In 1895 a mechanic named Charles Fey developed The Mills Liberty Bell. This was a three reels slot that contained 5 symbols that included horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell. This mechanical wonder of its time, introduced the world to slots. The popularity of this machine led to further slots being created. Although each new invention added something extra to the slot machine, the technological advancements were small. New Yorkers Sittman and Pitt did develop a more sophisticated slot that consisted of 5 drums and a total of 50 card faces, but this used similar technology to the Mills Liberty Bell, however, the result was a UK slots on a larger scale.
Technology On The Rise
1963 was the year where a more pronounced development took place in the slots industry. Technology had advanced far enough for the first electrical slot to be unveiled to the public. This technological breakthrough proved to be the end of the road for traditional mechanical slot machines. In 1976 further tech advancements allowed for the invention of the first video slot. This was the first time slot machines had totally moved away from the mechanical machines of old. The first video slot was crude compared to what we have today. This slot machine used a modified 19-inch Sony TV screen for the display. Las Vegas Hilton Hotel customers were some of the first to take it for a spin. They gave the breakthrough slot game the thumbs up and once it got approval by the Nevada State Gaming Commission, it was rolled out to gamblers across the state.A Revolution In The Making
1996 will be a year that will never be forgotten in the gambling industry and this is because technology advanced in leaps and bounds. This new technology that accompanied the digital revolution changed the world and the gambling industry. However, where gambling was concerned, the invention of the internet meant that gambling games and casinos could now be accessed on computers in a digital virtual format.The first online casino offered the public traditional table games like Blackjack and Roulette. However, digital slots were about to explode on the scene and WMS Industries Inc released the first online video slot called Reel Em. This was the first ever slot to feature a second screen bonus round.