Slot History: The Journey From Mechanical Machines to Online Poker
Published: April 27, 2025
Slots are one of the most popular types of gambling in the world. Today they are available on computers, smartphones and in real casinos. But the path of slot development has been long and exciting. Let's take a closer look at how it all started.
First steps: The birth of a slot machine (late 19th century)
Slot history began in the 1890s. The first devices similar to modern slot machines were mechanical machines with rotating drums.
1891 - Sittman and Pitt of Brooklyn, New York, created a five-reel gaming machine that housed card symbols. Players would insert a coin and pull the lever to get the winning combination.
Winnings were then not paid automatically by the machine - usually for winnings, the guest received a drink or cigar from the owner of the bar.
The appearance of "One-Armed Bandit" (1895-1899)
The revolution in the gambling world was made by Charles Fey of San Francisco.
1895 - he invented the Liberty Bell machine.
The machine had three rotating drums with five symbols: horseshoes, stars, peaks, worms and a broken freedom bell.
The payment was made automatically: three bell symbols gave the maximum win - 50 cents.
Liberty Bell became so popular that it quickly spread throughout America.
Prohibitions and first tricks (early 20th century)
At the beginning of the 20th century, US laws began to limit gambling.
To bypass the prohibitions, manufacturers changed the symbolism: instead of card suits, they used fruits - cherries, lemon, plum.
So "fruit machines" appeared, and instead of cash prizes, chewing gums of the corresponding taste were issued.
Electromechanical machines (1960s)
Technology continued to evolve.
1963 - Bally released the first all-electromechanical automatic Money Honey.
It was equipped with a launch button instead of a lever and could pay up to 500 coins without the help of a cashier.
Electromechanics allowed the addition of light and sound effects, increasing player engagement.
Video Slot Era (1970s-1980s)
The next breakthrough occurred in the 1970s.
1976 - Fortune Coin Co. of Las Vegas introduced the first video layer based on Sony's television screen.
Initially, players were skeptical, but after certification of slot machines at the Hilton Casino in Las Vegas, video slots quickly gained popularity.
Video slots made it possible to create more complex games with bonus rounds and many paylines.
The Advent of Online Slots (1990s)
With the spread of the Internet, a new chapter of history began.
1994 - Microgaming developed the first online gambling platform.
The first online slots were copies of classic automata, but soon began to offer unique themes, progressive jackpots and bonus games.
Online slots have made gambling available from anywhere in the world, giving impetus to the industry's massive growth.
Mobile Slot Development (2010s)
With the development of smartphones and tablets, slots have adapted to mobile devices:
Modern trends: VR, Megaways and gamification
Innovation has not stopped:
Interesting facts about slots:
Conclusion
Slot history is the story of the evolution of technology, entertainment and the human desire to experience good luck.
From mechanical machines of the 19th century to modern VR slots, it has come a long way, but the essence remains the same: excitement, vivid emotions and the dream of a big win.
And who knows what exciting new turns are waiting for slots in the future?..
First steps: The birth of a slot machine (late 19th century)
Slot history began in the 1890s. The first devices similar to modern slot machines were mechanical machines with rotating drums.
1891 - Sittman and Pitt of Brooklyn, New York, created a five-reel gaming machine that housed card symbols. Players would insert a coin and pull the lever to get the winning combination.
Winnings were then not paid automatically by the machine - usually for winnings, the guest received a drink or cigar from the owner of the bar.
The appearance of "One-Armed Bandit" (1895-1899)
The revolution in the gambling world was made by Charles Fey of San Francisco.
1895 - he invented the Liberty Bell machine.
The machine had three rotating drums with five symbols: horseshoes, stars, peaks, worms and a broken freedom bell.
The payment was made automatically: three bell symbols gave the maximum win - 50 cents.
Liberty Bell became so popular that it quickly spread throughout America.
Prohibitions and first tricks (early 20th century)
At the beginning of the 20th century, US laws began to limit gambling.
To bypass the prohibitions, manufacturers changed the symbolism: instead of card suits, they used fruits - cherries, lemon, plum.
So "fruit machines" appeared, and instead of cash prizes, chewing gums of the corresponding taste were issued.
Electromechanical machines (1960s)
Technology continued to evolve.
1963 - Bally released the first all-electromechanical automatic Money Honey.
It was equipped with a launch button instead of a lever and could pay up to 500 coins without the help of a cashier.
Electromechanics allowed the addition of light and sound effects, increasing player engagement.
Video Slot Era (1970s-1980s)
The next breakthrough occurred in the 1970s.
1976 - Fortune Coin Co. of Las Vegas introduced the first video layer based on Sony's television screen.
Initially, players were skeptical, but after certification of slot machines at the Hilton Casino in Las Vegas, video slots quickly gained popularity.
Video slots made it possible to create more complex games with bonus rounds and many paylines.
The Advent of Online Slots (1990s)
With the spread of the Internet, a new chapter of history began.
1994 - Microgaming developed the first online gambling platform.
The first online slots were copies of classic automata, but soon began to offer unique themes, progressive jackpots and bonus games.
Online slots have made gambling available from anywhere in the world, giving impetus to the industry's massive growth.
Mobile Slot Development (2010s)
With the development of smartphones and tablets, slots have adapted to mobile devices:
- Convenient mobile versions of games have appeared.
- Players got the opportunity to rotate drums at any time - on the road, at home, on vacation.
- Mobile slots now account for a huge share of the global gambling market.
Modern trends: VR, Megaways and gamification
Innovation has not stopped:
- VR slots - games with full immersion in virtual reality.
- Megaways™ - technology of random number of payment lines on each back.
- Gamification - the introduction of missions, levels and achievements in slots to enhance engagement.
- Modern slots are no longer just spinning drums, but full-fledged interactive entertainment.
Interesting facts about slots:
- The biggest jackpot on the online slot was more than $20 million.
- In some countries, such as Australia, the word "slots" has been replaced by "pokies."
- The probability of winning in modern slots is calculated using complex random number generators (RNGs).
Conclusion
Slot history is the story of the evolution of technology, entertainment and the human desire to experience good luck.
From mechanical machines of the 19th century to modern VR slots, it has come a long way, but the essence remains the same: excitement, vivid emotions and the dream of a big win.
And who knows what exciting new turns are waiting for slots in the future?..