A Brief History Of The Casino Slot Machine

Today, slot machines generate over 70% of all casino revenue worldwide, dominating the floors with massive screens and loud music.


Tracing the history of these machines reveals exactly how the modern gambling industry was built.

Charles Fey and the Invention of the Slot Machine

Before the Liberty Bell, gambling machines required a bartender to manually hand over a prize, like a free beer or a cigar.


Fey's brilliant design used three physical metal reels painted with symbols like horseshoes, diamonds, spades, and a cracked Liberty Bell.

Cheaters frequently drilled small holes in the cast-iron cabinets to insert wires and manipulate the physical stopping mechanismsThe Liberty Bell was incredibly heavy, meaning it was usually placed permanently on the bartop of saloonsA single original Liberty Bell machine is still preserved today as a priceless historical artifact in Nevada
The Transition to Video Slots and RNG

Instead of physical reels, the Fortune Coin machine used a modified 19-inch Sony television to display digital, computer-generated symbols.


In the late 1990s, the internet boom allowed these advanced video games to transition seamlessly into the first online casinos.

MilestoneInnovationImpact on GamblingMegabucks (1986)First linked progressive networkCreated the first multi-million dollar slot jackpotsOnline Slots (1996)Transition to the internetAllowed players to gamble from their home computers

Today, the slot machine continues to evolve, incorporating elements of mobile gaming and virtual reality to attract younger audiences.