Slot machines are among the most popular online and land-based casino games. But during their history, they have gone through quite a few changes and interesting periods, starting from Liberty Bell to gambling on the gg146.bet/pl/casino platform. In European countries such as Poland, Italy, Bulgaria or Serbia, slot machines have not been the most popular gambling activity for a very long time. In these countries, lotteries and bingo were taking the stage.
However, over time, gambling trends have changed. So, let’s talk in deep about how the one-armed bandits developed and what side the fruits have here.
Hands and Bandits: The Roots of a Legendary Title
Virtual slot machines are still called “one-armed bandits.” But not everyone knows that it was once called “one-armed” by one of the saloon visitors, who thought that the lever resembled a bony hand. So, the term stuck forever with some cowboy’s (perhaps) drunken thought. Why the “bandit” is not difficult to guess: robberies in American saloons were commonplace during the Wild West. And one of the first bandits was Liberty Bell.
Liberty Bell: First Ever Slot Machine
Liberty Bell is officially recognized as the world’s first automatic slot machine. Charles Fey invented it between 1887-1895. Today, some providers make a slot machine in a month, which took 8 years for Liberty Bell.
The technologies of that time made it possible to create a classic slot with 3 reels with symbols of card suits, and each reel rotated at a different speed, which was one of the first RNG algorithms. To play Liberty Bell, you had to have a 5-cent coin, and the maximum win was a whopping 50 cents. Charles Fey did not patent his invention, which allowed Liberty Bell slot machines to appear in every saloon, hotel and restaurant. But this trend ended in 1902.
New Fruit Slot Machines
In 1902, slot machines were banned because players’ winnings were not taxed. Despite this, slot machines have not disappeared. For 7 years, Liberty Bell, fortunately or unfortunately, has gathered around itself gamblers (both healthy and addicted). As we know, addiction comes in different forms, and it can be very difficult to give up gambling, especially at the beginning of the 20th century, when the concept of gambling addiction did not exist as such. What did gamblers get as a result?
Instead of card suits, new slot machines drew fruits on the reels and replaced cash winnings with fruit gum. The ban was lifted years later, but the drawings of apples, lemons, oranges, and bananas were left. In virtual casinos, “fruit” slots are still a favorite pastime for many to this day, but not everyone knows that before, winning was only an ordinary chewing gum or candy.
Technological Era of Slot Machines
The world’s first electrotechnological slot machine is Money Honey, a project of Bally Manufacturing Co. created in 1964. If you look at Money Honey today, it is a classic retro slot machine that will evoke a feeling of nostalgia rather than a desire to play it.
With the popularization of arcade games like Pac-Man, Space Invaders, and many others, slot machine developers could not miss the fact that bright and modern pictures are more appealing. Changing the gameplay would be a big mistake, but no one forbade creating equally bright, loud and functional slot machines.
With the advent of the Internet, it was only a matter of time before slot machines entered the online ecosystem. The main dates here are:
- 1994 Caribbean Free Trade Agreement, which allowed companies from around the world to legally open online casinos;
- 1995. The world’s first online casino Gaming Club;
- 1996. Formation of the first online gambling commission.
After this, a period of ups and downs began. Some regions happily welcomed online casinos, while others (including the USA) prohibited and vetoed this innovation in the gambling world. Despite this, “one-armed bandits,” fruit machines, and high-level slot machines are an integral part of modern gambling.
Final Words
The entire gambling industry has become better due to new technologies and upgrades. Slot machines, being one of the most popular categories of games (mainly in the online niche), are also developing. The most “usual” thing we can imagine is using AI and VR technologies in slot machines. But given the rapid growth of technology, this is not the limit.
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