History of Slots

When the slot machine as we know it today was invented in 1887 by Charles Fey, of San Francisco, California, few could have imagined the enormous success the game would go on to achieve. Slot machines are undoubtedly the most popular game in land-based and online casinos.

Early Slot Machines

Fey's Liberty Bell machine was a simple three-reel machine, with 5 symbols - horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell.

However, before Fey's invention which has become known as the Liberty Bell, gaming machines were in existence in the bars and clubs of America. These were usually poker machines and players would win goods from the house, such as drinks, food and cigars corresponding to their poker hand on the reels. These machines are said to have inspired Fey's invention.

Fey's Liberty Bell machine was a simple three-reel machine, with 5 symbols - horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell. Each symbol appeared twice on a reel, giving a 1 in 1000 chance of winning the jackpot.

First Electronic Slot Machine

As the slot machine evolved through the years, they spread right across America. The first electronic slot machine, developed by Bally Manufacturing, was introduced in 1964 and was called Money Honey. The new technology then allowed slot machines to be more visually appealing and added to the gameplay.

Initially, slot machines were said to be a way to entertain the wives and girlfriends of the high-rollers. Indeed, the infamous Bugsy Siegel only invested in some slot machines for his Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas to fill some space and keep the women happy.

Slot Machines Emerge

But by the late 1970's slot machines were beginning to rival traditional casino games, such as roulette and blackjack, in terms of popularity and by the 90's they began to dominate casino floors. Today, as much as 70 per cent of a casinos profit is derived from slot machines. The transformation was remarkable. Once deemed the ugly duckling of the casino world, slot machines were now the indisputable kings of the casino.

With the advent of online casinos and the improvement in accessibility to the Internet, the success of slot games has continued unabated with online slots being the most popular game at most online casinos. The majority of online casinos offer a staggering choice of slot games to play, with visuals and gameplay improving all the time as software providers constantly look for the next innovative idea. The size of jackpot's increased likewise, with top prizes of $8 million possible on some progressive jackpot slot games.

With over 30 million slot players around the world, there is no doubt that slot machines will be around, and evolve, for many more years to come.