Some would say that the history of the ever-popular slot machine began in 1887. That was when Charles Fey, a mechanic, invented a machine he called the one-armed bandit. This big, chunky invention was made entirely of cast iron. Its three reels featured the five signature symbols of the slot machine spin “the card suits diamond, heart, and spade, the horseshoe and the liberty bell. The latter became a name synonymous with the machine itself, when Fey's bandit moniker faded out of use. The next generation of slots replaced the original five symbols with images of various fruits, leading to the next nickname, fruit machine.
Major changes occurred during the 1960s, when electro-mechanical slot machines began to be introduced. These completely undermined the slow, heavy slot machines of the past, introducing exciting new features such as multi coin play and the progressive jackpots, which can now lead to players winning tens of millions in prize money. Video slots appeared in the 80s and 90s, with high quality graphics further enhancing the immersive gaming experience.
Nowadays, of course, the simplest and most convenient way to play slots is online. Online slots sprung up almost as soon as the internet became widely available and online casino gaming gathered the pace and was getting trendier, sensing the huge gap in the market. Physically finding a casino, waiting your turn and pulling a lever is no longer a problem. Slots can be played from the comfort of one's own home, and thousands of dollars or pounds of prize money are just a few clicks away.
The first online casino was quickly joined by hundreds more, and there are now so many casinos on the internet it's hard to choose which one you want to play at! It's entirely up to you to explore the range of online casinos, all available at your fingertips, and find the best deals and the most exciting games. |