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Then and Now: The Evolution of Slots

In Hungary, online nyerőgépek or slot machines are popular because they are easy to play. In addition to this, they are also accessible. However, how did slots become what they are now, and how did they evolve over time?

 

The First 100 Years

The first machine we can consider a slot machine is the Poker Machine. It came to the public’s attention in 1891. It cost a nickel to play, and it had five drums or reels. The drawings were those of playing cards, and you would win if you made a good poker hand. 

To win, you need to spin the reels and hope that the combinations make a poker hand. However, the creators removed two cards from the machine to increase the house edge. During that period, there were other prizes such as free drinks, which the winner could claim at the bar.

From 1891 to 1976, several companies developed their own versions:

 

  • Liberty Bell – the first slot with an automatic payout system that was released in 1891.
  • Operator Bell – the first fruit machine that also used the bar symbol; this one came out in 1907.
  • Money Honey – it was the first mechanical slot that used electricity; it was released in 1964.
  • Fortune Coin – the first video slot that used a television screen that was released in 1976.

 

The Fortune Coin is what gave the name “video slots.” The slot machine used a modified Sony television, a 19-inch, and it first came out in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. It was in 1978 that the company IGT acquired this slot machine.

 

The Internet Age

It was in 1996 when WMS industries released Reel ‘Em, a video slot that used a bonus round. When the player managed to trigger the bonus round, a completely new game appeared on the screen. The bonus round gave the player an opportunity to win big prizes. At that time, about 70% of all income of casinos came from slot machines.

The first online slot came about in the mid-1990s when Microgaming succeeded in creating the first online casino. In the following decades, companies succeeded in creating online slot machines that had jackpots.

At that time, the only people who could place wagers online were those who had personal computers. Gamblers had to download what was called back then as a game client. The client is an application that needed to be installed on a computer.  

When the iPhone took the public by storm, casino companies began to make their slot machines more mobile-friendly. It is this change in the mobile industry that promoted slot makers to use HTML 5. With this markup programming language, they worked in computer browsers, and there was no need for a game client anymore.

As time passed by, more and more companies sprouted like mushrooms, all of which were trying to get a slice of this market. Today, you will find thousands of slot machine titles. It can be confusing, but it is actually good. There are so many variations today that one can certainly find one they like.

 

The Current Phase

Slot machines now offer many features. And some of these features have become standard, such as the wild symbol, scatter symbol, and bonus rounds. 

Here are some cool slot features that you will find today:

 

  • Avalanche – in this feature, all winning symbols will disappear and get replaced with new ones. Since there are new symbols on the grid, there is a possibility that the new arrangement can create new winning lines. If they do, you win again. Then, those winning combos will disappear again and get replaced with new ones until there are no more winning combinations.
  • Megaways – it is a kind of slot where you could win in many different There are slots that have 243 ways to win, and some even offer thousands of possible ways to win. Because of the sheer number of these possibilities, players cannot change their bet type here. The slot will automatically charge a standard bet size.
  • Multiple Jackpots – this is a kind of slot with four types of jackpots, not just one.

 

There is also a progressive slot jackpot that you can expect from game developers and casinos. In a progressive jackpot, a part of your bet goes to a pot. It is called “progressive” because the amount keeps on increasing. If you manage to hit the requirement for that pot, you will win the grand jackpot.

Slot machines are some of the most enduring games in the gambling industry. They have survived the test of time, and we can expect them to change in the future. They will always be popular because of the variety of experiences one player can have. Although it is a game of chance, slots do offer large jackpots. As such, it will always be a staple in a casino community.

 

Then and Now: The Evolution of Slots

In Hungary, online nyerőgépek or slot machines are popular because they are easy to play. In addition to this, they are also accessible. However, how did slots become what they are now, and how did they evolve over time?

 

The First 100 Years

The first machine we can consider a slot machine was the Poker Machine. It came to the public’s attention in 1891. It cost a nickel to play, and it had five drums or reels. The drawings were those of playing cards, and you would win if you made a good poker hand.

To win, you must spin the reels and hope that the combinations made a poker hand. However, the creators removed two cards for the machine to increase the house edge. During that period, there were other prizes such as free drinks, which the winner could claim at the bar.

From 1891 to 1976, several companies developed their own versions:

  • Liberty Bell – the first slot with an automatic payout system that was released in 1891.
  • Operator Bell – the first fruit machine that also used the bar symbol; this one came out in 1907.
  • Money Honey – it was the first mechanical slot that used electricity; it was released in 1964.
  • Fortune Coin – the first video slot that used a television screen that was released in 1976.

The Fortune Coin is what gave the name “video slots.” The slot machine used a modified Sony television, a 19-inch, and it first came out in the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. It was in 1978 that the company IGT acquired this slot machine.

 

The Internet Age

It was in 1996 when WMS industries released Reel ‘Em, a video slot that used a bonus round. When the player managed to trigger the bonus round, a completely new game appeared on the screen. The bonus round gave the player an opportunity to win big prizes. At this time, about 70% of all income of casinos came from slot machines.

The first online slot came about in the mid-1990s when Microgaming succeeded in creating the first online casino. In the following decades, companies succeeded in creating online slot machines that had jackpots.

At that time, the only people who could place wagers online were those who had personal computers. Gamblers had to download what was called back then as a game client. The client is an application that needed to be installed on a computer.

When the iPhone took the public by storm, casino companies began to make their slot machines more mobile-friendly. It is this change in the mobile industry that promoted slot makers to use HTML 5. With this computer programming language, they worked in computer browsers, and there was no need for a game client anymore.

As time passed by, more and more companies sprouted like mushrooms, all of which are trying to get a slice of this market. Today, you will find thousands of slot machine titles. It can be confusing, but it is actually good. There are so many variations today that one can certainly find one that he likes.

 

The Current Phase

Slot machines now offer many features, and some have become standard like the wild symbol, scatter symbol, and bonus rounds.

Here are some cool slot features that you will find today:

  • Avalanche – in this feature, all winning symbols will disappear and get replaced with new ones. Since there are new symbols on the grid, there is a possibility that the new arrangement can create new winning lines. If they do, you win again. Then, those winning combos will disappear again and get replaced with new ones until there are no more winning combinations.
  • Megaways – it is a kind of slot where you could win in so many ways. There are slots that have 243 ways to win, and some even offer thousands of possible ways to win. Because of the sheer number of ways to win, players cannot change their bet type here. The slot will automatically charge a standard bet size.
  • Multiple Jackpots – this is a kind of slot with four types of jackpots, not just one.

There is also a progressive slot jackpot that you can expect from game developers and casinos. In a progressive jackpot, a part of your bet goes to a pot. It is called “progressive” because the amount keeps on increasing. If you manage to hit the requirement for that pot, you will win the grand jackpot.

Slot machines are some of the most enduring games in the gambling industry. They have survived the test of time, and we can expect them to change in the future. They will always be popular because of the variety of experiences one player can have. Although it is a game of chance, slots do offer large jackpots. As such, it will always be a staple in the casino community.

 

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