The world of online slots has come a long way since the early days of simple fruit machines with 3 reels and a single payline. Modern online slots are immersive, exciting blockbuster games filled with innovative features, stellar graphics and audio, and engaging themes based on popular movies, TV shows, musicians, and more.
Engaging slot machines
A mechanical gambling device was invented in the US in the late 19th century. The Liberty Bell, created in 1899 by Charles Fey, is considered the first true slot machine featuring the classic 3 reels and bell symbols. Early slot machines like the Liberty Bell were purely mechanical and operated using physical reels and levers. They featured simple fruit and card symbols and offered a solitary payline across the center reel. Payouts were given for lining up matching symbols, usually fruits like cherries, oranges, and plums.
Electromechanical era and the introduction of themes
In the 1960s and 70s, slot machines entered the “electromechanical” era with the introduction of Money Honey by Bally in 1963. This pioneering slot used electrical components and buttons instead of manual pulls and levers. Played with wild animals, Egyptian treasures, and fun themes. Another milestone came in 1976 when the first video slot was created by the Fortune Coin Company. This slot used a modified Sony TV set to display virtual reels instead of physical ones, paving the way for fully video-based slots.
Our vibrant virtual games today were born in the 1990s. Companies like IGT and WMS introduced the first online video slots for PCs and mobile devices using new software and random number generators. Video slots were able to replicate spinning reels and experiment with interactive features. New immersive themes based on blockbuster movies like Jurassic Park and Top Gun followed the trend.
Rise of the online casinos
The exponential growth of the internet in the mid-1990s also fueled the online casino revolution. Online casinos offered instant access to hundreds of virtual slot machines accessible from home. Popular providers like Microgaming and Playtech were quick to capitalize, releasing iconic video slots like Mega Moolah, Thunderstruck, and Immortal Romance.
- 3D Graphics and Animations: Detailed graphics and cinematic animations that brought Balislot88 to life like never before. Games like Gonzo’s Quest featured 3D characters and environments.
- Cascading Reels: Innovative mechanics like cascading and avalanche reels created new slots like NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest where symbols collapsed and changed to trigger chain reactions.
- Megaways Engine: Created by Big Time Gaming, the revolutionary Megaways engine allowed slots with tens of thousands of paylines and provided practically unlimited winning potential on every spin. Games like Bonanza popularized the format.
- VR Slots: Cutting-edge virtual reality slots placed players right into immersive casino environments using VR headsets. Sci-fi-themed games like Starburst VR became instant hits.
- Progressive Jackpots: Titles like Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune offered multimillion-dollar networked jackpots that grabbed headlines and created millionaires overnight.
