Diary (Log) of Events
Our log of monthly events in the slots world
Timeline – Slots Casinos was purchased early in 2004 but will only now see the light of day (or is it the starlight of cyberspace?). We will endeavour to add important events to this history. Weblogs (blogs) are popular but for me, it’s more about a diary of events so that I can sit one day and look back fondly at the history of the site and the industry. If you have news to share about the industry or content to suggest for the site, then please e-mail me (slotmail@slotscasinos.co.za) and you can be added to this lifetime record that is in the making. Feel free to announce the publishing of your new site. It does however have to be slot related!
Date | Event |
March, 2004 | Microgaming casinos bring out Mega Spin. Play 9 slots in one screen. |
Early May 2004 | New site published – Slot Tips |
May 23, 2004 | Powerbet Casino announces the launch of the new mini slots games from Real Time Gaming. Totally innovative, will probably take the world by storm. |
May 25, 2004 | The launch of Slots Casinos (towards a bright new future) |
June 2004 | The launch of a friends site, Slots Crazy |
August 2004 | Launch of our joint venture slots site, Slots |
August 9, 2004 | Casino City, a fellow GPWA member, decides to pursue the course of legal action in an effort to maintain the right to advertise gambling online. |
August 30, 2004 | Microgaming releases a further 3 slot games. 2 of these are progressive jackpots! |
September 2004 | Casino Affiliate Program, Money Mechanic, offer to take us to Vegas to attend the Casino Affiliate Convention. Thank you. |
October 2004 | Vegas was great. Full of memories but didn’t bring back too many dollars! |
October 2004 | Tomb Raider Video Slot launch – 28 October 2004 – I love playing the Tomb Raider game. This is a GREAT release and will be the most popular slots game ever! |
October 2004 | Launch 28 October 2004 includes a new slot, Good to Go, and a multiline version of Wowpot |
November 2004 | Microgaming go nuts! 4 more great games. Bar Bar Blacksheep, Ho Ho Ho, Ladies Nite, Reel Strike! |
February 2005 | More great Microgaming games. 3 great new slots, Mermaids Millions, Frost Bite, and Cabin Fever. |
February 2005 | We acquire a new slots site, Hot Slots |
March 2005 | Realtime Gaming launch 3 brilliant new slots, Ronin Slots, Goldbeard Slots, Aztecs Treasure Slots. We reckon you should play them at Cirrus Casino! |
April 2005 | Microgaming launches Off the Hook and What on Earth. We buy 2 new sites, Slots Coach and Tips for Winning! |
May 2005 | Microgaming launches Jungle Jim and Elementals slots |
June 2005 | Big month. RTG launch the new Real Series slots Caesars Empire, Diamond Dozen, and Prince of Sherwood. Microgaming launch Sonic Boom and 2 old slot revamps, Golden Goose Winning Wizards and Golden Goose Totem Treasure. We buy Best Playtech Casinos and launch a total of 20 new websites with 20 more to follow. These sites focus narrowly on specific games or on regions internationally! |
July 2005 | Microgaming launch the new slots Cashville, Golden Goose Genies Gems, and Munchkins. |
August 2005 | On a total roll, Microgaming continue to launch wave after wave of great new slots. Players approve of their games, so why stop? This month sees the launch of 2 new slots and another goose style makeover. Find Golden Goose Crazy Chameleon, Chainmail, and Bush Telegraph. |
September 2005 | No rest for the wicked. More microgaming slots just in time for halloween. Find Halloweenies, Witches Wealth, and Spellbound. RealTime Gaming make a BIG splash too with Derby Dollars and Lions Lair (Real Series) and their first 25 Line slot (also Real Series) called Fruit Frenzy. |
October 2005 | Only 2 new slots from microgaming this month but they really are special. Pollen Nation is a new 25 payline video slot and Wasabi San is a 15 payline slot with a lovely table fish theme. |
November 2005 | Microgaming launches another 2 new slots. The mainly mainstream 5 reel 15 payline Muchos Grande has an amusing Mexican theme and is bound to have supporters. Microgaming have also taken the first leap of faith into a new demographic market with the release of the 5 reel 25 payline slot called Loaded. The slot has a strong African American theme and features symbols like a Bling Bling Ring, a Rappers Turntable, and some serious rapper dudes and dudettes. |
December 2005 | 3 new slots from microgaming. Bulls Eye is a 3 reel wheel of fortune type slot with a darts theme. Gift Wrap is the expected seasonal release but is truly lovely and will be enjoyed. Dino Might is a complex slot with 2 bonus rounds. One of the better new slots releases from the microgaming stable in our opinion. |
January 2006 | This is a big month. 2 new slots from Microgaming. Mardi Gras is a 3 reel 1 line slots while Harveys is a 5 reel and 25 line video slot. RealTime Gaming have launched 6 new slots. All are Real Series video slots but there are some very nice changes in place. Some of the games offer respins where winning reels are held fixed while other games offer right to left payouts as well. In keeping with the Real Series, you can expect great graphics and cute animation and sounds. The games launched are Mister Money (obvious money and wealth theme), Raindance (a lovely American Indian theme), Red Sands (all the cutest Australian marsupials), Sunken Treasure (galleons, divers, and treasure chests), Tiger Treasures (Jungle theme), and Vikings Voyage (yup, vikings and longboats abound). |
February 2006 | Microgaming release 2 new slots. Both very impressive. Kathmandu is a 5 reel 9 payline slot with some serious payout potential. The special edition release of a 5 reel and 25 payline Wheel of Wealth is also brilliant with it’s 2 bonus rounds. |
March 2006 | Microgaming releases 3 new slots. I really love these new games although their theme belies a darkness that is the reality behind the games. Moonshine is a 5 Reel and 25 Payline slot that has much humor but is built on the devastation that surrounds this homemade brew. Isis is an ancient Egyptian themed 25 payline slot. Although those times were bad in Egypt, The graphics certainly do the theme much justice. Finally there is Free Spirit. This is a 3 reel slot with a Wheel of Wealth bonus round. What sticks out here is the graphics. The colors and mood almost put the grass between your toes! |
April 2006 | Microgaming releases 2 new slots. There themes are seriously unusual you know? The Avalon Video Slot is excellent with its 20 paylines and full on features. I have always loved the legends of King Arthur. This slot captures them well. Twister Video Slot is another humor laden view of a dark event. So many people get hurt during twisters. Perhaps it’s right to find humor and not just see the darkness. The 15 payline slot packs a punch and has all the features you can want. We think that both these new slots will be a hit. |
May 2006 | It’s a big month. Microgaming release 3 new slots and RealTime Gaming release 6 new Real Series video slots. Microgaming add to their progressive offering by making Major Millions available in a new format. Major Millions Megaspin Slots are bound to have fans who like to win in a hurry. The world cup also fills the mind and the release of the 15 payline World Cup Mania video slot is bound to catch a lot of interest. Cashanova is a 30 payline video slot with some unbelievable features. 30 Paylines! Yes you read it right! RealTime Gaming offer some great new games in the Real Series format. Golden Glove is baseball themed and has loads of bonus features. Hillbillies is of course supported by cute graphics but has unusual and high paying bonus features to enjoy. Honey to the Bee brings more cute graphics (especially the blue eyed bee). Loads of features make for a fun game. Mermaid Queen takes undersea fantacy to new heights with incredible animation and fun paylines. Perhaps the nicest of all the games is Outta this World with a Martian theme. We personally did not enjoy the music of the last game, Realm of Riches, but to be honest, this game paid out best of all! (hence the continual background sounds of the wild symbol playing). Remember, the Real Series slots all have excellent animation and each individual video slot has a random progressive jackpot. You can be a winner even when you hit no consecutive line symbols at all! |
June 2006 | Great! Two more video slots from Microgaming. These guys are definitely learning though. Every new video slot is better than the last. This time we have the Mad Hatters Video Slot, a 30 payline video slot with every feature you can want. What’s more, the graphics do the classic Alice in Wonderland story proud! This is an online slots machine to be proud of. We also have the Starscape Video Slot, a 25 payline video slot from Microgaming. Once again there are stunning graphics but it’s the pick till find bonus screen that has stunning potential. Again, we think Microgaming have shown their true class. |
July 2006 | July sees two high payout potential video slots being released. Bars n Stripes is a 25 payline slot that features a bonus round where a choice of top hats could net you a cool 47500 coins. Supe it Up is also a 25 payline video slot but this one is destined for legend. You can get up to 30 free spins at a 6 x multiplier. Wow, that is one hefty opportunity! Microgaming rocks on again and again! |
July 2006 | Last minute news. Microgaming sneaked through another video slot. Nutty Squirrel video slot is a 20 payline video slot that pays up to 400 000 coins (in the free spins round). It is only being released to a few select Microgaming Casinos. Nice scopp, we have a full review of this unique game plus a place for you to play! |
August 2006 | Another huge month. Microgaming release Age of Discovery, a 25 payline video slot with a Pick until Stop bonus round. What’s more though, they have also released Dolphin Tale, a 40 payline monster with free spins where you can choose between lots of spins at a low multiplier or few spins at a huge multiplier. Feeling lucky? RealTime Gaming continue their march forward too with another 5 Real Series Video Slots. Achilles is a Roman times themed video slot that has great graphics. The pick of the 5 is probably Aladdins Wishes with its different bonus round where you choose lamps for free spins or bonus money. Paradise Dreams has a great free spins round where a random butterfly can double your wins. Paris Beauty is a classic video slot with an oil painting finish to it. Penguin Power is also going to prove popular with its cute characters and the unique bonus free spins presentation. |
August 2006 | In a last minute surprise, Microgaming have launched an additional video slot called Witch Doctor. This 20 payline video slot offers a free spins round and some stunning graphics. |
September 2006 | Microgaming launch 2 new slots. Legacy is a 3 reel 5 payline slot that has paylines only a high roller will love. It has graphics that reflect the high roller nature of the slot. Chocolate Factory is a 5 reel 9 payline video slot that features 2 bonus rounds. Extremely entertaining but a bit of a money gobbler. It does however reward persistance with some great payouts! |
October 2006 | In the closing moments before congress adjourned on the 29th September 2006, they passed a bill known as the SAFE Ports Bill. What has this got to do with you? Well, Senator Bill Frist (Tn) attached legislation to the crucial Port bill which effectively outlaws banking transactions that fund “Unlawful Internet Gambling“. We don’t intend to antagonize the government of the USA by calling them names but seriously folks, an unrelated bill, a last minute attachment, and a midnight approval (yes, midnight!). I can only say it’s a sad day for USA citizens and their rights. I saw poll’s on the likes of the Wall Street Journal which confirmed that the majority of Americans liked the right to choose whether to gamble online or not. This choice (a freedom?) is no longer yours according to Senator Frist! |
October 2006 | Cool! Some really nice slots released by Microgaming. Flying Circus Video Slot is a 20 payline slot featuring the best of free spins, wilds, and scatters. The Pharaohs Tomb Video Slot has 20 paylines and features a multi level bonus round where huge prizes are hidden. The Dog Father Video Slot has 20 paylines and features both a free spins feature and a bonus round. |
November 2006 | A dark month for the industry. Top software providers, casinos, and poker rooms begin to pull out of the US Market. In fact, any gambling company that was Stock Exchange listed began to either pull out or to plan to pull out. Payment methods begin to dwindle in diversity as well. The biggest blow would be the exodus of Party Poker and of the Playtech Software platform. Indeed a victory for those opposed to online gambling. |
November 2006 | So, on the political front the news was bad. The new games however totally rocked which was a bright light in the gloom. Microgaming release a potent mixture of great new games! The Summertime Video Slot is a serious payout slot that is similar to Thunderstruck. With triple paylines in a free spins round, you have loads to look forward to! Glory of Rome Video Slot is a 20 payline slot with a bonus round offering great cash prizes or free spins. Twin Samurai Video Slot is an interesting slot with an expanding wild feature as well as a free spins round. The greatest release though would be the long awaited Mega Moolah Progressive Video Slot. Mega Moolah has 25 paylines and offers free spins, wilds, multipliers, scatters, and a much prized special random bonus round. In the bonus round, you get through to a Wheel of Fortune type screen where your prize is one of four random jackpots. With the “Big One” kicking in at a million dollars, all we can say is WOW! |
December 2006 | Christmas 2006 again saw a plethora of seasonal themed games being launched. One big difference to those of the past though was the high quality of the new games. We loved them. Microgaming have outdone themselves again! Santa Paws Video Slot is a great 20 payline video slot with all the trappings of a great paying slot. Free spins and multipliers mean that you can hit it big at any time! Great graphics too! Crazy 80s Video Slot is a 9 payline slot with high paying paylines and cute graphics and sounds. Lady of the Orient Video Slot is a lovely 20 payline slot that offers both a bonus round and a free spins round. Inca Gold Video Slot has 20 paylines and offers a free spins feature and a wonderful pyramid with great prizes on offer as you climb the levels. The Jingle Bells Slot is a classic 3 reel slot with 5 paylines. The bells are wild and also multiply your wins. |
January 2007 | Yeah right, things can’t get worse! NETeller founders are arrested on the grounds of aiding and abbetting a crime. This leads to a mass exodus of e-wallets. Players in the USA now have very few avenues to fund their online gambling pleasures. On the plus side, a house bill in the State of Washington (House Bill 1243) is launched by Rep. Chris Strow, R-Whidbey Island, to possibly legalize online gambling. Rep. Chris Strow suggests that a person is accountable for their own actions and shouldn’t be restricted when wanting to play in the privacy of their own homes.Now isn’t that a fact! Well done Sir, someone buy that man a beer! |