The most common gambling machines are called slots or fruit machines. They are characterised by a slot into which a coin is dropped and a handlebar or button to activate the game.
The game usually features three columns and several rows of symbols. A player can only win when a row is formed with the same symbol on all three columns. The prize money depends on the player’s bet.
When was it invented?
The first gambling machine to be activated by coins was invented in the 1880s in the United States of America. However, these early times did not have the advanced slot machines we have today. The gambling machines of those days featured toy racehorses that were activated by coins.
Many establishments like bars and salons used these machines to entertain their customers, who would place bets, and the winners were paid in drinks, or any other item agreed on.
Gambling machines that paid coins were introduced around 1888. In 1894, the first modern-day gambling machine was built by an American mechanic living in San Francisco called August Fey. August Fey went on to develop a three-reel gambling machine, the first of its kind, in 1898 after quitting his job as a mechanic to open a factory for gambling machines.
The evolution of the gambling machine
In 1909, the use of slot machines was banned in San Francisco, which led Fey to redesign his machines without the coin slot so that players paid for bets over the counter. However, the ban led most gambling machine factories to relocate to Chicago.
One of August Fey’s primary competitors, the Industry Novelty Company, was the first to invent gambling machines using the famous fruit reels in 1909. The Industry Novelty Company also disguised their gambling machines as chewing gum dispensing machines. It used the fruits to represent various fruity flavours of chewing gum in order to avoid the legal constraints and bans on gambling machines.
Another company, the Mills Novelty Company invented the jackpot in 1916. Meanwhile, the machine’s popularity continued to grow and aroused more attention from the authorities. There were more restrictions on the sale and distribution of the machine.
However, gambling machines had a breakthrough after the world war when governments began to ease the restrictions with the expectation of tax revenues. The French government eventually approved gambling machines in their country as did different governments around the world.
Further development to the machines brought about electromechanical gambling machines that introduce more exciting methods of payout such as multipliers and more. In 1975, a video slot machine simulator was invented in Las Vegas.
By 1986, gambling machines could operate an electronic system that linked several machines in different locations together allowing them to pull coins into a shared jackpot, and raising the possible payout amount.
The gambling machines of today
Towards the end of the 20th century, all gambling restrictions were relaxed, which led to the manufacture of over 800,000 electronic gambling machines within the first ten years of the 21st century.
Initially, only sanctioned establishments were allowed to use gambling machines; however in 2013, some states like Illinois permitted establishments under their authority to use the machines. Gambling machines are featured in many establishments today and even available on mobile devices.
Conclusion
Everyone knows the beauty of Las Vegas but few understand the evolution of the gambling machine. The machine is one of the most popular gambling machines in the world of gamble and games. It is an exciting piece of equipment to play with and win cash prizes. It’s so popular, even government’s have been unable to successfully place a ban on it!
