Slot machine is the most well-known casino game. Do you know the origin of these games? This piece will summarize the origin of the first slot machines. You’ll learn how they have evolved.
The phrase “slot machines” referred to betting devices and all automated vending machines. It wasn’t until mid 20th century that the name was limited to the latter. One British word for a slot machine is “fruit machine.” Another well-known moniker is “one-armed bandit.”
Charles Fey & Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell, the maiden automated slot device, was created in 1895 by Charles Fey (1862–1944) — an auto technician from San Francisco.
The reels had motifs such as a fractured Liberty Bell. The highest payout, a sum of ten nickels or fifty cents, came from a spin that produced three Liberty Bells.
You may still find the first Liberty Bell slot device at Reno’s Liberty Belle Saloon and Restaurant. The Three Spindle, Draw Power, and Klondike are classic examples of Charles Fey’s devices. Mr. Fey created the first draw gambling machine in 1901. He also invented the trade check separator in the Liberty Bell.
A detector pin could tell real nickels from phony ones using the hole in the center of the trade check. Fey equally shared the revenues from the rent of his equipment with saloons and bars, 50/50.
Demand for Slot Machines Grows
There was a tremendous demand for the Liberty Bell gambling machines. Fey struggled to make them quickly enough at his tiny store. The Liberty Bell’s production and distribution privileges were offered for sale, but Fey declined to negotiate a price.
Consequently, in 1907, a Chicago-based producer of arcade games, Herbert Mills, started making the Operator Bell. This slot machine was a replica of Fey’s Liberty Bell equipment. Mr. Mills was the first man to use fruit icons on machines, such as lemons, plums, and cherries.
How The Original Slots Worked
Each cast iron slot machine had three reels, which were metal hoops. The reels rotated after pulling a lever. The jackpot bonuses were given if three of the same symbol matched at the end of a spin. The device delivered the payout in coins.
Age of Electronics
The PACES RACES, the 1934 cartoon horse racing device was the first widely used electric betting device.
Nevada Electronic produced the “21” machine, the first all-mechanical gambling device, in 1964. Dice, horse racing, roulette, and electronic poker variants emerged (Poker-Matic was incredibly well-liked).
The Fortune Coin Group built the first computerized slot machine in 1975.