An American invention, slots have since become
very popular all around the world. The most notable places
include Europe, Africa, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean.
As a 29 year-old Mechanic, Charles Fey invented the first
slot machine way back in 1895. He went on to perfect his initial
innovation in 1907, when he teamed with Mills Novelty Company.
The first slot machine was called the “Liberty Bell”; the
original symbols included the standard playing card imagery
we are all used to - hearts, diamonds and spades- along with
bells, horseshoes and a star.
Until only recently, all slot machines were mechanical. There
had been many improvements and impressive bells and whistles
added, both literally and figuratively, but no mater how complicated
some appeared to be, they were definitely mechanical on the
inside.
Slots, being the biggest revenue producer, also been the
single biggest cause of police raids, legal indictments, and
courts decisions over all other forms of gambling combined.
The problem is, the manner of play. No other style of gambling
creates such a hypnotic fascination. It's seen time and time
again that it is very difficult to resist the temptation to
drop a coin when given the opportunity. Even those who have
a moral problem with the concept of gambling have been shown
to be affected by this phenomenon. The antecedents of this
common behavior are rather indefinable, but it can most likely
be largely attributed to two things, one just stated, the
temptation to drop a coin with hopes of a massively large
payoff for an insignificant bet, and the other is probably
the mechanical attraction produced by the machines. The action
of placing a bet lets you see the light show, and watch the
reels spin. There is a larger level of excitement in reel
players when they hit a jackpot than other gamblers when they
win large sums. The complications behind this phenomenon are
too complex to discuss here, but rely largely on the mental
expectations and experience of players in each style of high
stakes gaming.
Wide spread accessibility to the Internet brought with it
a whole new area for, not only slots gaming, but all forms
of gambling. Online casinos offer people the chance to play
slots in the convenience of their own home, on their own terms,
and in a way that was never possible before in history. Today
online gaming is a multibillion-dollar industry, and is considered
around the world as a safe, legitimate, and extremely convenient
way to enjoy the timeless amusement the slot machine.
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