Ever wonder how slots came to be as popular as they are today? The first slot machine gave the impression of being a large and cumbersome machine accessed in land-based casinos. Today, we can play slot games with a plethora of themes available at our fingertips. All it takes is downloading an app. Players can even try multiple slot games at once.
While in-person and digital slots are both trendy, what's the history behind these high-earning machines?
Gambling in CanadaGambling in Canada is nothing new. Currently, there are plenty of online casinos popping up and offer games such as slots, blackjack, poker, and even live online casinos. It's becoming easier and easier to find online games for Canadians to enjoy. The legal gambling age of Canada is 19 years old in some provinces while it is 18 in others, no matter if it's land-based or digital.
Historical Impacts on SlotsThe very first slot machine was based on the legendary casino game - poker. It first made its appearance in 1891 and was created in New York. However, the game had a very different appearance to what we are used to today, and it consisted of a lever and 50 cards.
2. The First Slot MachineIn 1895, a machine resembling modern slots emerged. It was called the Liberty Bell and was an upgraded version of its predecessor. It had the traditional reels, simple symbols like the royal suits, and of course, the Liberty Bell.
The bets were small, and the payouts were equally minute. But, what wasn't small was the success the Liberty Bell garnered, and it paved the way for more slots.
3. Why Fruits?Most retro slot machines consist of lucky sevens and fruits. Have you ever wondered why fruits were the go-to design? Aside from fruits, there were other symbols, like a beer mug or chewing gum. This was because gambling was banned in the early 1900s, which prompted establishments to eliminate monetary prizes and replace them with items.
While the players weren't winning cash returns, they could get whatever prize showed up on the reels. Of course, slot games now have evolved to include very intricate and various theme symbols, which you can find in the best online casino Canada.
4. Electronic Slot Machines1964 was a big year, and slot machines took a massive leap into the future. It was then that the first electronic slot machine was introduced, called Money Honey. The payout was considerably larger, reaching amounts of up to 500 coins.
5. Video Slots Made Their MarkAfter slot machines went electronic, video slots came into the picture. It happened in the 1970s. Something that was once a novel item is now offered by the best online casino Canada offers in spades. Fortune Coin, a company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, used a Sony TV for the digital display.
From there, the world saw the introduction of multi-screen slots that had even more features.
6. The Effects of the 90sOur slot expert, Kevin Cochran, says slots hit a turning point in the 90s (if you are curious about Kevin's extensive knowledge, you can read more about him here).
We saw bonus rounds introduced in the 90s that offered payouts on top of the base game wins. This led to higher max wins, which attracted more players.
Then came the first online slots. Online casinos featured various slot games. They were easy to access and didn't require high bets to participate. As a result, slots are among the most popular games in an online casino in Canada and around the world.
7. Virtual Reality Slots?What does the future hold? We can only guess, but with VR (virtual reality) making its way into the gaming industry, we won't be surprised if online slots have a 4D aspect in the future. We don't know when this will happen, but we sure hope it does, and soon!
ConclusionSlots have a rich historical evolution that has created the fun and enjoyable games that we play today. So it's fun to learn about their history.