Slot machines are synonymous with casinos, becoming an iconic symbol worldwide. But have you ever wondered how the slot machine became an essential part of gaming?
In this article, we’re taking a deep dive into the history of the beloved slot machine and how it cemented its status in casinos.
The Beginnings of the Slot Machine
It was in 1891 when New York-based company Sittman and Pitt created a gambling machine made up of five drums and 50 playing cards and based it on poker. Featuring a novelty mechanism, players needed to insert a nickel and then they could pull a lever that would spin the drums and cards within the machine.
Since the machine did not have a direct payout system at the time, the prizes depended on what the establishment could offer. For example, a pair of kings would net the player a free beer, while they could pay out cigars or drinks if they win a royal flush.
To improve the odds as well as to give the house an edge, the ten of spades and jack of hearts were often removed from the deck, making it more challenging to win a royal flush. Sometimes, the drums were also rearranged to further reduce a player’s odds of winning.
The unique mechanism, straightforward gameplay, and the payout system proved to be extremely popular. Soon, numerous bars across New York had one or two of these gambling machines.
The First Modern Slot Machine
Sometime between 1887 and 1895, Charles Fey of San Francisco California, created the first modern slot machine with a simpler automatic mechanism.
Fey’s machine used three spinning reels that contained a total of five symbols: horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts, and a Liberty Bell, with the bell giving the machine its name. By using symbols instead of cards, reading a win became easier, and this allowed Fey to build an automatic payout mechanism. If a player produced three bells in a row, they would win ten nickels, which was the biggest payoff.
The Liberty Bell became a smashing hit, spawning a mechanical gaming device industry. California ended up banning the machine but Fey still produced them to keep up with the demand in other states.
The popularity of the Liberty Bell prompted other manufacturers to copy the machine. In 1907, manufacturer Herbert Mills produced a machine that was also named the “Liberty Bell,” and by 1908, those machines could be found in most cigar stores, barber shops, and bowling alleys.
Later on, a similar machine called the Operator’s Bell was produced, and it had a gum-vending attachment. As the gum had fruit flavors, the Operator’s Bell used various fruit symbols on the reels. These were lemons, cherries, oranges, and plums.
The bell symbol remained in place, and a stick of the Bell-Fruit Gum was also added. The Bell-Fruit gum stick would serve as the origin of the bar symbol in modern slot machines.
In 1963, Bally created the first-ever fully electromechanical slot machine called Money Honey. This machine became popular and led to the rise of electronic games, and while the side level remained an integral part of the machine’s design, it would soon be rendered nonfunctional.
Electronic Slots and the Digital Age
It was around 1976 when Fortune Coin Co. developed the first video slot machine in Kearny Mesa, California. The company used a modified Sony Trinitron TV for the display and had logic boards for all the slot-machine functions. The first units were showcased on trial at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel.
After modifying the machines to defeat any cheating attempts, the Nevada State Gaming Commission approved the machines, and soon, they could be found all over the strip.
Fortune Coin Co.’s machines ushered in a new era of slot gaming. In 1996, WMS Industries developed Reel ‘Em In, a slot machine that offered a “second screen” bonus round. It offered players a different game in which they could receive an additional payout.
When the era of online casinos began in the 1990s, regulators and players became skeptical about turning slot machines into an online casino game. While there was uncertainty, it was undeniable that online slots would soon become the next big thing in casino gaming.
In 1994, Cryptologic and Microgaming developed the first major online casino software in history. It included the game Cash Splash, one of the first online slots games in the world. From there, hundreds and thousands of online slot games have been created.
As technology developed, so did online casino gaming. Online slots evolved with better graphics, sound effects, bonus features, and even larger payouts.
Developers were allowed to explore new themes and features, making slot games more varied and wide-reaching. Case in point, in 2016, Red Tiger Daily Jackpot became a groundbreaking point in gambling history for offering a guaranteed short-time jackpot using smart mechanics and interesting gameplay.
Big Time Gaming’s Megaways slots also cemented itself in gambling history by introducing a mechanism that changes the setup of the reels on a daily basis, resulting in thousands of different ways to win. This mechanism kept things fresh and interesting and increased the thrills of winning payouts in slots gaming.
Conclusion
The first slot machine captured audiences by storm, and even years later, the world still holds a lot of love for slot machine gaming. Physical slot machines are still the number one game that people flock to in casinos, recording billions in revenue in 2023.
Online slot machines are experiencing the same amount of immense popularity, and with mobile gaming options now available, it’s easier than ever to play slot games. Technology will always develop, and slots will certainly continue to evolve along with it.
