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UK
Casino Times
> Casino
Articles
14 November
2006
History Of Slots
Slot machines are the
epitome of gambling. When one thinks of a casino, one of the
first images that are conjured up is a slot machine,
flashing lights and the coins jingling into the money
tray.
Slot machines are
coin-operated and generally have three or more reels that
spin around when a lever is pulled. When the reels stop and
the symbols are aligned, players win if the symbols match a
predetermined pattern. Two different types of slot machines
appear in casinos: straight slots and progressive slots.
Straight slots will pay out a set amount with every spin
while progressive slots have a jackpot which increases with
every spin.
Unlike most casino games,
slot machines are not based on ancient rituals or games from
the Middle Ages. The first slot-type machine was developed
in 1891, in Brooklyn, New York by Sittman and Pitt Company
and consisted of drums which held fifty card faces. This
machine was based on the then-popular game of poker and the
winnings were according to poker hands. These machines,
usually placed in bars, did not provide the players with
actual cash payouts but rather prizes such as a free drink,
tobacco or a cigar. The machines were an instant hit and in
no time they were found in every bar in the city.
In 1887, Charles Fey
developed the first modern day slot machine, from his
workshop in San Francisco. The machine was called Liberty
Bell, was smaller in size than today's slot machines, but
still had 3 reels and 20 symbols. Liberty Bell was an
instantly popular and Fey began mass-producing them. Fey did
not sell the machines but rather rented them out to gambling
establishments, taking a 50% commission rate. After almost a
decade of going solo, Fey hooked up with the Mills Novelty
Company and they fashioned their own version of the original
machine known as the Mills Liberty Bell. The differences
between the machines were that Mills Liberty Bell was set in
a cast iron case, it had a bell that range with a winning
combination was hit and had royalty card faces
displayed.
In 1910 the Mills Novelty
Company produced a lighter weight version of the Bell
machine and called it Operator Bell, and due to its
popularity, was producing 30,000 machines very quickly.
Wooden cabinet covers were later introduced and in the 1930s
more cosmetic changes which pushed slot machines into the
frontline of the casino industry - the bells were removed to
make the machines quieter; a double jackpot was introduced
to provide higher winnings; colourful and unique cabinet
covers were designed and named.
The 1940s were the peak of
slot machines' popularity after they were introduced in
Bugsy Siegel's Las Vegas Flamingo Hilton and were soon found
all over the America's gambling capital. In the 1950s,
electro-mechanical machines were developed and machines such
as Big Bertha and Super Big Bertha took the front stage in
casinos. These machines were able to handle a larger volume
of coins and therefore increased payout amounts.
The computerised era of
slot machines was launched in the 1980s when Sircoma
produced the first video poker slot machine. Despite initial
apprehensions, this machine's fame was soon realised.
Computerised machines gave players more freedom - they could
play with bills and not only coins.
Today, slot machines are
still as popular in casinos world wide, especially the
progressive slot machines which give players the chance of
becoming instant millionaires. The online version of slot
machines burst into the scene 10 years ago and players have
never looked back. The convenience of playing slot machines
from the comfort of one's home has drawn millions to online
casinos and this industry continues to grow from strength to
strength.
Want to play slots
online? See the links below for recommended places to
play.
Also see:
The
Story Of Slots
The first slot machines were meant to entertain wives and
girlfriends of high-rolling casino patrons.
US
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UK
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Euro
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currency.
British
Online Casinos
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residents.
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