Slot games have been a huge part of casino gaming since 1894, when the first machine to allow automated payouts was created.
Known as the Liberty Bell, this machine inspired many of the classic Slots over the next few decades, playing host to the classic reels during the fruit machine era. Come 1964, and the first electromechanical slot was released, changing the scope of how the games were played, forever.
Nowadays, you can play a huge variety of Vegas Slots online. But with so many changes to the inner workings of the machines over the years, it begs the question: are online Slots a fix?
Read on to find out more…
The earliest machines
The earliest slot machines were kept fair by the use of a spring and lever mechanism. To play, you would simply pull down a lever, which would stretch a spring inside the machine, setting the reels in motion.
This would gradually stop the reels from spinning, revealing the outcome. If you’d landed a winning combination, you’d receive the corresponding payout, based on the size of your wager.
This mechanism was the basis for the machines you would find in pubs, bars and post offices during the fruit machine era, where gum and sweets corresponding to the flavour of fruit lined up on the reels would be offered as prizes, rather than cash.
Electromechanical Slots
In the 1960’s, when the first electromechanical slot was developed, the game was still started by pulling a lever. However, the reels were operated entirely electrically. About a decade later, the first video slot was developed. This used a modified 19-inch Sony TV and made its debut in Las Vegas, where it paved the way for the online Slots we know and love today.
Online Slots
Online and video Slots work thanks to the use of computer software called a Random Number Generator (RNG). A RNG creates unpredictable combinations of outcomes every single second. It has no memory, so it doesn’t matter whether a win has recently occurred or not – your chances remain exactly the same.
In fact, the only things that affect your likelihood of a win when playing Slots is how volatile your chosen game is, and its and Return to Player (RTP) rate. You might also find games that feature bonus rounds and symbols that have the potential to help boost your gameplay by granting you things like free spins or multipliers. Despite this, a win is ever guaranteed. That’s all part of playing a game of chance!
So, to answer the question: no, slot games aren’t a fix.
In fact, they’re one of the most unpredictable games of chance there is.
You simply need to pick the game which takes your fancy and make sure your chosen site is reputable and regulated. This will ensure gameplay remains fair and fun.
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With so many themes and unique features with the potential to spice up your gameplay to choose from, do you think you’ll be spinning the reels anytime soon?