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The History of Slot Machines

At what point in time did the popularity of slot games start? The simple game of slots actually started way before you may have imagined. Through the years, the slot game everyone has come to know and love has experienced only minor changes in the way it is played. Nevertheless, the history of the slot game remains to be a colorful and exciting one.

The Wonderful Discovery of Fey

Around the 1890’s, the first slot machine was created, and its inventor Charles Fey called it the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell basically had the same method of gambling as the slot games we have now. Back then, there were five symbols in the Liberty Bell - the Liberty Bell symbol, Diamond, Spade, Horseshoe, and Heart. It had the basic three reels, and in order to win, each reel must contain the same symbol in the same middle line.

Though the Liberty Bell had the same rules for winning as a basic slot machine, it was aesthetically different. For one, it was made of cast iron of 100 pounds. In fact, it was received with both notoriety and ardor by the people. The game became so popular a lot of people started gambling using the slot machine that it was at one point banned. This banning prompted Fey to produce slot machines that disguised themselves as vending machines.

Innovative Additions to the Overall Slot Machine Experience

Not long after the Liberty Bell, new slot machines were created. One important innovation was the slot machine created by the Sittman and Pitt Company. This slot machine obliged players to pay by the nickel, and more than its similarity with current slot games played by the coin, it circumvented the ban on gambling for the reason that it gave out prizes in kind and not in cash, such as free drinks or tickets.

The slot machines we have right now would not have been possible without the slot machines of the past, crude as they may have been. Now, the slot games are an improved version, with the possibility of having more than just three-reel slots.

Also, unlike before, the winning combinations of slots now are more varied. There are many ways to win a slot game, not just by having the same three-symbol combination forming a horizontal line. Slot games have become more popular because of online slots and are considered by many online gamblers as a certified fun way of online casino betting.