Below we've done a basic outline of the history of slots using a timeline format.
If you're an expert in the history of slot machines and you'd like to share
some of your knowledge, please do send us and e-mail and we'd be happy to post
your feedback, giving you the appropriate credit of course.
1887 - Charles Fey, a German immigrant working as a mechanic in San
Francisco placed the first nickel-in-the-slot machines in the gambling palaces
of that city
1902 - slot machines were banned in San Francisco, and soon after that,
in all of California and Nevada
1905 - it's alleged that Mills Novelty Company (owned by Herbert Mills)
of Chicago stole one of Fey's Liberty Bell slots from a San Francisco saloon
1907 - Mills Novelty Company began production of a machine that had an
automatic payout principle that was similar to Fey's. It was the first machine
to carry the symbols of bars, bells, plums, oranges, cherries and lemons
1910 - slot machines or one-armed bandits as they were commonly called
could be found in just about every city and town across the United States
1915 - slot machines made from less expensive wood cabinets were introduced,
thus bringing to an end, the era of cast iron machines
1929 - Charles Fey introduces the first silver dollar 3-reel slot machine
1940's - Bugsy Siegel added machines to his Flamingo Hilton hotel in
Las Vegas
1951 - the United States Congress made it a Federal offense to transport
slot machines or consoles or even their components across state lines unless
the ultimate destination is a state or foreign country where slot operation
is legal
1950's - the four-reeler slot machine with four reels instead of the
usual three was introduced
1960's - the "hold and draw" class of slots became popular
in Las Vegas. This style of machine offered players a 2nd chance to win
1980 - Bally Manufacturing introduces the first electronic slot machine.
This meant more reel combinations and multiple coins could be played and also
meant the demise of the traditional basic mechanical systems
