to prevent cheating. The video slot machine was later approved by the Nevada State Gaming Commission, and it soon became one of the best games in the casinos within the Las Vegas Strip.
The video slot machine that first provided a second screen for bonus rounds in the United States was called Reel ‘Em In, which was developed in 1996 by WMS Industries. However, it should be noted that the video slot machines in Australia already had a second screen in 1994, which was two years before the release of Reel ‘Em In in America.
Today, players can enjoy free slot machines and social casino games. Free slots no registration and the most unusual slot machines are also now widely available and give a new twist to the classic experience.
In order to have a better understanding of the origins of online slots, it is important to discuss the history of online gambling. The first online gambling venue was the ticketing for the Liechtenstein International Lottery, which occurred in October 1994. Since then, online gambling has continued to grow. In fact, in 1996, there were only 15 gambling websites that operated on the web. But by the following year, the number grew to 200.
The first online slot machine was called “Cash Splash,” which was developed by Microgaming, a company that is also responsible for one of the first online gambling platforms in the 1990s.
After the success of “Cash Splash,” online slot games would increase in numbers, and they would soon become accessible on mobile phones that have Android and Apple iOS operating systems. In recent years, players can enjoy a variety of slots games, from classic slots to modern free casino slots available online.
Now that we are done discussing the evolution of slot games, let us talk about some of the aspects of slots that were omitted in the previous sections. Here are a few frequently asked questions about slot machines and the best answers we can provide for them.
What is considered the first slot machine ever made was the “Liberty Bell,” a game developed by mechanic Charles Fey in San Francisco, California, between 1887 and 1895. This game was the first to feature some of the classic symbols you will find in a lot of video slots, like the horseshoes and the yellow bell (which is supposed to represent the Liberty Bell).
It is very likely that slot machines will have new features in the coming years or decades. Interestingly, there are already new technological advancements applied to online slots, and these include the use of VR technology and cryptocurrency. These technological advancements contribute to the future of online slot machines.
The first slot themes are called nowadays as “classic themes,” but themes in slot machines weren’t really applied during their first years. The classic slots theme today is known for having the iconic symbols on their reels, and these symbols include the spades, hearts, horseshoes, yellow bells, and the fruit symbols like oranges, plums, lemons, and cherries.
Many experienced players would tell you that the older slots with mechanical parts are much more fair in giving out prizes compared to the newer online slot games with digital or electronic parts. The reason why winning in newer casino slot games is more difficult is that casinos are now able to manipulate multiple parameters that can determine the odds of the games.
However, despite having lesser odds of winning, many players still enjoy free slots, which are a big part of social casino platforms that offer free spins and free spins bonus features. These games are often used as a way to win virtual rewards without spending money, and the bonus rounds in free slots give players extra chances to play without real financial risk.
