The History of Slot Machines

By  //  February 20, 2023

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First, we have to go back to the end of the 19th century. This is the time when the first slots were created, which are called one-armed bandits.

First, we have to go back to the end of the 19th century. This is the time when the first slots were created, which are called one-armed bandits. At first, they were available in bars, and then they reached casinos in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Monaco. Around the 1960s and 1970s, slot machines began to gain immense popularity.

Video machines began to be introduced and some of them offered jackpots. The largest jackpot was won in 2003 in Las Vegas on a Megabucks slot machine – 39.7 million dollars.

However, the history of gambling in Poland looks completely different. After World War II, gambling was considered illegal in Poland, so until 1989 there was no official casino here. Only the introduced political changes gave new possibilities. It was in 1989 that the first casino was established in Poland, followed by another.

However, it was not casinos that made Poles start playing slot machines. In the 1990s, the law wasn’t very designed for gambling. That is why the free market began to be used to offer to gamble. Slot machines began to appear in bars, pubs, restaurants, discos, and arcades. That is why today many retro slots are called bar machines. Many of them are listed https://gry-hazardowe-za-darmo.com/automaty-do-gier/. These types of games have gained immense popularity, especially among men. However, the time for major changes has come soon.

slot machines

Online slots in Poland

At the beginning of the new century, online casinos began to become more and more popular. It is also the time when the great era of digitization has begun in Poland. More and more people have access to the Internet. This was used by the companies that created online casinos. More and more casinos began to be available to Poles, offering a Polish website and payments in PLN. Soon, many people could play casino games in Malta or Curacao right from home.

Within a few years, dozens of gambling brands appeared on the Polish market, and some even opened their offices in Warsaw or Krakow. This changed in 2009 when the Gambling Act was introduced. The government has decided that all unlicensed companies are illegal and that using online casinos is breaking the law.

However, the law turned out to be underdeveloped and although casinos disappeared from Poland, still a lot of people played in them online. In 2017, another law was introduced. This time it was more effective. Many online casino sites are blocked in Poland. Players, however, have their own ways to do this, such as VPNs.

Slot machines in 2023

It’s 2023 and slot machines are still very popular in Poland. They can basically be divided into 5 groups.

Type What it is?
Legal slot machines In many places in Poland, there are legal gaming machines in licensed land-based casinos, as well as in special salons run by the state-owned company Totalizator Sportowy.
Illegal slot machines There are still illegal places to play bar machines. However, owners of such places may pay fines above PLN 100K.
Legal online slot machines There is only one licensed online casino in Poland that has many online slots.
Legal free slot There are many websites, mobile apps that offer free gambling. Online slots are the same as in casinos, but you cannot play them for real money.
Illegal online slot machines There are hundreds of online casinos in the network where Poles play illegally on slots.

As you can see, slot machines are quite popular in Poland and you can use them in several ways, some of which are legal and some not.

Where does this popularity come from?

We showed that slot machines are quite popular in Poland. But what determines it? Here are some of the most important reasons:

  • availability: adults can easily play for money in online casinos, land-based casinos, or arcades. Also, there are many free games available.
  • a wide selection: many online casinos even have several thousand titles. There are jackpots, hot spots, megaways, 3d slots, and video poker.
  • simplicity: on contrary to card games or sports betting, no knowledge or special skills are required to play.
  • chances of winning: a lot of people see slots as a simple way to win big (the reality is completely different).
  • advertisements: although casino advertisements are prohibited, you can find a lot of information on the web. There are big casinos in the centers of big cities, so a lot of people see them every day.
  • bonuses: online casinos offer welcome bonuses, including free spins. These can be used for online slots.

Which titles are the most popular?

As we mentioned, there are many thousands of online slot machines. Among them, however, there are several titles that are considered bestsellers:

  • Book of Dead: popular game by Play’N Go. You are going to Egypt with an archaeologist in search of a legendary book. There are many interesting symbols and bonuses.
  • Starburst: game by NetEnt. The game has very nice graphics and its action takes place in space. You can win up to 50 000 coins.
  • Gonzo’s Quest: another game made by NetEnt. This time you set out on a journey to the American jungle in the 16th century. You will search for Eldorado. The game has a lot of bonuses, such as a multiplier up to x5.
  • Mega Moolah: a slot made by Microgaming. This is a safari-style game where you can meet wild animals in Africa. The most important here is the jackpot, which can provide winnings of up to several million euros.

Other popular games are Mega Fortune, Immortal Romance, Dead or Alive 2, Book of Ra, Sizzling Hot Deluxe, Bonanza, Rome: The Golden Age, Razor Shark, and Wheel of Fortune Megaways.