Slots History

Spinning the reels of chance has been massively popular since the first mechanical slot machine (Liberty Bell) was invented in 1895 by car mechanic, Charles Fey of San Francisco.

The first Slot Machines didn’t pay out any cash! a player would drop a nickel and pull a lever, which would spin the drums reels and the playing cards they held, the player won if he landed a good poker hand. The first slots where installed in bars and clubs, the owner of the bar would usually pay a player in beer or cigars.

Bally developed the first fully electromechanical slot machine in 1964. During this decade the slot machine became a global success. Naturally the casinos in Vegas were the first to notice their earning potential of these machines. Vegas casinos decide to introduce a small banks of machines near to Blackjack table to provide the wife’s and girlfriends of high rollers with some entertainment whilst their partners played blackjack.

It wasn’t long until the casinos realized that the slots could pull in more revenue than roulette and blackjack combined. Today 70% of a Vegas casinos revenue is accounted for by slot machines.

In the United Kingdom slot machines are also referred to as fruit machines, UK fruit machines always contain an element of skill. The UK’s gambling laws are very different from the United States. In the UK gambling is illegal outside of regulated casinos and bookmakers, but skill games can be played for money in most places by consent of the local council via a license. By including skill games and skill stops the fruit machine companies can place their machines in more locations.

Jackpots on these machines is currently capped at £25 – £50, in the licensed casinos or bingo hall you can play for bigger prizes. In recent years some local councils have been limiting the licenses in pubs and fastfood establishments. This has seen a growth in the online slots and a general boom in online casino gaming.