Last Updated on July 19, 2023 by
Hungarian gamblers have always found slot machine exciting. These machines are easy to play, offering players opportunities to earn with several symbol combinations.
Though they now have several themes and characteristics, slots were first popular as fruity machines. If you’re an avid player, you might be curious about the origin of these fruit machine slots symbols.
The First Slot Machines
Before the fruit slot symbols came into the gambling scene, slot machines were in existence. However, the first of its kind was an invention of the American, Charles Fey, in 1894. His creation took the world by storm and became popular among gamblers.
Seeing his success, the intelligent man quit his mechanic job to focus on slot creation. In 1898, he invented the “Card Bell,” which featured an automatic payout system. Players had to pull a handle to operate the reels. Despite being a little tasking, it was a fantastic play technique for several gamblers.
A year later, Fey constructed another revolutionary machine called “Liberty Bell”. While its predecessor used card values, liberty used horseshoes, star symbols, and liberty bells. Here, players triggered the greatest payout by landing three liberty bells.
Of course, gamblers were thrilled by this invention. Though the machines were not automatic, you didn’t have to push any buttons. Instead, the player would slot in a coin and watch the reels spin.
As fun as these games were, the government banned their use in the early 90s. Players who loved the game were disappointed as they could no longer access slots. When the demand for slots rose drastically, manufacturers began converting their machines into gum dispensers. So instead of cards and other representations, there were fruit reel symbols.
So, if you could match three winning fruit reel symbols, you get gums in return. These symbols represented the flavour of gum you got. For instance, if you match cherries, you win gums that taste like cherries!
Since they dispensed gums, it was a harmless game to try. Therefore, it was suitable for every person regardless of age or status. Though you couldn’t play gyümölcsös játékok ingyen kocsmai, the minimum deposit was quite low and affordable.
According to our author Sultés Szilvia, a casino expert, “Ezzel a módosítással a fejlesztők anélkül kínálhatnak nyerőgépeket a szerencsejátékosok számára, hogy magukra vonták volna a kormány figyelmét. A nyerőgépekből rágógumi-automaták lettek, azonban ez nem sokáig maradt így. A fejlesztők hamarosan új megoldásokat kerestek ezeknek a gépeknek a fejlesztésére.”
The Beginning of Modern Slots
In 1963, Bally and Williams tapped into the fruit theme to create better slots. These developers updated the gum dispensing machines to become more appealing than their predecessors. This was the beginning of returning slots to their former glory.
The Bally company created the first electromechanical slots, with Money Honey being one of their titles. Though they still used levers, the reels on fruit slot machines were powered electronically. Plus, the company still utilised the fruit theme to create these slots.
They also launched Big Bertha in the late 60s. The slot operated with five horsepower electric motors in addition to twenty-inch wide chain wheels. Big Bertha was the first to pay a huge prize, a far cry from older payouts.
As technology continued to evolve, so did these machines. In 1976, Fortune Coin introduced the first video slots, another mind-blowing invention. Its manufacturers added a second screen bonus round to the video slot machine in 1996. From there, developers picked the pace till they began producing online slots.
Will Fruit Slots Go Out of Style?
Fruit slots have come a long way from what they used to be. There’s a major difference in their appearance and mode of operation. Now, a player can get lucky enough to win as high as 30,000,000HUF.
The advent of online slots introduced different game themes. Consequently, you find games with frogs or swords on their reels. Despite this, the fruit theme can’t go out of style. Developers always find a way to create fruit slots that appeal to the modern audience.
Conclusion
Fruit symbols are the genesis of the slot machines we have; still, they remain a fantastic theme that players enjoy.
