First Slot Machine Invented
1895: Charles Fey Makes the Liberty Bell Car mechanic Charles Fey is widely regarded as the inventor of the first mechanical slot machine, although there is quite a bit discrepancy surrounding the year he made the first cast iron Liberty Bell. It was the first slot machine of its kind to feature an automatic payout feature.
The first mechanical slot machine was the Liberty Bell, invented in 1895 by Charles Fey, a San Francisco car mechanic. Fey's slot machine had three spinning reels, with diamonds, spades, hearts and one cracked Liberty Bell painted around each reel. The first mechanical slot machine was invented in the late 1800's by a Bavarian imiagrant named Charles Fey (1862-1944) in San Francisco. In order to understand the history of the slot machine though we need to jump back a little in time.
Slot machines are available at virtually any other casino in the globe whether land-based or online since they are very popular. Walk into any physical casino, and you will be greeted by a number of slot machines. The history of slot machines date back to many years, and although there is still debate as to who invented them, there are two generally accepted theories of how the first machine came about.
Their history goes back to the 1880s. The Liberty Bell machine that was invented by Charles Fey back in 1887. The simple machine had only three reels and five symbols, including a liberty bell, a heart, a horseshoe, a spade and a diamond.
Other tales tell that Fey did not develop the machine until 1895, and the first slot device was only inaugurated in 1891 by Pitt and Sittman. This machine is said to have been based on poker although it only used 50 cards. The 50 cards had five spinning drums. They displayed a five-card poker hand on every spin. The better the hand showed, the more a player was going to win.
The two devices have some similarities and differences. They both needed a player to pull a lever to start the drums or rotate the reels. This is what made slot machines to be referred to as one-armed bandits.
The demand for Fey’s slot machines became so huge that there was another developer who entered the market. Herbert Mills released his first slot machine known as the Operators Bell in 1907. It came with the introduction of fruit symbols like cherries and watermelons. These are still found in modern slot machines. Due to various gambling laws and prohibitions, slot machines could no longer pay players cash prizes. This led to players getting candies and chewing gumballs, which related to the winning symbols. At around this time, the BAR symbol came into play. It was the logo of the Bell-Fruit gum corporation.
These machines remained popular, and you could find them in bars, casinos, and tobacco shops. However, the next big development in the slot machines evolution was in 1963. This is when Bally, the gaming machine developer, unleashed the first completely electromechanical slot machine. It was known as the Money Honey and came with a new feature, which was a bottomless hopper. This made it possible for automatic payouts of a maximum of 500 coins. The new slot machine did not require a level. As more electromechanical slots were introduced, the level got replaced with buttons.
100% up to £100 with Freee Spins
Wink Slots is one of the most popular online casinos. When you register you get 30 Free Spins and no deposit required. Wink Slots offers a big selection of games from the best providers!
The First Video Slot
The first video slot was launched in 1976. It was developed by Fortune Coin company, a California-based manufacturer. Unlike with the traditional models, the modern one came with a 19-inch Sony TV screen that was used for the display. Every slot machine function used a logic board too. This machine was erected in a full-sized slot machine and displayed at the Hilton hotel in Las Vegas. The State Gambling Commission of Nevada insisted that many modifications be made in the original game to avoid cheating. It later got distributed across the Las Vegas strip where it became very popular. In 1978, the Fortune Coin Co was acquired by IGT together with its video slot technology.
Video slots slowly began increasing in number, which necessitated manufactures and providers to become more creative to remain at the top of their game. Some of the new features that came into play included many paylines, bonuses and a variety of themes. They also included wilds, scatter symbols and one-of-a-kind bonus rounds. No slot machine feels complete without some exciting bonuses.
By 1980s the slots could offer bigger jackpots due to the invention of random number generators, a broader variety of low and high-paying reel symbols and five-reel formats. This was when the era of the Mega Jackpot started.
100% up to €200 with Wager Free Spins
Videoslots casino comes with over 3000 games and a wide horde of online slots. Treat yourself to some exciting casino action, all in one place. With so many games, it means more jackpots and more fun!
The Birth of the Online Slot
From the experience of the video slots success, software experts determined that it was time to digitise everything and bring the entertainment of playing these games closer to people. This was when the online slot was conceived, enabling players to enjoy playing their favourite games from the comfort of their homes. These developers also diversified the range of games even further to include progressive jackpot slots, multiple reels, paylines and storylines.
This changed the design of every slot, adding more games as developers looked for ways to increase the enjoyment of their players. They introduced state-of-the-art graphics, music, effects and animations, among many desirable features. Since online slots were developed, they made gambling more mainstream. This is due to the ability to play safely, enhanced security features and payment options. There is no slowing down in the online casino business as slots are even overtaking table games. The future can only get brighter.
100% up to $200 on Starburst
Casinojoy promises lots of happiness and bliss for all its players. With the splash of colours, an extensive range of casino games, interesting bonuses and promotions for daily and weekly joy!
Can you play slot machines Everywhere?
The First Slot Machine Was Invented In What Year
Some countries do not allow gambling. For example, in India the legality of gambling is a gray zone and online casinos are therefore not a common thing. This is because only a few states of this great nation allow gambling. According to India’s Public Gambling Act of 1867, it is illegal to run or be in charge of a casino. Breaking this rule attracts a fine of Rs.200 or 3 months imprisonment. The act also prohibits people from visiting casinos, and anyone who breaks the rule faces a penalty of a Rs.100 fine or one-month imprisonment.
Relevant news
How old do you have to be to go to a casino in Vegas?
Las Vegas is known as a city with limitless possibilities when it comes down to…
read more +How to win at the casino with little money?
If you think that playing in a casino is expensive, you might just be wrong.…
read more +The million-dollar question: how to manipulate a slot machine?
We enjoy slot machines very much and of course things even get better if we’re…
read more +Vegas casinos: what’s the oldest casino in Las Vegas?
There is only one place in the world where the Roman Empire, the Empire State…
read more +Dress code: what to wear to a casino?
For most people, visiting a casino is all about having fun. As most casinos offer…
read more +When Was The First Slot Machine Invented
Casino dealer salary: how much do casino dealers make?
Ever considered a career as a casino dealer? If not, you might just want to…