Slot machines are considered one of the most famous casino games in the world. And it’s very hard to differentiate each machine from each other since they look the same and have the same features.
It is also one of the most vital parts of a casino since many people, both young and old are always in the slots especially if they don’t know the rules of the different games inside. Many casinos consider this as an important part of their industry since it attracts people.
Today, it’s not just casinos that have slot machines. Even airports all over the world have their mini machines to give the passengers some entertainment before leaving. There’s a lot of machines around the world that give many people a way of entertainment when they’re trying to kill some time. That’s why we are listing down some of the iconic slot machines that changed the world of gambling forever.
The Sittman and Pitt Gambling Machine
This was the first slot machine that was ever invented and it was developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891. You can often see this on antique roadshows in the US.
This machine is very different from the casino slots that we have today since it requires the player to insert a nickel into the machine before playing. You can win in this by not matching the pattern that we have today but by building the best poker hand from the five different drums that are spinning. The price that the player will get will depend on the hand that you will get.
The Liberty Bell
Developed by Charles Fey between 1887 and 1895, many people believe that this slot machine will be the basis for the other machine that will be developed in the future.
There are five different types of symbols that you can see inside the machine and it is distributed evenly between the three spinning reels. The symbols are diamonds, hearts, horseshoes, spades, and the Liberty Bell icon. You need to get three symbols to win the game. This machine is also the first one to have the first automatic payout system that would certainly change the world.
Fortune Coin
A game company Fortune Coin Co changed the game again in 1976 when they took the game further by releasing the first-ever video slot machine. It was first seen on the floor of the Las Vega Hilton Hotel for a public demonstration. It has a 19-inch Sony Trinitron color television and high boosted logic boards to enhance the machine’s features.
All of the slot machines that will be released in the future were expected to be based on the design of this. And all of them you can see on the floor of different casinos all over the world right now. After the success of the Fortune Coin, the company Fortune Coin Co would be bought by the software company IGT.
Money Honey
In 1963, US-based game developer Bally Technologies introduced the first-ever fully electronic casino slots in the market that truly changed the game. Even though many of its predecessors are also electronic, this machine truly changed the game and brought it to a whole new level since it is automatic.
It was considered the perfect slot machine when it was first introduced in the market since it attracted customers because of the high win rate.
Reel ‘Em In
When casino gaming software developer WMS released the game Real ‘Em In in 1996, the industry changed again because of this. Reel ‘Em In is the first slot machine that has the second screen for the bonus feature. This started the whole craze that all machines will follow since many of them also developed the bonus feature right after.
WMS continued to develop new games up to this day like Zeus, Raging Rhino, Spartacus – Gladiator of Rome, and more that also featured a bonus round. But Reel ‘Em In is still one of the most iconic and important games that they developed since it made a significant impact on the casino industry.
Cleopatra
This Egyptian-themes 5-reel, 20-pay line slot from the famous casino game software developer IGT is one of the iconic games of the 20th century.
It changed the world since it was the easiest game to play and learn. A player can also win 15 free spins and a 3x multiplier to increase their winnings. And it is a must for experienced and novice slots players to play this game.
This game spawned numerous sequels because it is so famous and it also reached the mobile and online platform since many people are looking for the game. We believe that you will ever see a casino that carries this game since many are dying to play this.
Games such as Laytech’s Desert Treasure, Microgaming’s Thunderstruck II, and WMS Gaming’s Zeus can be considered close to the success of the Cleopatra slot. But they’re not close enough to replace it on the top spot.
Sushi Bar
Even though there’s a big hype during the 1990s for the development of 3D slot machines, it didn’t push through since the technology during that time was limited. But today Sushi Bar Machine that was released in 2012 changed the game.
Because of the booming 3D industry during the 21st century like the development of 3D televisions and cinemas. Casino gaming software developer Betsoft Gaming used this to their advantage to create this game.
Sushi Bar is one of the first released games that feature 3D graphics that brought playing slots to a whole new level. Betsoft Gaming also releases titles like Good Girl, Bad Girl, Mamma Mia, and More Gold Diggin’ that have the same feature.
Iron Man
The entertainment industry and the slot machine industry have a tricky relationship in terms of licensing and everything in between. But one developer made it work when casino slot games software developer Playtech made one of the biggest licensing deals of all time when it bagged the comic giant Marvel.
It launched the successful Marvel-themed slot machine Iron Man and it became a favorite game of everyone and even received positive reviews from critics all over the world. It paved the way for Playtech to launch other games such as The Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, and The Avengers
Even though this might change since the Marvel brand is aiming to change its image as a family-friendly brand since it is now owned by Disney. But they still changed the industry and made comic book-themed slots cool since it is a big hit when it comes to land-based casinos.
Jack and the Beanstalk VR
Many people say that virtual reality is the future since it is so advanced and can adapt to everything. That’s why the gaming industry is trying to adapt along with it.
Scandinavian casino gaming software developer NetEnt is trying to adapt to the changing times since they said in a statement that they will release VR versions of the slots in their catalog. And Jack and the Beanstalk is one of the titles that are slated for release since there are previews on YouTube already.
Wheel of Fortune
In 1996, casino gaming software developer IGT made one of the most iconic slot machines of all time, Wheel of Fortune. This is based on the highly-rated game shows in the United States that spawned different versions in different countries.
This game also spawned different iterations during its stay in casinos all over the world but the most popular version is the 3 reel type since it features the color wheel that you can see in the game show.
Lion’s Share
This game is one of the hardest slots to win when the story about the progressive jackpot for the game is still unclaimed for more than 20 years in 2014.
‘This game probably gets played about five times more than our average game on the casino floor,’ said Justin Andrews, an MGM Grand spokesman. ‘Our staff gets asked every single day, multiple times, where this game is, from people who haven’t played it before’.
In 2014, Walter and Linda Misco from new won the jackpot valued at $2.4 million. Finally, a couple from New Hampshire named Walter and Linda Misco hit the $2.4 million progressive jackpot.
Mega Fortune
An anonymous player at the Paf Casino in Finland won the progressive jackpot of this game on January 20th, 2013. The player took home €17,860,868 and it changed the game forever.
It is considered the largest jackpot prize that was ever won on an online casino since the £13,212,882 jackpot-winning of Jon Heywood for the game Mega Moolah. This win will be in the history of books of casino slots gaming.