The First Official Slot Machine
Written by
A slot is an allocated time and place for an aircraft to take off or land, as authorized by an airport or air-traffic authority. It is a tool used to manage flights at extremely busy airports and prevent repeated delays from too many planes trying to take off or land at the same time.
The first official slot machine was invented by Charles Fey in 1887, but it wasn’t until 1996 that the era of video slots really began. The first game was called ‘Reel ’Em’ and it was the first video slot to feature a second screen bonus round. This was a huge success and was a major step forward for the industry as a whole.
With the advent of computer programming, restrictions on how slots could be created were lifted and this is where the era of massive online slots growth began. Today we can see games with unconventional layouts and more than 5 reels, a wide variety of themes, endless different symbols and innovative and imaginative bonus rounds.
Initially, the machines were quite simple. A lever was pulled down to activate the wheels and the reels would then spin. A winning combination would appear and the player would then decide whether to cash in or gamble on a double or nothing side game. This was a very simple way to play and it certainly proved popular with people.
As the machines progressed and became more sophisticated, the symbols that were used changed as well. Landing three of the same symbol on a reel wasn’t particularly exciting, so the developers began to introduce theme specific symbols such as leprechauns, pots of gold and lucky sevens. This made the games more interesting to play and also helped to create a sense of winning anticipation among players.
In the early 1990s, a developer named Microgaming released the first true video slot that was linked to a central server and had a multiplayer option. The player was able to compete against other people in the same room or even from across the world and the games were very fast to load. This was a huge advancement for the industry and it is now one of the most popular types of casino games in the world.
The next big milestone came in 1996 when WMS Industries Inc. launched the first video slot that featured a second-screen bonus round. This was a major leap for the industry as it meant that a player could trigger a bonus round and be taken to a completely different screen where they could then win additional payouts. This game, which was called Reel ’Em, became a huge hit and is still available at many casinos today.
Another leading developer is NetEnt, who were founded in 1996 and specialise in a range of online casino games. Their titles are known for their high quality graphics and ease of use, and they can be played on almost any device. You can also find a range of classic table games from this top software developer.