Bruce Dias 
They’re one of the most recognizable and popular casino games on offer out there. But how much do you know about Slots?
These machines have been around for over a century and have come a long way since their humble origins. From the addition of video effects and their move into the online space, a lot has changed about Slots.
Whether you prefer to play for low stakes or have a spin on the Jackpot Slots, let’s look at some of the most interesting facts about this game that you may not know.
Random number generation
Although the original slot machines were mechanical, that’s not the case anymore. Land-based Slots have more in common with their online counterpart today than with the original one-armed bandits.
Both types of Slots run on random number generation (RNG) software. This means that each reel spin is truly lucky, based on the number that the computer generates when the button is pressed.
Ultimately, thanks to this RNG, there’s no way to know how any given spin will turn out, even on a physical machine.
The USA comes in second
In terms of actual, land-based slot machines, you might expect the USA to have the largest number of any country. Considering just how many casinos there are in Las Vegas alone it’s an easy assumption to make!
However, the world’s highest concentration of slot machines is actually in Japan. In fact, there’s roughly one slot machine per 27 people there.
Pachinko parlors are incredibly popular and feature a variety of machines. Thanks to Japanese gambling laws, though, these tend to offer prizes such as teddy bears or electrical goods.
That said, in terms of cities, Las Vegas still has the highest ratio of slot machines per resident.
Poker prototype
The grandfather of modern Slots was actually closer in design to a form of video poker. The original machine created by Charles Fey featured three reels printed with the faces of poker cards and offered the player the chance to complete a hand with two held cards.
There wasn’t much automation involved at these early stages, either. Players had to go up to the bar to collect their prize for a winning hand.
Obviously, this is a little different to the kinds of Slots we know today. Still, their popularity with bar punters is what ultimately led to the innovations that created the modern slot machines.
Swapping poker suits for fruit
Slot machines are also commonly known as fruit machines, thanks to the images of lemons, cherries and oranges that often feature on the reels.
This switch up from the initial poker-based designs was a way to get around Charles Fey’s original patent, allowing other manufacturers to get in on the game.
Plus, fruit symbols helped to distance machines from concerns over gambling at the time. Each fruit was meant to represent the flavor of gum that a player would win, keeping the machines above board with the law.
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And there you have it, now you know just a little bit more about one of the most popular casino games.
