The History of Slot Machines
One of the biggest and most vital attractions in any casino, large or small, is the slot machines. A huge portion of the gaming floor is devoted to these one-armed bandits and slots account for more than 70% of casino revenue.
The Sittman and Pitt Slot Machine
The first slot machine appeared in the late 1800s in Brooklyn, New York. Built by Sittman and Pitt, this early slot machine had card numbers so that gamblers more used to playing poker wouldn’t be as intimidated by the new game. The machine had five reels with cards in each. The two cards that were left out, the ten of spades and the jack of hearts, ensured that a player had half the chance of getting a royal flush, the highest hand in poker, and therefore a big prize. These early machines were loud and heavy, made of cast iron, and the handles were difficult to pull. They were also easy to cheat on by simply manipulating the reels to stop with a stick.
The Liberty Bell
Charles Fey’s West Coast slot machine was born in 1899 in San Francisco. Dubbed the ‘Liberty Bell’, it had three reels with a variety of symbols, including a cracked Liberty Bell. New parts on this slots model included a coin slot, a payout table and a big pull-handle on the side. The first machine went into a saloon and soon after was so popular that Fey quit his job to work on producing the machines full-time. The Fey slot machines monopolized the market for several years.
Mills’ Modifications
In the early 1900s, the Mills Novelty Company stepped in, making many improvements and modifications with an eye towards making the slot machines more desirable. In 1910, they added ten new symbols per reel and made the machine easier to move around and install for the operators. Five years later, wooden cabinets appeared, both lighter and less expensive than the old cast iron machines. The 1930s brought many positive changes, including quieter machines known as ‘silent bells’; the addition of double jackpots, which allowed players to win twice in rapid succession; and themed cabinet designs, both colorful and impressive.
Slots Come to Vegas
Slot machines made their entrance into casino history courtesy of the mob. When Benjamin ‘Bugsy’ Siegel opened his Flamingo Hotel & Casino in the late 40s, he viewed slot machines as a novelty, suitable to entertain the wives and girlfriends of the wealthy gamblers who came to the casino for serious play. He filled up space in the casino with the machines, thinking they would simply keep the women occupied, but he greatly underestimated their long-term appeal.
Electronics, Video and Online Slots
In 1964, Bally introduced electronic microprocessors that determined the results of a game, making the machines more secure and more reliable, and larger prizes and jackpots were offered as a result. The first video slot machine debuted in the 70s, but players were initially reluctant to play. Video poker changed this, showing that the video-based games were both fair and trustworthy. Online casinos have benefited from the research and development of the past hundred years and online slots can truly be considered the next stage of evolution for slots play.
Tags: Slot, Slot History, Slot Machine
