The History of Slot Machines
In 1895, the inaugural online slot machine was created. Charles Fey, the individual behind this innovation, dedicated his efforts to perfecting slot machines until 1907, when he sold his first machine to the company Mill Novelty. Consequently, the initial slot machine was dubbed the "Mills Liberty Bell." Its design would likely come as a shock to you, as it was composed solely of iron with rather crude legs. Following that period, the design gradually became less primitive.
The initial apparatus still boasted the cylinders we possess in the present era. Instead of bars, the cylinders were equipped with playing cards. The King, the Queen, and the Jack were prominently featured on these cylinders. Additionally, there existed a bell that chimed whenever someone triumphed on a cylinder. Naturally, the bell eventually vanished. Nowadays, most slot machines solely possess a bell that resonates when the maximum jackpot is achieved, as opposed to each individual victory.
It should come as no surprise that numerous slot machine companies still draw inspiration from the 1907 machine when crafting their designs. Back in the day, most older slot machines only had a mere 20 distinct symbols. Fast forward to today, we now have more than 20 symbols and not just three reels, which were characteristic of the older machine. The newer machines are intricately crafted with computer memory to display a random assortment of symbols and special bonuses.
In 1910, the Liberty Bell model of slot machines was manufactured, known as Operation Bell, featuring a coin slot adorned with fruit symbols. Interestingly, this production line had mirrored the Fruit Mania slot machines. Undoubtedly, these machines were quite heavy, weighing several kilograms. Approximately 30 thousand units of these machines were produced.
Five years later, the slot machines underwent another transformation. That's when the mechanical machines stepped onto the stage. Shortly after, some changes were made to make the machines cheaper for casinos and, naturally, easier to use. The original machines made a lot of noise, with a deafening cacophony of bells and coins. Having quieter machines seemed more fitting. There was also a double jackpot feature in this new wave of machines. Mills decided to take it further by developing different slot machines. They introduced machines with various themes and vibrant colors that made everything much more fun. In 1931, they launched the Lion's Head, War Eagle, and Roman Head models. In 1933, they released the "Castle Front."
It was thirty years later that the first machine, created by Fey, gained immense popularity. The introduction of the first slot machines at the Flamingo Hilton hotel in the 1940s, courtesy of Bugsy Siegel, marked a significant milestone in their existence. A considerable number of female players eagerly awaited the conclusion of high-stakes table games. The United States witnessed a surge in slot machines to such an extent that the 1990s saw an influx of casinos adorned with innovative new designs. In fact, approximately one-third of casino profits in the United States were attributable to slot machines.
