Today, the world of online slots appears to be evolving at an unprecedented rate. We’re seeing developers releasing a plethora of new mechanics and game engines (think Big Time Gaming’s Megaways), and some game developers have even experimented with virtual reality slots.

However, while playing video slots online may seem like a natural part of today’s online gambling world, it’s been quite a journey to reach where we are today, and in this post, we’re going to be taking a look at the history of slots - starting, from the very beginning.

The Early Beginnings Of Slots

Slot games can actually be traced as far back as 1891 - and this is when most experts agree the first “slot machine” was released (although it’s worth pointing most gamblers would struggle to recognize it in today’s day and age!)

The machine slot was released by a company called Sittman and Pitt, and the slot used actual playing cards and 5 mechanical drums to operate. It cost a nickel to play, and soon became popular in bars and clubs throughout America.

The Liberty Bell

A few years later, in 1985, an entrepreneur called Charles Augustus Fey decided that there was much more potential with slot machines - and he set out to build a machine that could automatically deliver payouts to players.

He developed a slot called the Liberty Bell - and he automated the payout process, while also removing the physical playing cards, choosing, instead, to use symbols. He decided upon Bells, Cherries… and other common fruits that many of us correlate with slot machines today.

The Liberty Bell machine slots game proved immensely popular - and it was soon copied by other developers, spreading all around the United States.

The Birth Of Electromechanical Slot Machines

The slot world really started to change in 1964 when a company called Bally (a developer who is still in business today) released the first electromechanical slot machine, called Money Honey.

This was the first game in history to do away with physical parts and components, instead, relying on video graphics to display the results of a spin. The game was - essentially - displayed on a small screen, and players simply pulled a lever to play.

Video Slots in Las Vegas

A decade or so later proved another pivotal moment in the creation of slots when a company called Fortune Coin - based in California - took a 19-inch Sony TV and used it to display the slot’s graphics. This move proved immensely popular, and before long, casinos throughout Las Vegas were offering their players the chance to play it.