10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever
Slot machines are a crucial part of the gambling industry. They are as much a part of the casino layout as any classic casino table game. Here are 10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever.
Here I have rounded up the top 9 slots that changed the face of gambling forever.
1. The Sittman and Pitt Gambling Machine
The best place to start for a list like this is with the first slot machine that was ever invented. It was invented in 1891 by developers Sittman and Pitt.
It was not similar to today’s slot machine in terms of modern releases and techniques rather it required players to insert a nickel into the coin slot. They then had to try and win prizes by building the best poker hand possible from the five spinning drums that displayed a selection of 50 card faces. This is how it all started.
2. The Liberty Bell
Next come the Liberty Bell, developed by Charles Fey between 1887 and 1895, is the first type of slot machine to vaguely resemble the classic slots that hit casinos across the world over the 20th century.
This slot had three spinning reels with five symbols available to hit. These symbols consisted of hearts, diamonds, horseshoes, spades, and the Liberty Bell icon. It introduced the first automatic payout system and this would change the way gambling operated.
3. Money Honey
After a gap of years, the gambling industry experienced its next evolutionary step when it came to slots. In 1963, US-based developer Bally launched the first-ever electromechanical slot machine onto the market.
Earlier slots had included elements of electromechanical design but this took things to a whole new level. The bottomless hopper and potential 500 coin win made it more enticing to the mass market at a time when Las Vegas was growing into the beast it is now. It was the perfect slot at the perfect time.
4. Fortune Coin
The next technological evolution came in 1976 when a firm called Fortune Coin Co launched the first-ever video slot machine. This is one of the 10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever.
It would set the precedent for decades of slot machine releases. The slot machines you still see on the casino floors to this day all are inspired by this slot machine.
It featured a 19-inch Sony Trinitron color receiver and boasted logic boards for the machine’s functions. Its first live public demonstration came at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.
The slot machine became hugely popular along the Las Vegas Strip and Fortune Coin Co would finally be owned by renowned software developer IGT.
5. Reel ‘Em In
The game rechristened in 1996 when casino software developer WMS released their slot title Reel ‘Em In. This is one of the 10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever.
It was the first video slot to have a second screen bonus feature. Modern-day slots live and die by their bonus features. It’s hard to imagine a world when they didn’t exist.
WMS innovated the industry with the stunning Zeus slot, the 6-reel behemoth of Raging Rhino, and the introduction of the Colossal Reels on a number of its titles such as Spartacus – Gladiator of Rome.
This has been the most important slot due to the impact it had on the industry by introducing the world to more in-depth bonus features.
6. Cleopatra
If you want to talk about iconic slot games then you need to look no further than the Egyptian-themed 5-reel, 20-payline slot Cleopatra from renowned developer IGT.
It was a simple video slot that took the world by storm. The chance to win 15 free spins with a 3x multiplier made it a must-play with novice and experienced players alike. For many slots players, it’s one of the first games they ever played on.
Since its release, Cleopatra has spawned sequels and has also played equal levels of success on both the online and mobile platforms. It is unlikely, we will ever see a day when this slot machine is not available to play at a casino somewhere in the world.
Only some other slots such as Playtech’s Desert Treasure, Microgaming’s Thunderstruck II, and WMS Gaming’s Zeus come close to the immortality of Cleopatra but the Egyptian Queen still rules the land. This is one of the 10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever.
7. Sushi Bar
In the 1990s slot machine hyped too much but it was very limited. Everybody that witnessed the 3D movement back then will remember the red and blue cardboard glasses and the basic graphics produced from the technology. That has all changed now.
3D is back and thriving in the 21st century. 3D TVs are now a thing and cinematic blockbusters are big business for production companies. The slots industry has not lost this trick.
Betsoft Gaming led the way with its array of 3D slots. Sushi Bar was one of their best releases along with Good Girl, Bad Girl, Mamma Mia, and More Gold Diggin’. These slots brought a whole new gloss to the visual side of slots gaming.
8. Mega Fortune
On 20th January 2013, slots gaming witnessed a new storm when one anonymous player at the Finland-based Paf Casino hit the Mega Fortune mega progressive jackpot for a value of €17,860,868. This is one of the 10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever.
It was the largest ever jackpot win on an online slot machine other than Microgaming’s Mega Moolah surpassed that figure when Jon Heywood triggered the game’s Mega Jackpot for £13,212,882 on 6th October, 2015.
The biggest progressive jackpot in the world that is currently active is Playtech’s Jackpot Giant at £6.5 million, so the record doesn’t look like it’ll be toppled any time soon.
9. Iron Man
The association between slot machines and the entertainment industry is a chequered one.
Licensing deals can be through work with the goalposts being moved constantly. That said, the one time when a slots developer has made a success from a licensing deal can be traced to Playtech’s deal with Marvel.
The licensing contract saw Playtech launch many of Marvel-themed slots such as Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers. The slots received quite positive reviews and changed the landscape of a lot of Playtech-operated casinos online. This is one of the 10 Slots That Changed Gambling Forever.
10. Jack and the Beanstalk VR
Virtual reality is the next big thing. That is certainly something the gambling industry is keen to grasp hold of.
VR casinos like Casino VR and Slots Millions are already attracting players. Scandinavian slots developer NetEnt has confirmed they will release VR versions of their popular slots with Jack and the Beanstalk being regarded as a potential title.
It is a new era for slots gaming and the future is very exciting and it’s virtually here already.
