Mpo Slot are designed to attract and influence visitor behavior, and there is no better example of this than slot machines. Along with the design and other important elements that go into the strategic planning of a gambling establishment, slot machines have played a major role in the tremendous success of both brick-and-mortar and online casinos over the years. The old, somewhat simple but attractive mechanical slot machine is worthy of its nickname, the one-armed bandit machine, and the newer and more sophisticated slot machines found in both brick-and-mortar casinos and online casinos have continued this tradition with brilliance.
The Evolution of Slot Machines
These machines of chance have come a long way since 1894 when Charles Fey, a San Francisco mechanic known as the “Thomas Edison of slot machines,” built the first coin-operated slot machine. It didn’t take long for the Bavarian-born inventor to perfect this first model, creating the “Card Bell” in 1898. While the machine was a far cry from today’s real-money online slot machines, it was the first 3-reel slot machine with automatic cash payouts. A lever/arm on the side of the machine regulated the reels and magically moved when pulled down, lining up playing cards to form a poker hand.
Fey had even greater success a year later, introducing the “Liberty Bell,” which added bells and a horseshoe to the cards printed on the reels.
Electromechanical slot machines
Fast forward to 1964, when the first electromechanical slot machine, the “Money Honey,” was manufactured by Bally Manufacturing Co. The inner workings of this machine made this particular model the first to feature an endless funnel and the ability to pay out up to 500 coins automatically, without the help of an attendant. However, due to quality issues and the cost of replacing their entire inventory of machines at once, Nevada casino owners were reluctant to invest in new slot machines. For the first few years, production was limited, with most of the Money Honey machines sold being made overseas.
However, the slump did not last long, and just four years after starting production of electromechanical slots, Bally’s had the distinction of producing 94 percent of all machines sold in Nevada. In March 1969, this success made the company the first publicly traded coin-op manufacturer. The popularity of the machines also led to an increasing dominance of electronic games, and soon sidearms were much smaller versions of their earlier counterparts.
Video Slots
Development continued, and in 1976, the first video slot was developed by Fortune Coin Company. Based in Las Vegas and manufactured in Southern California, the prototype consisted of a modified 19-inch Sony Triniton color receiver and was used for the display, while the logic board was used for all the machine’s functions. The display screen is then installed in the slot machine cabinet.
The first game produced was launched at the Las Vegas Hilton, and after being modified to protect against fraud, the video slot was given the green light for statewide rollout by the Nevada Gaming Commission. Electric slot machines soon became popular and became a money-making machine in casinos throughout the region and city centers. Just two years later, Fortune Coin and its video slot technology were acquired by International Gaming Technology (IGT), which was founded as A-1 Supply in 1975, before changing its name to Sircoma in 1978, and then IGT in 1981.
A New Era of Gaming
The advent of video slots changed the industry, and in 1986, progressive jackpots were introduced in major casinos. The hugely popular Megabucks was the first progressive slot machine and was developed by IGT. The first turning point (in America) and another turning point in the history of slot machines came in 1996 when “Reel ‘em In!” was released by WMS Industries Inc., which merged with Scientific Games in 2016. It was the first successful casino slot machine from the Nevada-based electronic gaming and entertainment manufacturer, and is notable for being the first video slot in the industry to feature a bonus round on a second screen, where the bonus game is played on a separate screen when the bonus round begins.
These innovative features, along with others, are central to the continued growth of slot machines in the gambling industry, to the point where they account for the majority of casino revenue and take up a significant portion of the available gaming floor.
Online and Mobile Slots
The era of online casinos began in the 1990s, and with it virtual slots began. There is some debate as to whether the first online casino was created in 1994, however, it is clear that the first major online casino was founded through a collaboration between Cryptologic and Microgaming, both pioneers in the industry. Microgaming also developed the first online progressive jackpot slot game, Cash Splash, in 1998.
Mobile slots arrived in 2005 when Pub Fruity was launched. This Java casino game features 3 reels, 3 rows and 1 payline, and is designed to resemble a classic pub fruit machine. Mobile gambling really took off when Apple released the first iPhone in 2007, and in July 2008, the App Store. The App Store allows developers to create games and market them directly to users. The Google Android Marketplace went live just three months later in October 2008. Around the same time, downloadable games began to be offered via casino websites. Users can download files directly from the online casino site, make deposits, and play mobile-friendly slot games.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention one of the true pioneers of the industry, in this brief history of virtual slots and slot machines.
Megaways bursts onto the scene
Founded in 2011, Australian casino software developer Big Time Gaming (BTG) has had a huge impact on the iGaming industry since introducing the Megaways slot machine in 2016. With 117,649 ways to win, Megaways has completely changed the market and since its inception, the random reel modifier has been licensed to a number of industry-leading game developers. BTG was acquired by Swedish iGaming innovator and one of the world’s leading live dealer online casino game developers, Evolution Gaming Group, in 2021.
An Ever-Changing Market
iGaming will continue to grow as technologies such as 5G, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) advance, as software providers compete for their place in the global online gambling market, which is set to be worth $63.53 billion by 2022. This is good news for all of us, as competition between software providers and their continued efforts to create cutting-edge products means more immersive and engaging games. So buckle up and get ready for the crazy ride that is the future of iGaming!