When Charles Fey built the first slot machine in 1895, called the Liberty Bell, he no doubt unaware that he introducing what would become the most popular casino game throughout the world. Fey’s machine was so popular that for decades all slot machines were known as “bell” machines. Well into the late 1900’s the coin slot of all machines had a bell symbol located nearby.
As with any popular game, slot players have developed many “facts” and theories about how to play them. Two of the more popular are that the machines that are closest to the casino entrance pay off best as the casino seeks to entice new customers inside, and that machines that have just paid off a jackpot are less likely to pay off in the near future and are “cold” machines. Neither, of course, is true.
Part of the reason for the fallacy in the two “facts” is in how the reels final resting point is determined. All modern slots, whether online or in a brick and mortar casino, use a random number generator (RNG) to determine the results of the spin. The RNG makes millions of calculations per sec and each spin is totally independent of another. By the way, the RNG is also the reason that the “it is better to pull the handle than to push the ‘spin reels’ button” theory is also incorrect.
At one point in the not too distant past slot machines were considered by many, including some casino executives, to be primarily a game for women. The reasoning was that the games very simple to play and that players would not be intimidated by having to learn the rules of the game.
That theory is another that has fallen to reality. Playing the slots is an activity that is enjoyed by both players of all ages, genders, and by both novice and experienced gamblers. And while slots are most commonly identified with Las Vegas, no group of gamblers has embraced the game as has those in Australia.
Australians call slot machines “pokies” and they are so popular that Australia is home to one-fifth of the world’s slot machines. An estimated 4% of the population plays Aussie pokies weekly, with the video pokies with jackpots ranging from “mini” to “major” being among the most popular.
Australia’s has an enlightened approach to gaming, and allows and regulates, both online and land based casinos. The online games count for more the $800 million of the country’s total gaming market. The combined taxes paid by the virtual and land based casinos makes up 12% of Australia’s total tax revenue.
There are several reasons that slots, or pokies, have grown in popularity.
The chief reason is that the games have changed. No longer do players simply pull a handle and either win or lose. Today’s games feature 3-D graphics, storylines, animations, puzzles, bonus spins, and great sound. Many machines are even played on a social basis, where the actions of one player in a row of machines, may trigger bonuses and payouts for all the players in the row. These advances make the games far more exciting and social than the old “scroll” machines.
The other reason is the fantasy element. No other game in the casino allows for the potential of life changing jackpots for modest wagers. These six, and even, seven figure paydays are made possible by the progressive jackpots games which link machines between casinos or online gaming networks. Slot players are more than aware of the 25 year old that put $100 in a machine at the Excalibur Casino in Las Vegas and walked away with $39 million. The fact that such instant riches are available, makes playing a fun machine even more exciting, especially when you add in the fact that you don’t have to learn a lot of rules or strategies to play.