If you take a look at the best online slots ireland section of the online casino’s game libraries, you will see that the majority of online slots are 5-reel slots. While the first slots in the history of casinos featured only three reels and came with a relatively simple layout, these slot machines were high in demand all over the world. Unfortunately, by now, they have become less popular among gamblers.
The main reason why they have declined in popularity is the appearance of 5-reel and 7-reel slots. Nowadays, most players prefer playing games that offer more ways to win and have more features. This way, they can have more fun while gambling at the online casino.
However, don’t think that 3-reel slots can’t provide you with a thrilling gaming experience! These games have also advanced a lot in the last few years. Therefore, they have now excellent graphics and matching modern sound effects that can fulfill all your needs.
If you would like to know more about the history of 3-reel slot machines and what benefits these games have, keep reading. In the following, this is what we will talk about.
The First Machines in the History
3-reel slot machines are considered to be special for a reason. At many places, people even call them classic slots. Why? Simply because these games are from the very first generation of slots. The first machines that appeared at the end of the 19th century had only three reels. Since players had to use a lever to play back then, these machines were also called “One-Armed Bandits”.
Considering the invention of slots, there is an ongoing debate among people. According to the majority of historians, it was Charles Fey who has invented the slot machine in the United States. His simple creation called the Liberty Bell machine had three spinning reels and featured automated cash payouts. On the reels, there were altogether five symbols found. These were the following:
- the image of the Liberty Bell
- horseshoes
- spades
- diamonds
- hearts
The highest payout players could get while playing the Liberty Bell machine was 50 cents. To win these 50 cents, people had to get 3 of the Liberty Bell symbols in a row. Thus, it’s understandable why Fey has chosen the Liberty Bell as the name of its machine.
Fey’s invention has gained a lot of popularity in a very short time. Therefore, he decided to manufacture over 3,000 pieces of it. Moreover, other manufacturers also tried to come up with their version of the game, so newer and newer variations have appeared all over the country.
From Liberty Bell to Fruit Machines
Gamblers enjoyed playing with the Liberty Bell machine and its different variations. However, after a time, politicians started to associate them with criminal activities. Thus, more and more anti-gambling rules came into action across the country. To avoid these bans, the Industry Novelty Company came up with a fantastic idea. They have changed the previous Liberty Bell and horseshoes symbols to fruit symbols and called their machines chewing gum dispensers instead of slot machines. Regarding the payout, when a player won, the machine dispensed chewing gum and not coins.
Of course, after the Industry Novelty Company’s invention, more manufacturers copied the idea. Over the years, many new variations of these machines have appeared on the market.
The Appearance of the First Online Variations
As the Free Trade and Processing Act has been passed by Antigua and Barbuda in 1994, companies were able to get licenses for operating online gambling sites as well. Microgaming and Cryptologic were two of the first businesses that decided to offer gambling services online. As a result, in the first online casinos, players could select from several online 3-reel slots. These slot machines worked very similarly to their counterparts found in land-based casinos. But of course, the early versions of online slots were much simpler than the modern versions. Also, the game selection was much more limited than now. In our modern world, you can choose from thousands of different 3-reel slots that vary on the theme. Plus, they have plenty of impressive features and generous bonuses.
The Benefits of Playing 3-Reel Slots
When it comes to 3-reel slot machines, there are many benefits people tend to overlook. First of all, playing slots with 3 reels can be a cheaper option for many. This is why if you are low on budget, you should consider opting for this type of game. In the case of today’s 5-reel or 7-reel slots, players need to spend more money per spin, very often at least 50 cents. This is considered quite costly when compared to 3-reel slot machines. You can find some games among these that cost you only a cent per spin.
Another advantage of online games with 3 spinning reels is the simple gameplay. Playing these games doesn’t require any special skills. The rules are straightforward and there are not too many symbols and paylines. Thus, if you want to try these games, you can easily learn how to play them.
The Bottom Line
3-reel slot machines have been around since the late 19th century. While in the past these machines were available solely in brick-and-mortar casino facilities, the appearance of the first online casinos opened new opportunities for these games to develop.
Although the popularity of these games has significantly declined in the last few years, thanks to the advancements regarding these slots, they are still worth trying. The will definitely give you an outstanding gaming experience!
About Author
