Pictures of slot machines

Slot machines have a very rich history. The first slots had little in common with the ones that you now find at gambling establishments. Still the main idea of a slot game remains the same - the player must get a winning combination from the symbols on the spinning reels to get paid. Today slot games are the most popular casino amusements due to their entertainment value and simplicity.

Poker Slot Machines

The first 5-reel slot machine invented by
Sittman and Pitt in 1891

The first coin-operated gaming devices were invented in the 1880's and all they were based on the game of poker The forerunner of a modern 5-reel slot machine is the gambling machine developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891 in Brooklyn, New York. That machine had 5 drums with a total of 50 cards based on poker. It became very popular for a short period of time and many bars in New York soon had these machines. The player had to put in a nickel, pull the lever and watch the drums spinning. The machine had no direct payout system, therefore if the player got a good poker hand, he would get a prize from the bartender such as a beer or a cigar. Early slot machines had very high "vig" (percentage or tax the house takes out of win) as the bar owners often removed two cards between 10 and Ace from the drums, usually the ten of spades and jack of hearts.

One-armed Bandits

Charles Fey is known as the "Father
of Slot Machines"

One-armed bandits were the invention of mechanic Charles Fey (1862-1944) from San Francisco. Charles August Fey is considered to be the "Father of Slots" and the so-called "Thomas Edison of Slot Machines" who popularized the game. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, also lived for a while in London and at last moved to San Francisco where all his ideas were brought to life. According to some historical sources, the first slot machine was invented by Fey in 1894 and the second one known as - in 1895. Those machines that contained 3 spinning reels, used a lever and were known as One-armed Bandits became popular and that was the reason why Charles Fey devoted his life to developing slot machines.

Liberty Bell

The first slot machine with an automatic cash payouts was created by Charles Fey back in 1898. Fey invented a machine with 3 spinning reels upon which all the future machines were based. That slot machine had 5 different symbols:

Legendary Liberty Bell slot
machine by Charles Fey

The Liberty Bell symbol gave the name to those slots - Liberty Bell machines. If the player had 3 Liberty Bells he would receive the highest payout of 10 nickels - jackpot. This machine was very popular and even when the devices were banned in some states, Fey still had lots of orders to complete. Fey's three-reel design of the Liberty Bell machine was so popular that it was copied by many slots manufacturers in the United States. Thus in 1907, slots manufacturer Herbert Mills from Chicago produced a slot machine called the Operator Bell. By 1908 lots of "bell" machines were installed in most cigar stores, saloons, bowling alleys, houses of ill-repute and barber stores.

Fruit Machines