Video Pokies

The Money Honey

As mentioned on our online pokies page, the Money Honey was a pioneering pokie that advanced the basic concepts of automated pay-outs seen in early 1940s machines. Released in 1963 by Bally, it was the first of its kind to utilise a bottomless hopper and could pay out coins unassisted. Previous pokies required an attendant to retrieve a player’s winnings. Clearly, this wasn’t a sustainable method. The Money Honey removed this requirement completely.

Fortune Coin

The enormous popularity of Bally’s revolutionary pokie paved the way for the first video pokie machine, which was developed by Fortune Coin in 1976. The prototype featured a 19-inch video screen which displayed the reels which were in turn operated by a series of logic boards. These were then mounted in cabinets.  The early units, named after the company, were trialled at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. Following a few upgrades, they were approved by the Nevada State Gaming Commission and became popular on the strip during the late 1970s and early 80s.

The Microprocessor

The advent of the microprocessor during this period also had a huge impact on video pokies development. They began to be used extensively in US and UK machines and could monitor the path of coins as well as their amounts inserted by the user. They could also control the stepper motors by way of proximity sensors. In addition, software enabled the processor to determine which symbols were being displayed on the reels as well as the extent of each pay-out. The microprocessor also ushered in random number generators. Whereas original pokie machines relied on a series of gears to spin their reels, which were activated by a lever, video pokies make use of RNGs. This made the lever redundant, improved reliability and prevented casino owners from tinkering with the RTPs.

IGT Video Pokies Pioneers

These new electronic pokies began to proliferate in a big way after IGT acquired Fortune Coin. They became popular with operators because of their reliability and ease-of-use. Free from the mechanical restraints of their more primitive predecessors, the use of graphical reels and computerised displays allowed developers to include more symbols and pay-lines which in turn resulted in more lucrative jackpots. Unsurprisingly, they went down a storm with players. Because of this, IGT started to focus their attentions and considerable budget on video pokies instead of traditional mechanical machines. Their innovations led to the introduction of pokies like Reel ‘em In’ – the first to introduce a second bonus round screen. Due to this video game transformation, the scope of what video pokies could achieve eventually became grander. Bonus rounds, free spin games, and mini tangential adventures all became part of the video pokie experience. And to this day, most of the latest, most innovative online pokies incorporate some if not all of these elements. Of course, this isn’t to say that the classic pokies of old have ceased to be popular amongst players. In fact, they continue to be a major draw for those looking to enjoy no-frills old-school game-play. The best ones do a good job in recapturing some of the magic of traditional fruit machines with simple 3-reel play and a limited number of pay-lines. Here are a few examples of ground-breaking online pokies that owe a great deal to the bricks and mortar video games of old.

Cash Splash – Three/Five Reel Video Pokie – Microgaming

Cash Splash is one of the earliest online video pokies. Originally a three reel game, it was updated to include five reels as well as progressive jackpot. Although not exactly brimming with extra features by today’s lofty standards, this relatively basic pokie harked back to the classic 3-reelers thanks to the inclusion of retro symbols such as playing cards (still used to this very day) as well as cherries and bars. Although there are just 15 pay-lines and a scatter symbol that doesn’t trigger any sort of bonus game, Cash Splash remains popular especially with online bingo players looking to pass the time between bingo sessions.

Thunderstruck – Five Reel Video Pokies – Microgaming

Microgaming once again hit the jackpot in the early 2000s with this now classic video pokies game. Based on Norse mythology, the game comprises three reels and just 9 pay-lines. The original version doesn’t include quick-spin or auto-play options, nor is there a bonus round. What makes the game stand out though is the free spins game which can be retriggered multiple times. And despite the rather dated the simple, well-paced game-play still stands up well to modern online pokies. That’s some going, especially when you consider the ingenuity behind our next entrant.

Gonzo’s Quest – Five Reel Pokie – Netent

Gonzo’s Quest was released back in 2011 by then Swedish upstarts Netent. The company has grown considerably since then to become of the biggest casino game developers in the world. Their ground-breaking pokie, Gonzo’s Quest introduced the Avalanche Reels mechanic in which winning symbols were removed from the reels to be replaced with ones above. Of medium variance, the game boasts polished visuals and an assortment of swanky reel animations that, at the time, stretched the capabilities of most devices. And yet, the game doesn’t include any bonus features to speak of. But the Avalanche Reels feature as well as a host of lucrative multipliers goes a long way in compensating.

Starburst – Five Reel Video Pokies - Netent

There’s just no getting away from the fact that Starburst is one of the classic online pokies. One would have thought that with just 10 pay-lines and a single bonus feature (the wild reel), that Netent’s cosmic caper would have be consigned to the scrap-heap of history some time ago. But it continues to be popular with both new and experienced players, mainly because it’s cheap to play and pays-out regularly. It’s also another prime example of how simplicity can rake in the bucks for pokie game developers. As testament to the game’s seemingly boundless appeal, it continues to be included in the welcome promotions of many online casinos.

Mega Moolah – Five Reel Progressive Pokie – Microgaming

Microgaming took the progressive jackpot concept to a whole new level with this illustrious pokie. There’s nothing terribly novel about linked jackpots – they were first used with bricks and mortar video pokies in Las Vegas in the 1980s. However, the scope and scale of the prizes was quite limited. Mega Moolah changed all that by pooling jackpots across an international network of bingo and casino websites. As a result, it remains the highest-paying progressive pokie of all time - more than $80 million has been paid out so far by this life-changing game. And while the enormous prizes tend to steal the headlines, the core game includes plenty of engaging features such as a potentially-lucrative free spins bonus game and a decent number of pay-lines (25).

Avalon II – Five Reel Pokie - Microgaming

Avalon II exemplifies recent trends in online video pokies development. Eschewing the simplicity of games such as Starburst, its creators included no less than eight different bonus games. They also advanced the ‘gamification’ or ‘adventure’ concept tentatively explored in some of the early video pokie machines. Players are required to advance across a multi-level bonus map inspired by Lord of the Rings as well as Game of Thrones by landing various special symbols. The feature-laden game-play includes wilds, extra wilds, trailing wilds, rolling reels and three free spin rounds. While there’s plenty for the average gamer to take in, the enormous $120,000 jackpot certainly helps sharpens concentration levels.

Rainbow Riches – Five Reel Pokie - Barcrest

Developed by one of the old guard, Rainbow Riches ranks as one of the most popular pokies ever created. As well as enjoying a loyal following in pubs and land-based casinos, the web-based version continues to attract online. The smooth, well-rendered visuals and simple interface go some way in explaining its appeal. However, it’s the three bonus features that set this game apart from other cutesy pokie games. Each of them can generate wins of up to 500 times your stake. Interestingly though, you’re likely to win more frequently via the more traditional base game which owes a great deal to the classic pokies of yesteryear. The irony!