Slot machines have been a staple part of casino culture for many years. In fact, the first machine to resemble a slot game actually involved attempting to line up Poker hands.
The very first slot machine to allow automated payouts was known as the Liberty Bell – created between 1887-1895 by Charles Augustus Fey.
Since then, slot machines have evolved thanks to ever-advancing technology, and now you can play Slots online, anywhere you have access to the internet!
But, somewhere between this, in around 1902, the era of fruit machines surfaced – paving the way for many of the Slots we know and love today. So, join us as we take a look at exactly how fruit machines came about, as well as the impact they’ve had on the reels we spin today.
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The Liberty Bell
Whilst there is no exact date that Fey created the first slot machine, the Liberty Bell dates back to sometime between 1887-1895, as previously mentioned. To allow automated payouts, Fey simplified the concept of the aforementioned Poker machine, replacing the original five drums with three reels. The 50 playing cards were replaced by five symbols: Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, horseshoes and a liberty bell.
Despite this machine rising in popularity, Fey didn’t apply for a patent for his design, and therefore it was copied by many other slot manufacturers.
The rise of fruit machines
In 1902, slot machines faced a ban. However, the Liberty Bell continued to be manufactured. Cash prizes could no longer be won, and so the symbols were changed to different fruits and winning combinations would lead to a prize made up of chewing gum or sweets in the corresponding flavour.
In 1907, Herbert Mills, a Chicago-based slot machine manufacturer created the Operator Bell based on the original design. Within a year, this machine could be found in most shops, salons, bowling alleys, post offices and tobacconists.
It was during this time that some of the other familiar symbols we see today were added to the reels alongside the fruit, including the BAR symbol, which is said to have been the logo of the Bell-Fruit company – resembling the chewing gum they supplied for the machines.
The modern day
As technology continued to advance, slot machines became electrical, and then video Slots. From there, when the first online casino opened in the mid-90s, the games became available to anyone with an account.
Now, you can play a huge variety of slot games, including those inspired by the classic fruit machine era, as fruit is generally the most common symbols found on the reels. However, there are now themed games as well, so you can spin lots of different symbols inspired by cultures and adventures around the world.
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It’s clear that retro fruit machines have had a huge impact on the modern-day slot – evolving into various different games and surviving even a slot machine ban. So, the next time you play, will you be looking for the sweetest fruit-filled reels to play homage to this era, or will you be trying something new?