What is considered a slot machine?
Slots are known under various names. In the States, they are simply called slot machines, in the UK, people call them fruit machines, and in Australia and New Zealand, they are commonly referred to as poker machines or simply pokies.
In essence, any slot machine is a gambling device with spinning reels capable of generating random combinations of symbols upon initializing. If certain combinations of symbols line up on the “paylines”, they bring players varying prizes depending on their type and the specifics of the game played.
Why is it called a slot machine?
To this day people are wondering where the term “slot machine” comes from. The term originates from the slots where players inserted and received coins. And what about the British collective term “fruit machine”? That comes from some of the earliest slot machines that used fruit symbols instead of poker ones.
History of slot machines
The history of slot machines is a long and complicated one. But many believe it all starts in the 19th century with a New York-based company called Sittman and Pitt, which created what is believed to be the first slot machine back in 1891.
This particular contraption had five drums with a grand total of 50 playing cards. Winning was achieved by lining up poker hands.
Early history
The Sittman and Pitt slot machine was popular at the time. But one man managed to improve upon their idea. The Germany-born San Francisco resident Charles Augustus Fey, a mechanic by profession, created the first slot machine “best seller”, titled Liberty Bell, around 1887 – 1895.
Compared to the Sittman and Pitt invention, Fey’s machine allowed automatic payouts and had three reels, making it easier to win.
Charles Fey also made another change, replacing the poker symbols with diamonds, spades, horseshoes, hearts, and liberty bells. Three aligned liberty bells were the highest win, which gave the slot its name. Charles Fey’s invention was so popular that other people began replicating it.
In 1907, a Chicago native by the name of Herbert Mills made a slot machine very similar to Fey’s. He called it the Operator Bell. Mills is credited as the man who introduced the fruit symbols to gambling, replacing the previously used poker card characters. By 1908, Herbert Mills’ invention was everywhere – from shops and salons to bowling alleys.
Growing demand for slots
The sixties were turbulent in many ways. This particular decade shook a lot of industries, and the casino was no exception.
The early sixties saw the coming of the first electromechanical slot machine, produced by Bally. It was called Money Honey, it did have a lever, and it allowed for a much bigger payout. In the coming years, more casino venues switched to this new type of slot.
The seventies saw the release of the very first video slot. It featured a 19-inch Sony TV, advanced modifications, and cheat-proofing. Initially released in Las Vegas, it quickly spread out to other Nevada casinos.
The video slots got upgraded in the nineties with the release of “Reel ‘Em” by WMS Industries Inc, a video slot featuring a second screen bonus round. Upon hitting the bonus, a new screen appeared with new features and additional payouts. This slot quickly became popular with US-based casinos.
21st-century digitalization
The nineties brought many things, one of them being the internet revolution. With it came online casinos. But it wasn’t until the early to mid-2000s that they really began to generate substantial revenues and attract larger audiences.
Online slots emerged as the most sought-after online casino game, spawning countless variations and themes to answer the ever-growing need for more diverse casino offerings. This spawned slots with 6 reels, exotic layouts, and intricate symbols. The enormous popularity of online casinos prompted the rise of iGaming.
In the same time brick-and-mortar casinos evolved, bringing automated slot machines in a bid to appeal to a younger demographic and diversify their portfolio of casino offerings.
How do slot machines work?
Slot machines comprise of three or more reels, or vertically placed columns with rotating symbols on them. Physical slot machines are limited in the number of reels and symbols, but their digital counterparts could potentially have more reels and a much larger number of symbols offering thousands if not millions of winning combinations (also called “paylines”).
The winning combinations are generated by the Random Number Generator (RNG), which employs sophisticated mathematical formulas when choosing a winning combination.
Whether a player wins or loses is determined by the RNG the moment they place their bets, and as such is impossible to predict the outcome. Many players believe that winning chances increase if the wager is bigger, but that is not always the case.
It is possible to enter a bonus level or even a jackpot level with a minimum bet. This depends on the slot’s mechanics.
Types of slot machines
Slot machines come in many shapes and forms, with different features and payouts. They can be classified into several categories.
Progressive Slots
Progressive slots are linked machines that accumulate a joint jackpot. The jackpot increases over time, depending on the coins being played.
Wild Play Slots
Flashy slots, popular for their increased chances of winning thanks to their Wilds acting as substitutes for other symbols. In certain cases, Wilds could open a bonus levels or special game features.
Video Slot Machines
A slot that emulates a real spinning wheel. This particular type of slots could offer a large number of paylines, and an even bigger number of winning combinations. Often, these machines will bring players bonuses in the form of progressive jackpots, free spins, and multiple bonus games.
Touch-Screen Machines
Since its inception, touch-screen technology found its second home in the casino industry. It was almost immediately implemented as an interaction method in newer slot models. The new slot variants proved quite popular with players who appreciated their slick design and comfortable setup.
3D Slots Machines
Slots offering three-dimensional graphics are a hot commodity these days. The cutscenes and animations look more live-like, the colors are brighter, and in general, these cabinets offer higher engagement thanks to their inconvenient and innovative gameplay mechanics.
VR Slot Machines
One of the most innovative types of slots out there. It offers an immersive and real-like 3D casino experience. Apart from the improved graphics, the VR slots offer a completely new type of multiplayer gambling in which players are thrown directly into the game alongside other participants.
Multi-Game Machines
Multi-game slots offer several different types of games at the same time. These could be any combination of card and dice-based games.
Apart from the aforementioned, there are also classic slot machines with three reels and up to five paylines, and jackpot slots that have higher volatility and much bigger winning chances.
Historically speaking, there are more types of slots that could be found around the world. Vintage enthusiasts could still enjoy Buy-Your-Pay or Single-coin slots offering winnings based on the number of inserted coins. Multiple Payline and Multiplier slots could also be seen, with more generous payouts depending on the coins played.
Comparisons between online and land-based slots
A lot can be said when comparing brick-and-mortar casinos and online casinos. Not only that these are two different mediums, but both of them offer a different gaming experience.