Slot Machine History Before the 19th century drew to a close, inventors came up with a great number of mechanical gadgets to test players’ luck and skill. Among there was a pistol-like device intended to shoot coins into a hole forming the bulls-eye of a target, a punching bag that rewarded strong blows, and a coin-based poker-playing machine. The history of slot machines is a story of pioneers who altered the way people have gambled over the past century and a bit. You can still see evidence of the early slot machines in new video slots made today. Let's take a trip down memory lane and explore the fast-changing history of the most popular gambling game in the world. The preceeding is a list of machines known to have been made by Bally Manufacturing Co. Click on any machine name to bring up the encyclopedia page for that machine. The whole history of slot machines starts with Charles August Fey, an American dude who was born in Bavaria. At the time when he invented his first slot machine (1894) – he was a mechanic in San Francisco. A few years later, in 1898, he created the first three-reel slot machine, called Card Bell. The machine had an automatic cash payout system.
- Bally Slot Machine History
- Buckley Slot Machine History
- Pace Slot Machine History
- List Of Casino Slot Machines
- Jennings Dixie Bell Slot Machine History
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.
The Origin of Slot Machines
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
![History History](https://pinballandmore.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_2125.jpg)
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. 50 lions free. 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. 7 free slots.
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.
Bally Slot Machine History
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.
Slot machines have a very rich history. The first slots had little in common with the ones that you now find at gambling establishments. Still the main idea of a slot game remains the same - the player must get a winning combination from the symbols on the spinning reels to get paid. Today slot games are the most popular casino amusements due to their entertainment value and simplicity.
Poker Slot Machines
The first coin-operated gaming devices were invented in the 1880's and all they were based on the game of poker The forerunner of a modern 5-reel slot machine is the gambling machine developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891 in Brooklyn, New York. That machine had 5 drums with a total of 50 cards based on poker. It became very popular for a short period of time and many bars in New York soon had these machines. The player had to put in a nickel, pull the lever and watch the drums spinning. The machine had no direct payout system, therefore if the player got a good poker hand, he would get a prize from the bartender such as a beer or a cigar. Early slot machines had very high 'vig' (percentage or tax the house takes out of win) as the bar owners often removed two cards between 10 and Ace from the drums, usually the ten of spades and jack of hearts.
Buckley Slot Machine History
One-armed Bandits
One-armed bandits were the invention of mechanic Charles Fey (1862-1944) from San Francisco. Charles August Fey is considered to be the 'Father of Slots' and the so-called 'Thomas Edison of Slot Machines' who popularized the game. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, also lived for a while in London and at last moved to San Francisco where all his ideas were brought to life. Live blackjack games free. According to some historical sources, the first slot machine was invented by Fey in 1894 and the second one known as 4-11-44 - in 1895. Those machines that contained 3 spinning reels, used a lever and were known as One-armed Bandits became popular and that was the reason why Charles Fey devoted his life to developing slot machines.
Liberty Bell
The first slot machine with an automatic cash payouts was created by Charles Fey back in 1898. Fey invented a machine with 3 spinning reels upon which all the future machines were based. That slot machine had 5 different symbols:
The Liberty Bell symbol gave the name to those slots - Liberty Bell machines. If the player had 3 Liberty Bells he would receive the highest payout of 10 nickels - jackpot. This machine was very popular and even when the devices were banned in some states, Fey still had lots of orders to complete. Fey's three-reel design of the Liberty Bell machine was so popular that it was copied by many slots manufacturers in the United States. Thus in 1907, slots manufacturer Herbert Mills from Chicago produced a slot machine called the Operator Bell. By 1908 lots of 'bell' machines were installed in most cigar stores, saloons, bowling alleys, houses of ill-repute and barber stores.
Fruit Machines
The next stage in the slot machine history was the introduction of Fruit Machines which happened after co-operation with the Bell-Fruit Gum Company in 1912. The card symbols on the reels were replaced by fruit images such as:
Extra BAR symbols derived from the early logo of this company. A fruit machine paid out fruit flavored gums instead of drinks and cigars. At first, the fruit gums were paid not only for advertisement, but also as a way of avoiding anti-gambling laws in many states which said that the machines could not pay out cash rewards. At those times all slot machines were considered to be vending machines rather than gambling devices. Now even children and women played slots which became associated with Devil devices. Thus in 1920 the Senate passed the resolution which outlawed the sale of alcohol. It had a great impact on gambling as most slot machines were installed in saloons. However, the closure of these establishments didn't stop the spread and growth of slots.
Electromechanical Slots
1919-1930's in the history of slot machine games are known as the 'Golden Age of Slots' during which slot machines became widespread through the United States. Despite numerous bans and the continued war against slots they survived and were changed and improved. The first electromechanical slot machine was developed in 1964 and was called the Money Honey. Due to a totally new electromechanical technique, the machine paid any winnings automatically and held up to 500 coins without any attendance needed. Frankly speaking, this machine started the age of electronic games and the lever was soon used only for decoration.
1996 brought the creation of the first video slots with a second-screen bonus round called Reel'Em In by the famous American electronic gaming and amusement company WMS Industries, Inc.
Modern Slot Machines
Today players have a huge variety of slot machines to choose from when playing either in land casinos or online. Slot machines have different number of reels and paylines, they differ by the number of winning combinations, by the featured bonuses and symbols. Most of the slots are themed but some of them still use classic symbols. If you decide to play slots you can try a variety of games:
![Slot Machine History Slot Machine History](https://eastendtaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/carl-raw-7H7KVCihBvI-unsplash.jpg)
- 3-reel classics
- 5-reel video slots
- Progressive slots
- Bonus slots
- Big Berthas
- Video poker
- i-Slots
It is almost impossible to find a gambling hall without slot machines as they are the most popular games with the gamblers. What is more, slot machines are now installed in most bars, airports, race tracks, bowling alleys, hotels and other establishments visited by great number of people during the day.
Online Slots
Pace Slot Machine History
Nowadays players are lucky to play a variety of casino slots at online casinos. The beginning of online slots history is marked by the Free Trade & Processing Act passed by Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean in 1994. That act allowed companies from all around the world to open Internet casinos legally. Microgaming was the first software company that started developing software for online casinos. The first Internet casino Gaming Club was launched in 1995 and the second one, InterCasino, opened in 1996.
The industry developed very quickly and the number of software companies and online casinos offering different games grew every year. With the aim to protect and support online players well-known Canadian Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established in 1996. Most of the players preferred to play online until the United States Senate passed Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act in 2006 which banned wire money transactions to and from casino accounts. Still many of Internet casinos accept US players. According to statistics, today slots create about 70% of the whole income of any online casino.
List Of Casino Slot Machines
Dates to remember:
Jennings Dixie Bell Slot Machine History
- 1891 - Sittman and Pitt invented the 5-reel slot poker machine
- 1894 - invention of the first 3-reel One-armed Bandit slot machine by Charles Fey
- 1895 - Charles Fey invented his second slot machine known as 4-11-44
- 1898 - the introduction of Fey's Liberty Bell slot machines
- 1907 - slots manufacturer Herbert Mills produced the Operator Bell slot machine
- 1912 - Fruit Machines replaced poker-based slots
- 1920 - the United States Senate outlawed the spread of alcohol and gambling
- 1964 - first electromechanical Money Honey slot machine was introduced
- 1994 - Antigua and Barbuda passed the Free Trade & Processing Act
- 1995 - first online casino Gaming Club was opened
- 1996 - creation of video slots with a second-screen Reel'Em In bonus
- 1996 - second online casino InterCasino was launched
- 1996 - well-known Canadian Kahnawake Gaming Commission was established
- 2006 - the United States passed Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act