Slot Machine Drums
Everyone knows how a slot machine works. You put your money in, pull the lever and hope that the reels match up for the big payout. What you may not know is that the history of slot machines is fascinating and shows just where they’re headed in the future.
- Dancing Drums Feel the beat of big wins when you spin the reels of Dancing Drums slot machine by SHFL Entertainment. The Fu Babies are back and bringing you good fortune across 5-reels with 243 Ways to Win. The Jackpot Bonus can trigger when 1 or more WILD appears on screen, revealing a pick field with 12 coins.
- Video taken at Plaza Downtown Las.
The Origin of Slot Machines
Cientific Games has announced that a lucky player was awarded a massive $3,934,609.07 jackpot playing the company’s Dancing Drums Explosion slot machine at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, August 23.
The term “slot machine” originally referred to standard vending machines when it was first coined back in the 1880s. The name comes from dropping a nickel into the coin slot to get the product you wanted.
By 1885, the first machines designed for gambling were created, but they bore little resemblance to what we call a slot machine today. These were novelty machines that featured things like toy horses racing around a small track, and patrons of bars and saloons would often bet nickels or tokens that could be redeemed for drinks and cigars.
In 1891 a Brooklyn establishment developed a machine that was closer to what we know today. This machine had five drums, and each drum had 10 different card faces on it, which made it a primitive slot poker machine. Like before, people would put nickels in and get drinks or cigars as prizes based on the hands they won. The 10 of spades and jack of hearts were not included on most machines, which made it harder for people to get a royal flush. A big problem, however, was that automatic payouts were impossible due to a large amount of winning combinations.
History of Slot Machines at the Turn of the 1900s
Finally, in 1894-5, a Bavarian-born San Franciscan named Charles Fey created the “Liberty Bell”, the first true slot machine. This used three spinning reels with five symbols on each. These symbols were the eponymous bells, hearts, spades, diamonds, and horseshoes. The simpler and smaller method allowed automatic payouts of actual cash, and three bells produced the biggest payout of 50 cents. Over 100 of these machines were made, but only four survive today due to the 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire.
Competitors quickly refined the original design. By 1909, they were finding ways to circumvent the bans on slot machines that were being imposed by many states and cities. The card suits were replaced with the now-ubiquitous fruits, and anyone who got three like fruits would win some chewing gum of that flavor.
Most of these early “chewing gum dispensers” didn’t have slots for nickels, and the financial transactions were done over the bar itself. They did, in time, have slots for ejecting chewing gum. The “bar” symbol was developed in 1910, and it was originally a variation on the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company. In 1916, the first true jackpot originated when the Mills Novelty Company developed a way to regurgitate all the machine’s coins with certain reel combinations.
By 1920, however, many states caught on, and even these machines were banned. In 1931, gambling was legalized in Nevada, and slot machines quickly became a top method of making money. By 1951, Nevada was the only state that had legal slot machines, but other states and other countries started having changes of heart because of the amount of money that could be made.
By 1963, the first fully electromechanical slot machine, “Money Honey”, had been invented. This allowed things such as bottomless coin hoppers, automatic payouts of up to 500 coins, and 3- or 5-coin multipliers, allowing extra ways to play and win. In 1976, the first true all-video machines were created, where people could just press a button.
In 1986, the method of linking multiple machines of the same type was developed, allowing higher super jackpots linked to anyone playing on those machines. Improvements in computer technology and random number generation have led to the slots we love today.
Why Are Slots So Popular?
First, they’re designed to make the player seem like they have more control over the game. This is despite the fact that they actually have less control over how they fare than they would with anything else in a casino. There’s no dealer involved, no other players and no one standing by to remind you of what you have to do. There’s just you and the machine.
Second, they’re designed for people to have fun. Unlike card games, which involve a lot of pressure, psychology and personal skill to win, the only thing you have to do is pull the lever or press the button to enjoy the sounds and pictures. If you do manage to win a good amount, you are greeted with bright lights and virtual confetti on top of your winnings.
Third, they’re designed to bring out all of our ideas about luck. Since they are computerized to ensure a completely random outcome, we get to see if crossing our fingers or holding that rabbit’s foot actually means something.
What the Future Holds for Slot Machines
The technology continues to evolve and adapt to new trends in gaming. Millennials are less likely to use slot machines than their elders because they prefer skill to sheer luck. To solve this problem, new skill-based machines are being developed.
As sports betting is expanding, another concept being reviewed is a combination betting machine that would allow players to bet on sports and slots at the same time. Voice controls are also on the horizon for many slot machine manufacturers, and so are machines that accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.
Most popular slot machine games
Free to Play Bally Slots Online
The Dancing Drums slot machine is an entertaining slot that can be played at the live casino and online in regulated states. This popular game features a variety of Asian themed symbols. They include golden statues of mythical dragons, gold coins linked with red ribbons, sailing boats – and of course, the drums. The game plays with the ‘free ways’ system, offering many more winning opportunities than usual. In addition, there are free spins to be won and chosen and four progressive jackpots.
In live casinos, you will now find a bigger-screened version of this game compared to the original. This takes full advantage of the latest breakthroughs in graphic design and screen technology to bring the drums to life. The progressive jackpots which are a hallmark of this game are on display above the reels.
Basics: How does Dancing Drums Slot Work?
The base game of this Bally slot features a setup of five reels, with three symbols showing on each. It uses the ‘Reel Ways’ system, offering 243 ways to win on every spin. To land a win, you will need to land matching symbols on 3 or more consecutive reels from left to right, irrespective of the position on those reels. The cost of each spin is 88 credits, though you can add multipliers to this for bigger bets.
With so many winning chances on each spin, the individual prizes are lower than you would find on a slot with a smaller number of win-lines. Although it is not unusual to land many wins during a single spin using this format.
High Paying Drum Symbols
Bonus symbols show drums. These pay 100x your total bet for five. You need three from the left to trigger the free spins bonus – with wilds substituting. Other higher paying symbols include a plant, fierce looking dragon, coins and a traditional sailing boat.
Alongside the themed symbols you will also find the playing cards 9, 10, J, Q, K and A which offer top prizes of between 15 and 20 coins.
The wild symbol, which features a splash of red and gold, appears on reels 2, 3 and 4 only. This will substitute for all other symbols ensuring many more winning opportunities. With the ‘Reel Ways’ system in play, just a single wild can trigger a series of wins.
Hitting the Free Spins Bonus Feature on Dancing Drums Slots
As well as being the highest paying symbol in the game, the Dancing Drums also activate the free spins feature. When you hit three, four and five drums and land that big win, you will also enter this feature.
The free spins bonus round now offers you five options as to how to play:
- Option 1: 15 free spins with a grid size of 3×5.
- Option 2: 10 free spins with a grid size of 4×5.
- Option 3: 5 free spins with a grid size of 5×5.
- Option 4: 3 free spins with a grid size of 6×5.
- Option 5: A mystery prize – one of the four options above picked at random.
This choice can be tricky. Option 1 plays out on the standard reels and offers the same 243 ways to win. However, options two, three and four now offer 1,024, 3,125 and 7,776 ways to win respectively. While the number of spins decrease, the winning opportunities at each go in the other direction. If you are having trouble making a choice, option five selects this at random – taking the choice out of your hands.
How to Win Dancing Drums Progressive Jackpot
The chance to land one of the four progressive jackpots can be awarded randomly any time a single wild appears on the reels. You will now be taken to a screen showing a series of gold coins. Pick each in turn and it will spin to reveal one of a series of Fu babies. Keep picking until you reveal three of the same Fu Babies, and you will win the associated Jackpot. The four jackpot pays are Mini, Minor, Major and Grand.
Where Can You Play Dancing Drums Slots Online in the USA?
If you are lucky enough to live in NJ, PA, MI, or WV then your state already has passed laws allowing legal USA online casinos. You will find Dancing Drums on casino apps and websites – alongside many other titles from Bally including Dragon Spin, Hot Shot and Lucky Tree. More states are expected to pass regulation for online casinos in the months and years to come.
Outside of the regulated states, you will find Dancing Drums in most live casinos.
Dancing Drums Slot Machine Odds
Play to the Beat – Dancing Drums Design
The Dancing Drums plays against the backdrop of a distinctive dark red, lending the game an atmospheric feel. The reels themselves contain a lot of gold, adding a rich feel to the proceedings, with each of the symbols is intricately designed.
When you trigger the free spins, giant animated drums appear over the reels. Throughout the game you will hear an Asian soundtrack, complete with stringed instruments and gongs. Many of the graphics and effects (including the Fu Babies) will remind you of the classic ’88 Fortunes’ slots.
Will Dancing Drums let you Snare a Big Win?
Casino Slot Machine Dancing Drums
The free to play Dancing Drums slot game is an enjoyable and enticing slot from Bally. With the ‘Reel Ways’ system in the base game, a win is never far away. Any time you hit a wild you could find yourself playing the Jackpot game, where you are guaranteed to win one of the four big prizes. Enter the free spins bonus feature for the highlight of the game. Here you will get to choose exactly how it plays out – with potentially thousands of ways to win on every free spin.