目錄
If you play slot games regularly, you probably won’t stop to recognize how different gaming is today than when it first started. You’re less likely to realize that if you don’t play slots regularly. But it has been an exciting journey that slot games have been on since its inception. They have evolved a lot over time. And over the past few decades, the internet has pushed gaming to a whole new level. So, why not just take a moment to appreciate how we’ve come from classic, old-school one-arm bandits to ultra-modern, brilliant 3D entertainment bundles? Read on as we take you on a journey through time. We’ll talk more about it here at Xgtiger Casino.
The Ghost of Slot Games Past
Where did it all begin? How did the flashy, loud, busy online slot games start today? What were the first slot machines, and what was it like to play them? And why are slot machines called that too?
Believe it or not, the concept of slot machines as we know them is over a century old. And it all started way back in 1894 in San Francisco, California, with a man named Charles August Fey. At that time, Mr. Fey as a mechanic when he built his first gambling machine. He spent some time studying the mechanical nickel-in-the-slot machines of the time, which became the inspiration for his model. (By the way, that’s where the abbreviated term “slot machine” we use today comes from.)
Believe it or not, the concept of slot machines as we know them is over a century old. And it all started way back in 1894 in San Francisco, California, with a man named Charles August Fey. At that time, Mr. Fey as a mechanic when he built his first gambling machine. He spent some time studying the mechanical nickel-in-the-slot machines of the time, which became the inspiration for his model. (By the way, that’s where the abbreviated term “slot machine” we use today comes from.)
The 4-11-44 has a long cabinet with 3 concentric dials on it. This led to Fey opening his slot machine factory and producing the Liberty Bell slot. It is made of cast iron and has three separate reels that operate independently. Each has a total of 10 symbols. And those symbols are a star, horseshoes, playing cards, and bells. To win, you need to line up three signs of a kind on a payline. Does this sound familiar?
This is exactly what many classic themed online slot games represent even today. The Liberty Bell was the first and most popular slot machine to come out of Fey’s factory. But the factory also released several other slot machines, such as Klondike.
Then, the popularity of slot machines gradually grew and became more common. And eventually, in the government’s attempt to control gambling, they were banned. At that point, people started calling the slots “vending machines,” and they would hand out candy, coupons, and the like. These, in turn, will be exchanged for cigars at the store where the vending machine is located. And after that, the person would sell the cigars back to the store for money.
Talk about determination to evade the law, huh? By the way, are you money? Do you know why slot machines are called one-arm bandits? This is because they hold up to 50% of the money. Can you imagine playing today with only 50% profit? No one will play it!
The Electromechanical Era
After a series of innovations following Fey’s merger with the Mills Novelty Company, electricity was introduced to slot machines. And with it, one of the most popular electromechanical slot games was born – Big Bertha. It has a very specific look, and its playing mechanism also stands out compared to other slot machines of the time. Big Bertha was more complex than its contemporaries and more expensive to build. The production of a single Big Bertha was a whopping $150,000.
It runs on a 5-horsepower electric motor and has 8 roulettes, with 20 symbols on each. Although popular and outstanding in more ways than one, Big Bertha Slot is only profitable for the casinos that contain it. It still offers better payouts than its predecessors but for now it is not what we are used to today. The odds of winning the jackpot are insane, 25.6 billion!
The popularity of slot machines continued to rise in the 1920s and into the ’30s. However, because mobs and organized crime are their main locomotive, slots are still illegal in the US. Nevada was the first and only – at the time – state to legalize gambling in 1931. However, this did not prevent private clubs and resorts in other states from housing slot machines.
It wasn’t until World War II that the rest of the world decided to join the party. Until then, slot machines were virtually unknown anywhere outside the United States. And do you know what triggered this sudden global expansion?
Tax revenue. That’s right, folks – as always, follow the money. The governments of a war-torn Europe were eager for a new way of generating revenue.
Video Slot Machines
It was 1975, hippie culture was in its heyday, and Las Vegas was the desert haven of gambling to this day. Furthermore, it was here that the first video slot machine became a reality. It was made by local company Fortune Coin and used a 19-inch Sony TV as its display. The screen showed a simulation of actual reels, first available at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.
Then, following some adjustments and changes, the Nevada State Gaming Commission approved this new slot machine. And soon, video slots were everywhere in Las Vegas. However, their success is far from what you expect. People still crave the thrill of pulling the handle and the excitement of hearing the roulette wheel spin. So, the first video slots can do better in the beginning.
However, coincidentally, a company that is very well known in the gaming industry today, IGT, bought Fortune Coin soon after the release of the first video slot. It wasn’t until a decade later that developers began to implement electronic systems, linking slot machines in different locations together. This allowed small amounts from each bet on these machines to go into a common jackpot – a super jackpot. Therefore, this massive jackpot can reach crazy amounts that most other pots can’t even dream of. And this is what arouses the interest of players in these types of machines.
The next important mark in the slot machine timeline was the introduction of the second-screen bonus round. That’s when you trigger a game’s bonus feature, and a new screen appears where the bonus plays out. The developer WMS, another well-known company today, is responsible for this revolutionary action. Interesting, how did something we see every day and pretty much trust happen for the first time? And the year was 1996 when it happened.
And at this point, the slots just explode. They take up more than two-thirds of the floor space in casinos and are responsible for generating about 70% of the total revenue.
Modern Days
It is no secret that the internet is the main reason behind the creation of today’s image of gambling. The first online casinos became possible in the mid-1990s, where they were the first online slot games. Although games such as roulette and blackjack were offered initially, slots quickly established their dominance in online casinos – just as they did in live casinos.
In the beginning, however, online slots remained largely the same as their land-based counterparts. Their symbols, setup, layout – everything remained. But it wasn’t long before software manufacturers embraced the freedom that computer development gave them.
Soon, new types of games began to emerge. There is great potential for unlocking diversity with new themes, structures, and designs. Producers started experimenting with their limits, pushing them and surprising their audience. Suddenly there was no need to follow a neat structure. For example, you don’t need to have 5 roulettes and only 3 rows. You can make more or subtract here and add there. Paylines don’t have to stick to a few generic numbers, either, and we’re seeing those rise into the hundreds and beyond, even.
Now, suddenly, it’s not just about spinning the roulette wheel and hoping to get a winning combination. Developers began to flesh out the entire experience, adding more and more depth to it. Today, slot games have so many aspects apart from the technical details. You have the theme to consider and how well the gameplay integrates with that theme. Are there special features? Do they tie in well with the theme? is there music How about the sound effects? Can you control them, and what else will the controls allow you to fix?
Furthermore, do the graphics agree? Today’s competition is huge, and an offer can tempt players if the visuals are flawless. We are so spoiled now that if the graphics are less than 3D and the character doesn’t wink at us from the screen; we will probably spend our money elsewhere.
Oh, and let’s not forget mobile games. You have to take them with you everywhere you go, right? If not, what’s the point? This insane popularity that online slot games are enjoying today, thanks to the ease of use, for one, has also led to the establishment of many new developers. We have titans like NetEnt, Microgaming, Betsoft, and others. But many younger and very innovative names are quite serious competitors.
IGT is another gaming giant that has been around for a while, and we’ve mentioned them here before. They have particularly made strides in bringing the big screen to slot games. There are many films produced by IGT that are slot machine adaptations. And they’re amazingly creative, delivering a whole new gaming experience.
Then we have new companies like Thunderkick or Elk Studios, who make games that lower your perception of slot machines. They go beyond what the “rules” are and bring out these little masterpieces, both in terms of visuals and setup. And over time, software manufacturers must continue to be more creative to stay on top. We the consumers or viewers can just sit back and wonder what else can be done.
How far can software providers push the boundaries, and what have we yet to see? And as you can imagine, this niche has reached the pinnacle of innovation. Look here Xgtiger Casino, someone has surprised you with something no one has ever done before. So, who knows how many changes we will witness in our lifetime? We may be on the verge of a breakthrough as we speak.
Conclusion
Are you an avid gaming fan and want to know how to bet on online casino games? At Xgtiger, you’ll get the latest information on this year’s best casino games and a variety of gaming options, all in one place.
To start your online gambling journey, all you need to do is create an account on the site, deposit funds and you’ll be ready to bet on the best and most anticipated casino games.
Frequently asked questions
In the mid-1990s, the first internet casinos were launched, providing a more accessible way for players to enjoy their favorite slot games. These pioneering online video slot machines, available around the clock, stayed true to the original concept while introducing a new level of portability
