BuddyPress.org

Slot Machines – Where We Were, Where We Are, and Where We’re Going

Where We Were

Charles Fey invented the slot machine in the 1890’s. He probably never envisioned that his creation called the “Liberty Bell” would evolve into the most popular kind of casino gambling today.

The slot evolution however had lots of growing pains as numerous in the United States viewed gambling as a social ill. By 1910 all legal gambling activity was power down,which left horse racing as the sole legal entity in America.

Throughout the 1920’s prohibition era, the public’s thirst for gambling matched that of booze. Slot machines along with alcohol were found in “Speak Easy’s” throughout America, most of them controlled by Organized Crime. After prohibition ended underground casinos remained active.

States started to crack down on illegal casinos and started to seize and destroy gambling equipment, including slot machines. Mayor LaGuardia of New York City called them “mechanical pick pockets”, destroyed them with a sledge hammer, and dumped them into Long Island Sound. (You can watch the action on YouTube.)

In 1931 Nevada legalized gambling. Slot machines populated a floor in the states’ casinos but have there been simply to amuse the wives and mistresses playing their pennies and nickles while the men did all of the heavy gambling at the tables. (A portrayal of this really is depicted in the 1952 movie, “The Las Vegas Story” with Vincent Price, Victor Mature, and Jane Russel.) Slots remained a “ladies” game until Atlantic City legalized gambling in 1978.

Bally Manufacturing invented a unit powered by electricity and slots started to “light up” and produce various sound effects. When multi-coin acceptors were introduced, new dollar machines meant larger jackpots for customers. Once the Random Number Generator was invented top prize amounts could possibly be increased on four and five reel versions. A spin button became an option to the handle.

The Indian Gaming Act was approved in the 1980’s which allowed casinos on reservation land and newly legislated dockside riverboat gambling attracted new slot players while racetracks added the one arm bandits..

IGT launched Megabucks in 1986 and slots were now linked across Nevada by phone lines offering a giant lottery size jackpot that grew with each coin wagered. The Progressive Jackpot came to be and players could now become millionaires. Players began abandoning the table games, flocked to the machines and casinos took notice.

Where We Are

The proliferation of slots paved the way in which for new inventions. A movie slot with 25 lines, up to bet of 10 credits per line allowed for a solution in, ticket out, (TITO) system. The coins and the handles followed the dinosaurs.. Operators could now lower the denominations to as little as a penny and still turn a profit.

In the newest century slot makers were quick to market the themed slot, units based on popular movies, TV shows and slot depo pulsa entertainers. Players could now spin the Wheel of Fortune, giggle at Curley, Larry, and Moe, take a ride with Captain Kirk, or croon over Ol’ Blue eyes. All the games have movies from favorite shows.

The themed slots have evolved to 5 video reels with up to 40 lines. Chairs have comfortable high backs, and some even vibrate when certain bonus features are hit. Touch screens have the most recent LCD technology, 3D graphics and Bose sound systems because they continue to evolve. Depending on the game theme, players can wager as little as one penny(credit) per line up to $2, $3, and $4 maximums. Bonus features offer generous payouts while progressive jackpots climb to six and seven figures.

Newer games saw the introduction of CSI, Sex and the City, Iron man, Michael Jackson, David Copperfield, The Walking Dead, Back once again to the Future, Jurassic Park, Wonder Woman, Ellen, Let’s Produce a Deal, the Godfather, Monopoly, and The list continues on and on.

Where We’re Going

The themed slot will no doubt continue to grow. However there’s a massive segment of casino patrons searching for something different. They are the Millennials.Born in early 1980’s to the late 1990’s who spent my youth playing video games. Casinos took notice that generation didn’t care to sit before a device that did all the work for them in order to win. They would like to be engaged to produce it happen. This generated the introduction of Games of Skill at the 2016 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas.

Two companies, GameCo and Gamblit Gaming introduced their wares at the expo and by all accounts, things look very promising. Other individuals, Konami and Scientific Games are creating their own versions to attract the Gen Y’s. Other individuals will soon follow.

Some of the games derive from poker where a limited quantity of players use their skill to grab the cards they need. In another game players have to collect rare treasures in Pharaoh’s Secret Temple before time is up.

It’s too early to tell if the skill element will undoubtedly be successful, however, many games already are up and running in Vegas and Atlantic City. Only time will tell.

The American Gaming Association reported that there are 832,988 slot machines in 1,151 casinos across 44 states, with an increase of on the way. This begs the question: with an increase of than 50 million visitors to casinos annually, will the slot craze continue?