Compared to many of the other casino staples, slot machines haven’t been around all that long. From their development at the tail end of the 19th century, Slots have come a long way and have turned into one of the most popular offerings in both land-based and online casinos.
It’s no surprise that Slots remain a dominant presence in the modern casino landscape thanks to their ability to keep up with the times. To gain a better understanding of these popular games, join us as we explore the development of slot machines, from their humblest beginnings to their digital advancement.
Mechanical beginnings
Slot machines started to develop during the late 1800s, building on the basics of other similar mechanical devices. The first true slot machine is credited to San Franciscan Charles Fey, who created the Liberty Bell in 1895.
Compared to its immediate predecessors, the Liberty Bell was a much simpler design featuring just three spinning reels and five different symbols. Players would pull the lever and watch the reels spin, seeing if they’d get a line of three matching spades, diamonds, hearts, horseshoes or the titular Liberty Bell.
The machines proved incredibly popular, with Fey struggling to meet demand as more venues across the US wanted a Liberty Bell game of their own. This led to numerous competitors creating their own versions of the slot machine, often using varying symbols to better distinguish themselves.
All of these slot machines were entirely mechanical, using a combination of gears, springs and levers to operate.
The switch to electromechanical
As time moved on, the need for a more modern slot machine increased. During the 1960s the incorporation of electronics began, allowing for new features and more complex game designs.
These games still featured physical reels and levers, but these were complimented by more complicated electronic components. Effects like sounds and flashing lights became part of the standard slot machine design, leading to games with more elaborate theming than the classic fruit machines.
But the single biggest revolution of the Slots formula was still yet to come.
Going digital
Even with the shift towards electromechanical design, Slots with physical reels were still subject to shortcomings. Most importantly, physical reels were vulnerable to influence from outside factors and possible breakdowns.
Developing microprocessor technology allowed developers to experiment, creating the first video slot machine during the 1970s. This replaced the physical reels with a video screen, marking the beginning of the digital era for Slots.
Freed from the limitations of physical components, slot machines moved forward in leaps and bounds. Random number generation (RNG) played a big role in that development, as these computer algorithms could create entirely random results, ensuring that these new slot machines could deliver true fair play.
By the turn of the millennium, most slot machines in land-based casinos had shifted over to the digital format and mechanical Slots were largely relegated to history. This made it even easier for Slots to make the transition to online platforms, as much of their design was already digital in nature.
—
Modern slot machines look pretty different to the classic Liberty Bell or a mechanical fruit machine. But underneath the advanced technology and additional features, these games still retain the core gameplay that made them a hit in the first place.