There are thousands of online slots related websites listed on the internet which makes one wonder where did the madness of slot machines begin. Gambling has been around practically forever with a lot of its roots in China. It's uncertain where some games of chance got their start, but this is not the case with the very popular one-armed bandits.
™
Online slots actually find their roots in American history. A man by the name of Charles Fey created the prototype form of this game all the way back in 1887 in San Francisco, California. The game started out with three wheels, as is still commonly seen today and each wheel held 10 symbols.
The top jackpots paid came with a match of three bells, eventually leading this machine to be known as the "Bell" machine. The machine came with a lever on the side which was used to get the three wheels spinning. Here we find the beginnings of the "one-armed bandits" nickname.
In 1910, things began to change for the spreading "Bell" machine. Fey partnered with another man by the name of Herbert Mills. This teaming led to the still common fruit symbols being used today. These machines were produced by the thousands and weighed in at more than 100 pounds each.
Having seen the way-back background of slot machines, what is it that brought on the internet slot revolution? One of the reasons is the simplicity. Casinos first started using the machines as a distraction for wives and girlfriends as the "real" players sat in on table games. The game, in and of itself, was and is very simple.
To add the simplicity of getting to online slots in seconds over the internet makes the game even more appealing for most people. No longer having to fight traffic, parking, crowds, and noise can make the simple gambler's life extremely easy.
Did You Know?
In the late 1800s coin operated devices with large revolving wheels first appeared. They were divided into segments of different colors. A player would bet on which color the wheel would stop on. These devices were the precursors of today's slot machines.
But are the internet slots as reliable as the traditional physical machines? Caution is needed but, in general, it's a pretty good bet that they are. Most online slots today use a thing called a random number generator (RNG). As the name implies, the RNG is used to randomly select what symbols will surface on each simulated wheel face.
Online one-armed bandits have come a long way in converting to one-click wonders and they seem to be as here to stay as their physical counterparts. The choices for online slots abound with almost no limit.
Most quality sites make it fairly easy to find their payback percentages. Keeping that in mind, searching for slot machines that are visually appealing, audibly interesting, and overall enjoyable can be as entertaining as the game itself.
We must be thankful to Mr. Charles Fey because without him all of these great websites would never have existed. Also, there is little doubt that casinos would never have been as successful if this wonderful machine had never been invented. And, without him, many people would never have had the thrill of yelling "Jackpot" from their easy chair!
Slot machines are the most popular casino game in the world, both at land-based casinos and on Internet gambling sites. This article reveals some little-known facts about online slot machines.
Generally, slot machines account for about 70% of an online casino's income.
The main categories of online slot machines include classic 3-reel slots, video slots, fruit machines, and progressive slots.
Classic 3-reel slots are computerized versions of the slot machines that were invented by Charles Fey in 1887.
Classic 3-reel slots are perfect games for the beginning slots player because of their easy and straightforward format.
Video slots are modern 5-reel slot machines. Many of the newer video slots games have bonus features, such as free spins.
Fruit machines, also known as Amusement with Prizes games, are UK-style slot machines. They are very common in British pubs.
Online progressive slots accumulate deposits from their players from a number of online casinos to create jackpots that grow by the minute.
Online progressive slots can be 3-reel or 5-reel, have bonus features, and have multiple pay-lines. For example, Major Millions was a 3-reel, 3 pay-line slot game when it was first launched. Now there is also a 5-reel, 15 pay-line version.
Cash Splash was the first online progressive jackpot. It was launched in 1998 by Microgaming software.
Mega Millions, a Microgaming progressive slot machine, is the only progressive jackpot that has ever paid out jackpots exceeding $1,000,000.
There are now over 150 companies that provide software solutions for online gambling casinos.
The major software providers for the online gambling industry include Microgaming, Playtech, Realtime Gaming, Boss Media, Rival, Vegas Technology, Parlay, and Cryptologic.
Microgaming developed the first "genuine" online casino software in 1994. Cryptologic and Boss Media were established in 1996, Parlay and Realtime Gaming were launched in 1998, Playtech was founded in 1999, Vegas Technology was established in 2005, and Rival was launched in 2006.
The majority of online slot machines have a unique theme, such as success and old money, secret potions and jewels, Indians and squaws, bees and honey, pirates and ships, hillbillies, American diners, science fiction, chocolate, Las Vegas showgirls, witches, romance, mythology, and Christmas.
It is estimated that Microgaming casinos account for about 70% of online gambling revenue.
Pay-lines at online slot machines range from 1 to 100. Single pay-line slots have been around since slot machines were invented back in 1887. Microgaming introduced Cashapillar, its first 100 pay-line slot machine, in May, 2008.
The average payout percentage is defined as the percentage of winnings to wagered amounts. For example, if there are $97.69 in winnings for every $100 wagered, the payout percentage is 97.69%. Likewise, if there are $93.45 in winnings for every $100 wagered, the payout percentage is 93.45%. Payout percentages for online slots range from 89% to 99.5%.
Online slots come in Event slot Gacor Online both download and no download versions. The download versions are more popular because there is a wider selection of games to choose from.
Online slots games have better odds than those at land-based casinos.
Tomb Raider is probably the most successful online slot machine game to date. Tomb Raider's success is partly due to its association with the popular computer game, The Tomb Raider Series. A sequel to the game, Tomb Raider - Secret of the Sword, was introduced April, 2008.
So there you have it, 20 little-known facts about online slot machines. Whether you play slots online or at a land-based casino, remember to gamble only with the money you can afford to lose. Decide beforehand how much you wish to spend, and don't exceed your spending limit should you lose. Finally, have fun and quit while you are ahead.