Today, the gambling industry, including the ever-popular slot machine is thriving incredibly. Making the most of a huge market that has been opened wide by the ease of accessibility to the internet and the prominence of online gambling, in the last decade or two, there has been a huge leap forward for what was always quite a successful industry – play here.

The rise of the smartphone has no doubt played a part, with the handheld devices in our very hands now the leading way in how we, the general public, buy, consume and interact with our media. It is now so easy to gamble online, providing you are of age of course.

Gambling itself is, of course, no new sensation, with the nature of the pastime being one that quite simply is timeless. In its modern form, such as online slot machines, the all-conquering, all action, high production value experiences that have overtaken the humble fruit machine, the seeds were sown in the 19th century.

This is when the first slot machine or the poker machine was invented and created, put into action, and enjoyed by some old-fashioned gamblers who were then at the front of a new age of gambling. The story of the invention of the first slot machine is a fascinating one and the end result was something so far removed from the modern online slot of today that you would barely recognize it.

Who Invented the Slot Machine?

1. First Slot Machines. During the late 1800's, there were a few slot machines based on the game of poker. These machines came from the Sittman and Pitt Company in New York. But it wasn't until 1887, when Charles Fey invented the first slot machine, when the devices became popular.
2. The first record of slot machines was back in the year of 1887. It had three reels with five symbols displayed: diamonds, horseshoes, hearts, spades, and the Liberty Bell. Numerous innovations followed the initial introduction of the slot machine to the public.

Slots have been around for more than a 100 years ⏱️ Slots have always been popular and nowadays it's one of the most popular online casino games 🌟.

The slot machine was invented by a man called Charles Fey from the United States of America. Where else could such a perfect model of capitalism, fun and profit be invented?

First Slot Machine 1887 Penny

In collaboration with the company, Liberty Bell, the first slot machine was developed and officially invented in 1887, created in San Francisco, California. Despite this being the official unveiling, it is widely suspected that there were several prototypes made by Fey that came a little earlier. For example, in 1885 there was said to be an even simpler version of the machine that we now acknowledge as the first slot.

A simple mechanism, this initial slot machine had three reels and each of these had five symbols on them. Far from the elaborate themes of today that take us underwater, into outer space and back in time, the symbols on this original slot machine were made of card symbols, diamonds, spades, and hearts, as well as horseshoes and a bell, to represent Liberty Bell.

Interestingly, the reason bells were to feature on many slots from then on, even up until the present day, is thanks to the part that the company Liberty Bell played in their invention.

Fey was able to configure a mechanism that allowed for automatic repayment of wins but before then, your wins had to be redeemed at the bar or counter of the establishment that you were gambling in. Quickly the demand for more machines came in and Fey simply could not keep up, and that is when other developers of slot machines began to thrive in the growing industry, too.

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Slot machines have had the misfortune of being labelled as the simplest and most unprofitable casino game.

While playing slot machines for hours on end can really take a toll on brainpower, there is actually a very rich story behind the creation of the slot machine. Some people actually claim that it is one of the oldest casino games to be created.

Slot machines, affectionately named as fruit machines in Great Britain, started out as novelty games rather than serious gambling machines. The term ‘fruit machine’ is actually derived from the fruit symbols on a slot machine’s reels. Instead of monetary symbols like the dollar sign or gold, early slot machines had different fruit symbols on display. This was for the purpose of working around the anti-gambling laws of the time. From their first emergence in the year 1895, the mechanism behind the machine has grown in leaps and bounds.

Charles Fey is actually credited as the inventor of slot machine. The first record of slot machines was back in the year of 1887. It had three reels with five symbols displayed: diamonds, horseshoes, hearts, spades, and the Liberty Bell.

First Slot Machine 1887

Numerous innovations followed the initial introduction of the slot machine to the public. While more symbols were eventually added and electronic machines replaced actual moving parts, the principle of function remained the same. Slot machine operation remains universal till today. Once bets are ready, a button or a lever is pushed or pulled. This causes the reels to spin, with each reel stopping at random times from the leftmost reel to the last reel on the right. The combination of symbols displayed would determine the size of the reward.

Despite its relatively primitive operation, slot machines remain incredibly popular in casinos today. Not surprising, since they make up the bulk of profit. Almost 70% of an average casino’s income stems from slot machine revenues.

First Slot Machine 1887 For Sale

The reason for the popularity can be mainly attributed to the original design of the slot machine. Even with some slot machines being operated mainly via button pushes, the lever-style slot machine design remains prevalent. The simplicity of playing the slot machine is tempting for many customers, and the act of pulling a lever and watching the wheel spin carries a hypnotizing air of nostalgic authenticity that is difficult to replace or replicate.

First Slot Machine 1887 Machine

It is also this popularity that makes casinos create the largest house advantage in slot machines. Though the game requires no great though to play, winning is largely dependent on luck. Winning big is always an outlier. Some of the more shady casinos exploit this popularity. Players should be careful of machines programmed to never let players win more than a nominal amount. On the other side of the spectrum, slot machines suffer from the most fraud cases on a yearly basis. The dependence on electronic chips and the implementation of bill acceptors has cut down these occurrences substantially.

First Slot Machine 1887 Serial Numbers

For those of you who prefer to stay at home and avoid the hassle of crowds, noises, and distractions, online slot games are well within your reach. Just click here for no deposit slots and play to your heart’s content!