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The slot machine, popularly known as a “one-armed bandit” has been a mainstay of the casino industry for at least 30 years, bringing in well over half of an average casino’s income today.
The slot machine’s story begins in 1895 when Charles Fey invented the first slot machine, dubbed “The Liberty Bell”. The Liberty Bell consisted of 3 reels marked with diamonds, spades and hearts, as well as Liberty Bell symbols. The “jackpot” earned from lining up 3 Liberty Bells on the reels was 50 cents in quarters or nickels.
The Liberty Bell soon proved to be extremely popular. Other machines soon followed, including one called “Operator Bell”, which introduced the well-known fruit symbols on the reels, such as cherries and lemons.
Unfortunately for the slot machine industry, it did not take long for many states to ban slot machines, including California in 1911. The issue was further compounded by the fact that many legitimate vending machines were confused with slot machines, resulting in their confiscation as well.
The aforementioned fruit symbols were an attempt to clean up the slot machine’s image and circumvent anti-slot machine laws in many states by dispensing food prizes rather than coins. Additionally, the BAR symbol commonly seen in slot machines today was originated by the Bell-Fruit Gum Company, which manufactured slot machines that would dispense gum instead of coins.
Other innovations in the early days of slot machines including lighter cabinets made out of wood that replaced the original 100 pound cast-iron machines, and colorful designs to catch potential player’s eyes.
Anti-slot machine laws were eventually lifted and the slot machine gained additional notice during the 1940s, thanks to the efforts of mobster Bugsy Siegel. He installed slot machines in the Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas as a diversion for the wives and girlfriends of gamblers.
With the rise in popularity of slot machines over the following years, it did not take long for other innovations to follow. The first electromechanical slot machine (Bally’s “Money Honey”) was invented in 1964, which allowed for greater control over the reels as well as making it more difficult to cheat the machine – a common issue with the older mechanical slot machines. This also marked a shift in perception of the slot machine from novelty to serious moneymaker, leading to greater adoption by the casino industry.
In 1975, the video slot machine (the “Fortune Coin”) made its debut and introduced even more possibilities for slot machines over the years to follow, including multiple paylines, bonus rounds and theme-based machines.
In the 1980s, random number generators were introduced and were immediately successful as they allowed slot machines to infinitely expand the number of possible outcomes, replacing the familiar lever with a single button.
A more recent innovation is the ability to determine the amount one wishes to wager per spin – allowing a player to play a dollar at a time on a nickel slot machine, for instance.
The casino industry continues to maintain its strong popularity today - thanks in large part to an invention that is more than 100 years old. Constant innovation ensures that the slot machine will still have a place in casinos for years to come.