During the jump to digital in the 1990s, Slots were one of the casino games that had the most straightforward transition. Even before the move to online play, slot games had shifted away from the mechanical origins and the use of physical reels.
Let’s take a look back at how online Slots got their start and successfully transitioned from a staple of land-based casinos to Slots online as we know them today.
The Digital Slots Revolution
Obviously, the first slot machines weren’t digital. When slot machines made their debut in the late 1800s, they were entirely mechanical in nature, with physical levers, reels, pulleys and internal mechanisms driving the game. But while the early Slots designs were impressive, they were restricted by the limits of their mechanics.
Another factor that helped to push slot game design forward was the fact that physical reels were more prone to outside influence and malfunction. This made mechanical slot machines more susceptible to interference and potentially less fair as a result.
Developing technology offered the answer to the dilemma of physical slot reels, allowing developers to start branching out in the 1970s. Microprocessors and strengthening computer tech opened the door for video Slots, which replaced physical reels with a digital screen. This paved the way for more experimental designs, moving away from the smaller number of reels and paylines of older machines.
Computer algorithms known as random number generators (RNGs) were a major force in creating digital slot games. These allowed the Slots to produce truly random results on every spin, making these games equally fair for every player.
The Shift to Online Slots
As slot games had already effectively gone over to a digital format by the 1990s this made the matter of online play far simpler. Developers could port over their games to an online platform without having to build them from the ground up in the way that classic table games needed.
Still, the first online Slots were limited in their graphics and gameplay by the relative newness of the online infrastructure and technology. Physical video slot machines were able to offer better presentation and effects than a home computer screen could, but this didn’t stop online Slots from quickly proving themselves popular.
As technology rapidly improved over the following years the quality of online Slots offerings naturally improved. Stronger graphics processors and better broadband connectivity enabled games to offer better visuals, sound effects and animations.
At the same time, online casino platforms were able to offer an increasingly wide selection of Slots to players. Without the space restrictions of a land-based venue, operators had no reason to limit the number of different slot games on their platform.
Mobile Slots
The rise of smartphones and tablets saw some changes for the slot games landscape. With an increasing number of players choosing to use mobile devices to access their games online platforms needed to adopt mobile-friendly design and interfaces.
This also led to the creation of standalone apps, allowing players to access slot games without having to visit a website.
Online Slots have come a long way from their humble beginnings, expanding to an even wider range of themes and gameplay mechanics. The only question that remains is where they could go next.
