Slot machines are often the face of the gambling and entertainment offered at casinos, giving gamers the chance to win some hefty rewards. It was not until the 20th century that slots became popular. Since then, they have seen decades of evolution and innovation. The modern-day has provided a platform for their adoption into the digital age as the future of online gaming continues to grow in popularity.
Although slots have ancient roots, their modern-day presence gives gamers the chance to widen their horizon. Exploring the history of pay by mobile casino UK slots online shows that they have evolved in the 21st century.
The Evolution of Modern-Day Slot
The origin of today’s slot machine can be traced back to its ancient roots in Egypt. The creation of the first vending machine by engineer Hero inspired the slot machines found in casinos worldwide today.
Later in 1891, Sittman and Pitt developed the first slot machine. This new slot used a lever system to spin and cost a nickel to play. The game was based on a game of poker and used fifty card faces spread across five different drums that gamers used to spin to form a winning combo.
In contrast to the modern-day slot machines, the early versions by Sittman and Pitt lacked a direct payout mechanism. Therefore, prizes were paid out to the winner in the bar.
Despite this development by Sittman and Pitt, the invention of the first slot machine is often attributed to Charles Fey in 1895. The machine included an automatic payment system and used the five symbols. The machine was named Liberty Bell.
Although Fey’s Liberty Bell revolutionized the slot machine industry, he did not patent it as his own. As a result, other manufacturers adopted his design, and the machines exploded in popularity.
The First Electromechanical Slot
The first electromechanical slot was introduced in 1964 by Bally and was known as the Money Honey. The game still required gamers to pull the lever, but the rest of the game was fully electronic, with automatic pay for winners.
Later in 1976, Kearny Mesa, California, introduced the first video slot. The company used a 19-unch sony TV as a display screen, allowing gamers to enjoy a new electronic experience.
Slot Machines in the Digital Age
The advent of online technology and the digital age led to a shift in many industries as they transitioned into the virtual world, and casinos are no different. Although they began offering a handful of classic games like roulette and blackjack online, today, casinos offer various options, including slots.
In the 1990s, the internet boomed, and online casinos developed with the main focus on online slots like the protein realm. Several unconventional themes, layouts, and symbols were introduced, and soon online slots became a force to reckon with in the gaming industry.
Today, there is pretty much any slot theme and variants. We have Interactive, 3D, and Virtual Reality slots. As technology evolves, we can expect more growth in the history of online slots.
