The History of Slot Machines
Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, October 21, 2016
Slot machines are perhaps the most popular of all casino games. Whether you choose to play at a land based casino or if you prefer to play slots at an online casino, you will find that you are spoilt for choice. Yet have you ever wondered how they came into existence? In this article, I will provide a brief history of slot machines and show you how they have evolved throughout the years.
Sittman and Pitt – The Precursor to the Slot Machine
In 1891, the New York based company Sittman and Pitt developed a gambling machine, which is considered to be a precursor to the slot machine. Their game was based on poker and contained five drums which held 50 playing card faces. The game became an instant hit and could be found in most bars in the city. Players would insert a nickel and pull the lever to play the game. The machine had no payout mechanism and as such, prizes such as beer and cigars were awarded for lining up poker hands. In order to make the game more favourable for the house, the ten of spades and jack of hearts were usually removed. This reduced the odds of getting the highest paying hand – a royal flush.
Charles Fey – The Inventor of the First Slot Machine
It is widely believed that sometime between 1887 and 1899, the first slot machine was invented by Charles Fey in San Francisco. He simplified the game set up, enabling automatic payouts to be made. The new machine had just 3 reels and included 5 symbols only, spades, diamonds, hearts, horseshoes and a liberty bell. Three bell symbols provided the largest payout, which led to the machine being named the Liberty Bell. The game became hugely popular in the USA, and as such, many other manufacturers began to produce similar style games.
The Dawn of Fruit Machines
Although many manufacturers developed slot machines at the beginning of the 20th century, there were laws in place that prohibited gambling in many states. As such, slot machines were not permitted to make cash payouts. In a bid to get around these laws, so called fruit machines were introduced. These machines saw the introduction of various fruit symbols, such as cherries and melons, which can still be seen on many slot machines nowadays. Plus, the BAR symbol was introduced, which was the symbol of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company. These machines paid out prizes of gum balls and sweets, with flavours corresponding to the different fruit symbols. One famous example is the Operators Bell, developed by the Chicago based manufacturer, Herbert Mills and his company Mills Novelty Co.
The First Fully Electromechanical Slot
1963 saw the introduction of the first fully electromechanical slot. Money Honey was created by Bally and was the first slot machine with a bottomless hopper. This allowed an automatic payout of up to 500 coins. Although the machine was electromechanical, the lever remained on the side of the machine, to make it feel more natural to players. However, the lever was soon removed from newer games and replaced by buttons.
The First Video Slot from Fortune Coin
The Las Vegas based company Fortune Coin created the first video slot in 1975. In a significant break from the traditional style of slot machine, the display was created using a modified Sony television and the slot functions were provided by logic boards. The game was first trialled at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. Before it received approval from the Nevada State Gaming Commission, it has to undergo various modifications to prevent cheating. Once licenced, it soon became hugely popular in the Las Vegas Strip and downtown casinos. Fortune Coin Co. was later acquired by IGT.
The Boom of the Internet and Online Slots
The next significant stage in the evolution of slot machines came with the boom of the internet and online casinos in the 90’s. The first online slots were similar to land based slots in terms of the setup, configuration and symbols used. However, it was not long until significant advancements in computer programming allowed for a whole new generation of games to be born. Nowadays, there are literally thousands of online slot machines, with a plethora of themes, symbols and innovative features. What’s more, online, there are progressive slots with huge jackpot prizes up for grabs. Games such as Mega Moolah, Mega Fortune and Beach Life regularly pay prizes in the millions. Plus, with the rise in popularity of smartphones and tablets, a huge variety of slots have also been developed and optimised for mobile play.