Up until the 1980s, every Vegas slot machine accepted coins. Players would insert nickels, quarters, or dollar pieces into Vegas coin slots before spinning the reels.
Times have changed greatly, though. Almost every slot across the industry now operates through video technology.
Therefore, you may wonder how coin slots manage to stick around in Las Vegas. I’ll discuss this matter by covering the history of these games along with why they still exist.
Vegas Coin Slots Were Once the Big Thing
Slots originally operated through mechanical reels. Gamblers would pull a lever, which would cause the mechanical reels to spin.
Slot machines generally continued in this fashion from 1895 until the 1970s. The latter decade is when video slots started infiltrating casinos.
Video slot machines provide developers with many advantages. Producers can program these games to feature more reels, offer unique bonuses, and boast unique formats (like Megaways).
Coin-operated games were once the toast of Las Vegas. However, they’re not nearly as popular these days.
Many Gamblers Feel Nostalgia in Sin City
You can see that Vegas coin slots aren’t quite what they once were. So, why are coin-operated machines still available in Sin City?
Many older gamblers feel a sense of nostalgia when they visit Las Vegas. They remember trips past and relish the good old days.
Of course, they have trouble remembering the old days when on a 3D video slot. Therefore, these nostalgic gamblers seek out coin-based games.
Coin Slots Are Fun Relics
Coin slot machines aren’t making a comeback any time soon. In fact, they’ll slowly continue losing popularity as time goes on.
Nevertheless, these machines still have a place on gaming floors today. Some casinos, like El Cortez, actually offer a sizable number of these games.
Coin-operated slots figure to remain in Las Vegas for the foreseeable future. These machines still have a small market in Sin City.