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Slot machines create the largest revenues of all games at casinos in the USA. However this has not always been the case. Slots were once viewed as the "wife's" game, a conveniently located machine that provided entertainment to the partners of the high rollers in the casino. So how did slots become the most profitable game in the casino? Who invented it? And how did it get to where it is today?
The slot machine is a more modern addition to the casino than other games such as roulette and blackjack. The first machine was invented by Charles Fay in 1887. The actual date varies depending on the source you look at but it is safe to say it was between 1880 and 1890. Fey was of German origin and emigrated to America in his early years settling in New Jersey to begin with. In Germany he was a tool foreman and learnt many of the skills he needed to create the first slot machine.
The slot machine was nearly never invented as Fey was struck down with a terrible bout of tuberculosis ion his early 20's. He was given less than a year to live and his family and friends feared the worst. However Fey defied the odds and several years later he set to work on his invention in San Francisco.
The first machine that Fey created was known as the liberty Bell. He built it by hand in his garage and it had 3 rows with the symbols hearts, diamonds, spades, bells, horse shoes and stars. Fey was not only an inventor but also an entrepreneur as well. Realising how lucrative his invention could be he decided to rent his machines to proprietors of gambling outlets in the surrounding state.
Another name for the slot machine was and still is the one armed bandit. This was because players would put a nickel into the slot and pull a large metal arm to spin the reels. The term bandit was applied because in the early years casino operators used to rig machines to prevent payouts of large bonuses and manipulate the payout rates of the machines, maximising their own profits. This practice resulted in the stringent gambling laws that we have in place today.
In 1907 Fey joined forces with the company Mills novelty. Between them they went on to create many different designs with added features such as double jackpots and themed machines. But all revolved around the original theme of pulling a lever to spin the reels and paying customers who acquired certain combinations.
In 1910 stringent gambling laws prevented many places from using gambling machines and so there was a considerable decline in demand for slot machines. In an attempt to get around this, companies tried creating machines that dispensed gum rather than cash payments, although there was not much demand for this and eventually these machines were dropped.
It is commonly thought that slots first became popular in the 1940's when Bugsy Seigel installed them at his Flamingo Hilton hotel to provide entertainment for the wives and girlfriends of the high rollers. However other evidence suggests that Harolds club in Nevada State was actually the first place to install them.
Slots became more advanced and more technical over the years and entered the electro mechanical era sometime mid way through the 20th century. This period is symbolised by the creation of Big Berther. Big Berther cost upwards of $150,000 to create and was driven by an electric motor. The chance of a player hitting the jackpot was 1 in 25.6 billion.
Today many of the machines are fully computerised. The results are generated through the use of random number generators and many of the newer slots use video screens for reels instead of actual spinning reels. Today many machines have 5 reels and many more combinations for winning.
The introduction of online casinos has provided yet another area for slot machines to flourish. Online slots often have much better payouts than their land based equivalents due to the lower running costs of operating an online version of a casino. There are also great signup bonuses for slot players, sometimes totalling over 400% match on your first deposit. For the first time in history players can enjoy the excitement of playing slot machines in the comfort of their own home.
The journey of the slot machine is one of evolution. There is no doubt that it will continue to evolve and change, providing players with ever increasing jackpots and other exciting additions. As is often the case casino games never stand still.
About the Author:
Mark Hirst is experienced gambler specialising in the online industry. He operates an honest online gambling directory & search engine. You can also visit his online slots strategy site for honest consumer reviews and detailed slots strategies.
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