Slots History

The first mechanical gambling devices were developed in an America that was inventing new products seemingly daily in the waning years of the 19th century. Machines that simulated roulette, dice, and poker were first invented and manufactured in New York in the 1890's. The first primitive 'nickel-in-the-slot' chance devices also appeared at this time.

The technology had been developed in the East, but it was in Northern California, San Francisco in particular, where the market for gambling and gambling machines first appeared. California, at this time, was a hotbed of gambling. People would seemingly gamble on anything; horse races, bear fights, card games, poker, and other games of chance. San Francisco with a corrupt city government, thousands of bars and cigar stores, and an easy attitude towards human vices, was a natural locus for gambling. The advent of the 'nickel-in-the-slots' machines in San Francisco was a natural occurrence.

A trio of inventive San Francisco entrepreneurs; Charles Fey, Gustav Schultze, and Theodore Holtz worked in the electrical manufacturing business. Noticing the profits generated by the new 'slots machines' and seeing how their fellow citizens were clamoring for more machines, they got involved in the manufacture and placement of slots. In 1899 Charles Fey invented the "Liberty Bell" slots. This machine had three reels with various symbols, a coin tray at the bottom, a handle on the right hand side, and a pay board. It was sturdily made of sheet metal on a brass frame. The machine was so advanced that it would be instantly recognizable to a modern slots player.

Between 1892 and 1906 over a dozen slots machine manufacturers opened their doors in San Francisco. By 1909 there were 3,200 licensed slots machines operating in San Francisco alone. The many saloons, cigar stores and other small retail establishments also housed many unlicensed machines. As the city matured, however, the forces of 'reform' reared their head. In April, 1909, slots were effectively banned in California and the slots machine business went underground. With the local market gone, the manufacture of slots machines soon shifted east to Chicago, Detroit and Newark.

Prohibition and the roaring twenties presented a perfect environment for slots machines, even though there was no 'legal' casino gambling. The thousands of speakeasies that sprang up nationwide were a natural venue for slots machines. The speakeasies were selling alcohol illegally anyway. It was a small step to installing a few slots for the entertainment of the patrons. There were no liquor inspectors to interfere and bribes kept the authorities at bay. Virtually every speakeasy in America had several slots machines.

As prohibition ended and the depression began, 'reform' politicians rode the slots machine to political glory. Starting in New York and San Francisco, these 'reformers' set out to save people from themselves by eliminating the evil slots and the criminal elements behind them. Politicians soon discovered the power of the photo op, using slots machines and a sledgehammer as props. The mayor of New York, Fiorella Laguardia, had a famous picture taken as he slayed the evil slots machines. Legislation soon followed outlawing slots in the state of New York. Other states soon followed.

The war dealt more serious blows to the industry. Obsolete slots were collected for scrap. Manufacturers turned to weapons production. Demand declined in the face of wartime shortages. In 1950, federal legislation prohibited shipment of slots machines to states where their use was illegal. This left only Nevada and part of Idaho and Maryland as markets. The reformers and anti-gambling factions were riding high in the 50's. When Idaho outlawed slots in 1953 it seemed as if gambling would be confined forever to Nevada.

But the reformers didn't count on the popularity of the adult Disneyland then being built in the southern Nevada desert. What was once a dusty railroad stop was soon to become the entertainment/gambling center of the world. With the rise of Las Vegas, and to a lesser extent Reno, the demand for slots machines started to soar once again. The number of slots in Nevada alone went from a mere 16,000 in 1960 to over 200,000 today. Add another 100,000 in other states and the growth of slots in the last forty years has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The variety of slots on offer today is equally amazing. Recent trends have seen a mushrooming of the variety of slots provided for modern slots players. The basic three reel slots machine has evolved into progressive machines, four reel machines, three line types, and various kinds of bonus machines.