Incredibly, slot machines have been around for over a century-since 1894. This may be why their design and noise have become engrained into our society. Charles August Fey first developed the slot machine in the late 19th Century, and they have since become synonymous with gambling worldwide. In particular, in Las Vegas, you can find hundreds of them on any of the casino floors that litter the strip.
Throughout the glamorous, entertaining and eventful history of Las Vegas, there are tales of customers winning mammoth jackpots and prizes. The biggest Las Vegas jackpot was a whopping $39,713,982.25 at Excalibur on March 21, 2003. Not only is this the biggest win in the history of Las Vegas, but it’s also the biggest win on a slot machine anywhere in the world. So, it’s fitting that it was in the “fun” capital of the world-Las Vegas.
People winning such huge jackpots cement the mystery and folklore that still surround these contraptions over a century after they were invented. The lights and noises that slot machines provide can stimulate the brain and provide some customers with hours of entertainment. Whereas the first design was a basic, coin-based gambling machine, slots today are far more advanced, with millions of variations and themes.
The 3 reel slot is still a popular machine, but other machines now have 5 reels that can be harder to win but offer more enticing prizes. Read more on TheGameDayCasino for more details about the online games on offer.
Slot machines have paid out staggering amounts of money over the years. This includes multi-million-pound jackpots like the one mentioned at the start of the article and another that happened a couple of years ago. On Christmas Eve in 2020, one lucky customer won $15.5 million. We must stress that winners are completely random, and you must gamble only what you can afford to lose.
Many films and TV series are set in Las Vegas, with huge Hollywood names like Brad Pitt and George Clooney walking up and down the corridors of iconic casinos. Not far behind them are the noises of the slot machines, chiming away and almost becoming the soundtrack of every Las Vegas casino hall. This may explain why the slots' aesthetic has become embedded in not only American culture but Western society as a whole.
Videogames also adopt the same strategy of having engaging content, bright lights and multiple story player modes. Hundreds of companies are developing their games online, so that people can play at a moment's notice. There is something to be said about games that capture the imagination and engage the brain. It’s not hard to see how companies that design slot machines can implement these tactics. With popularity, comes both familiarity and visibility in pop culture, which can be conscious or subconscious. As long as the method of gambling remains popular, the aesthetics will remain a prominent feature and work to keep itself in the forefront of the minds of the people who frequent casinos. This goes for people who attend physical casinos or play online.
When it comes to gambling though, people travel from all around the world to hedge their bets in Las Vegas. Many are drawn to the bright lights and scintillating sounds of the thousands of slot machines across the city. Some of the more engaging slot machines feature games based on movies or fictional characters.
As well as this, they offer a fast-paced entertainment, the slots are easy to play, and they have a high turnover rate. For example, a roulette wheel will usually spin for about 30 seconds, and players have around 20/30 seconds to place their bets. In the same amount of time, a slot machine player could pull the lever or press the button 10/12 times.
Slot machine players don't need any previous experience to play. They can enjoy it on their own, instead of being surrounded at a table by people, like you can be at a blackjack, roulette or poker table, for instance. This may not always be a driving factor, but it is for certain people who like to unwind and have time to themselves.
Furthermore, online games are always accessible, and most online casinos offer excellent mobile apps to keep players entertained. As they are such a good money spinner for casinos, casinos do their utmost to make them as attractive and lucrative as possible.
