The world is constantly changing and the main driver is technology. It has brought about revolutions such as the industrial revolution and the digital revolution. The pace of change is usually dependent on how groundbreaking the new technological advancements are. The more striking developments tend to bring about abrupt change that affects all industries including the gambling industry. This includes the niches that exist within it, such as slots – play today.
A Brief History Of Slots
A mechanic named Charles Fey invented the first-ever slot machine back in 1895. This early effort had three spinning reels that contained 5 symbols that included horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell. It was the bell symbol that influenced the name of this first-ever slot that was eventually given the title of Mills Liberty Bell. The bell was the highest valued symbol and getting three in a row produced the biggest payout.
In 1891 New Yorkers Sittman and Pitt developed a gambling machine that used 5 drums. This held a total of 50 card faces and is one of the earliest efforts to mimic the slots that we have today. Further developments took place in the early 1900s, but slots were also banned during this period. Instead of cash prizes, slots were used to dispense other prizes such as sweets and new fruit symbols filled the reels, instead of card based symbols. This was how fruit machines came into existence. The next big developments in slots came about in 1963 with the first electrical slot and again in 1976 with a crude version of the first video slot. This machine used a modified 19-inch Sony TV screen for the display. These slots were accompanied by new symbols such as Stars, Crowns, 777 and Gems.
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Deep Impact
The mid 1990s was a pivotal moment in the world of technology. An event occurred that brought abrupt change throughout the world and this affected all the industries and the masses in general. The digital revolution was one of the biggest breakthroughs in the history of technology. In fact, we are all still experiencing the affects of it even now. In 1996 the internet was gaining popularity and much of the population was starting to gain internet access in their own homes. This digital platform allowed the public to gain access to a wealth of information at a click of a computer key. The gambling industry took note and introduced the first online casino to the internet. In the same year the first video slot also made its appearance online. Both proved to be a huge hit with punters.
The Slots Craze
Slots had a huge impact on the gambling industry and as more online casinos opened their virtual doors to the public, so the demand for new slots increased. With new digital technology and advanced computer software, slots became more than just spinning reels. Animation brought slots to life and technology allowed for multilayered bonus rounds. Improvements continue to this very day and thanks to technological advancements, slots have become an unstoppable phenomenon.
