The history of the slot machine is an interesting tale of entrepreneurial genius and a love of winning. Many games have their origins in ancient games, but the history of slot machines is short and can be easily traced back. The first quasi slot machine was developed in Brooklyn NY in 1891 by Sittman and Pitt Company. This machine was made up of five drums which displayed fifty card faces and was based on different poker hand rankings.

These machines did not pay out money, but rather liquor and cigars and other similar prizes given out by the hosting establishment.

The history of the slot machine further developed in the late 1800s when Charles Fey invented the first modern slot machine.

This famous machine was named Liberty Bell and comprised of three reels and 20 symbols which worked in the same way that today’s slot machines work. Liberty Bell’s popularity spread so fast that soon Fey had to work non-stop to keep up with orders for his machines. After refusing partnership offers for many years, Fey teams up with Mills Novelty Company in 1907 and together they produced some of the most famous slot machines.

The 1930s saw some changes in the history of the slot machine, in the line of cosmetic alternations. The machines were made to be silent and some fancy designs on the slot machines’ cases pushed slot machines in the gaming industry’s forefront. By the 1940s, slot machines could be found in every casino in Las Vegas, and the slot machine industry has never looked back since.

Posted: May 1, 2007

Vegas Towers     Zodiac Casino