History of Slots: Slot Machines Through the Decades

21.05.2020, 13:10

Perhaps you’ve used slot machines before, but do you know about their history? If not, keep on reading! We’ll get you up to snuff and teach you some fun facts that will liven up any conversation about gambling.

The Invention of the First Slot Machine

A New-York based company, Sittmand and Pitt, developed the first slot-like machine in 1891. Keep in mind, this was not exactly a slot machine. In fact, it more closely resembled a poker machine. However, it inspired the development of actual slot machines in later years.

Sittmand and Pitt’s invention, which was commonly found in New York Bars, was a machine that contained five drums and fifty cards. Players would insert a nickel, push a button, and hope to receive a great poker hand. The machine didn’t offer a payout, but the player could use a good hand to get other rewards. For instance, they could take a pair of King up to the bartender and receive a free drink. For a lower hand, or perhaps the patron would receive a free cigar instead. These machines were fun but had a drawback: their owners would often remove the Jack of Hearts and the Ten of Spades in order to reduce the odds of winning.

Charles Fey created the first automatic slot machine, but the exact year is not known. Many gambling enthusiasts insist that the machine was developed in 1895, but there are some who believe Fey invented it in 1887. Regardless of the official year, Fey’s automatic slot machine was revolutionary.

Fey’s machine replaced the five-drum system with three reels, and their cards were replaced by symbols. The symbols were spades, diamonds, hearts, horseshoes, and the Liberty Bell. Getting three Liberty Bells in a row would give the player the largest payoff. Because of this symbol, the actual machine was named “Liberty Bell. You can actually still see it today in Reno, Nevada.

A few years later, Fey invented the Liberty Bell’s descendent, which was named “4-11-44”. This name referred to the game’s winning combination, which would win a player $5. Fey also went on to invent the “Card Bell” machine, which featured a new star symbol and had a maximum payout of twenty dimes.

For years, Fey dominated the slots industry, but this soon changed after a robbery occurred. The thief only stole an apron and a Liberty Bell slot machine. Not even one year later, the Mills Novelty Company developed its own version of the machine, called “Mills Liberty Bell.” The connection between the robbery and Mills Novelty Company has never been confirmed, but there is a hefty amount of speculation regarding the suspicious circumstance.

In the early 1900s, slot machines were banned in the US, but they were still continuing to be developed. However, instead of playing for cash prizes, users would now play for fruit-flavored gum! The game symbols changed from cards to fruit, such as cherries, bananas, plums, and lemons. This was also when the “BAR” symbol was introduced, which represented a pack of gum.

Even after slot machines became legal once more, fruit symbols still remained popular – and can still be found in many modern slot machines.

The First Electromechanical Slot

In 1964, Bally released the world’s first electromechanical slot, called “Money Honey.” This means that the machine’s reels operated electrically rather than manually. However, players still had to pull a lever to start the machine in order to foster a sense of familiarity.

Money Honey was also the first slot machine that used a bottomless hopper, which allowed an automatic payout of up to 500 coins.

The First Video Slot

Fortune Coin developed the first video slot machine in 1975. The machine, which was available in Las Vegas’ Hilton Hotel, featured a 19-inch Sony TV for its display. This video slot machine became extremely popular, and other developers soon followed in Fortune Coin’s footsteps and created their own versions.

Reel’Em In

In 1996, the Reel ‘Em In video slot machine was developed by WMS industries. It was a huge success, mainly due to its unique choice to have a second screen bonus round. Players loved this twist, and they especially enjoyed the chance to get extra wins during the bonus round. Many gambling history enthusiasts agree that Reel’Em In was what set off the video slot machine boom, which led to the machines taking up 70% of the average casino’s floor space.

Internet Slots

1996 also saw the rise of InterCasino, which was the world’s first online casino. InterCasino offered a variety of classic games but soon added online slots to their game library. And, just like with land-based casinos, slots soon became the most popular feature of online casinos.

When online slots were first introduced, they remained pretty similar to their land-based predecessor in terms of the number of reels and the variety of symbols. However, online casinos soon became more adventurous and released slot games that featured 5+ reels, engaging themes, fun bonus rounds, a huge variety of special symbols, and unique layouts.

Brief History of Slots Infographic

Stages of development and examples of different slots through the decades.

An infographic that shows a brief history of slot machines from the 19th century to the modern digital age.

Collecting Slot Machines

Some slot enthusiasts search for vintage mechanical slot machines to add to their personal collections. You can see such slot machines in casino basements, in a private collector’s residence, in a workshop being salvaged for parts, or at re-selling businesses.

Purchasing an antique slot machine can be quite an investment, with prices going into the thousands of dollars. If you want to purchase a mechanical slot machine and want to avoid the markup of resellers, you can find a wide range of such machines on Ebay.

Slot Machines by Country

In Australia, gaming machines are referred to as “pokies.” Australian states are all responsible for creating their own legislation regarding pokies. In Victoria, pokies must provide a minimum return percentage of 85%. On the other hand, Queensland determined that casino slot machines should have a return rate of 90%, but that pub slot machines could have an 85% return rate. Western Australia has the most restrictive policy out of all of Australia’s states. Its policy dictates that pokies may only be used in the Burswood Casino.

In Japan, slot machines are referred to as pachisuro and are found in pachinko parlors and game centers’ adult sections. Japanese slot machines are unique in that they can be “beatable.” These machines have six different levels, all with different odds of hitting a winning combo. The odds can range from 90% to 160%!

Slot machines in the United Kingdom are categorized based on their maximum wager and their maximum prize. For instance, Category D has a minimum stake of 10 pence to £1 and a maximum prize of £8 cash/£50 credit. A Category A game has an unlimited maximum stake and an unlimited maximum prize. There are currently no such slot machines in existence in the UK. A “Super Casino” was supposed to be developed in Manchester, and it would feature such machines. However, the casino’s development was eventually scrapped.

In the United States, slot machines are regulated by state governments. Some of the best destinations for playing slot machines include Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know some interesting facts about the history of slot machines, you can impress your gambling enthusiast friends. And if all this talk of slots has whetted your appetite to play, head on over to Bob Casino! We have a huge library of online slots, featuring popular developers such as Yggdrasil, BetSoft Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Play’Ngo, and NetEnt.

Each of our online slot games is jam-packed with fun features and use fun music and engaging graphics to enhance your gaming experience.