The history of gambling machines

We've all seen it before: a classic gambling machine. It is usually operated with a button that causes virtual reels to spin. But what did the first slot machine look like and when did it come into being?

When the enthusiasm for gambling machines arose, there was no complex technique yet. Therefore, the first automata were far from computer technology, electricity and artificial intelligence. So how did such a game of chance work without a technical solution and still captivate people?

The origin of gambling

There are now countless slot games on the Internet. But already in the 19th century there were pioneers of our today's slot games. Contrary to all assumptions, online gambling has had a long development path. The journey through time begins with the "one-armed bandit" and ends with certified online slots. But what is all this?

Briefly about the general statement:

The term "automaton" comes from ancient Greek. He describes objects that move by themselves. The mechanics hidden behind it have always made it possible for the inventors to practice a little magic. Those who did not know what technology was behind it could be impressed by the "magic". However, it had nothing to do with electricity, precise computer technology and artificial intelligence at the beginning.

Playing has always been a pleasure. In Egypt and China, 3,000-year-old cubes were found. Exactly what these games looked like and whether money was already being played for money at that time remains open. And even though the games have changed and changed a lot over the centuries, dice games are still one of the most popular and widespread gambling variants today.

The history of modern gambling goes back to the 12th century. At this time, the first games are said to have already taken place. The way does not correspond to today's, but these games were a pioneer in any case. The first venues were opened in the 14th century. It was there that people met to share their common predilection for gambling. The first venue with a license was opened in 1638 in Venice, near St. Mark's Square. From there, the locals spread worldwide and this development does not stop to this day.

The first slot machines

Until the first slot machine appeared in 1887, there was a lot of trying, tinkering and experimenting to impress people. A bit of magic, magic and fascination pleased people even then. As a result, they were able to escape the current situations and circumstances of their lives for a while - at least mentally.

Gambling Machine Development

Engineer Jacques de Vaucanson programmed a duck in the 18th century and apparently brought it to life. With the help of 400 moving individual parts, she was able to do everything a living duck could: chatter, move the wings, eat and digest. An artificial intestinal apparatus digested picked grains in a chemical reaction and excreted them just as close to life. People did not recognize any difference.

In addition to the digesting duck, a drummer and a flute player were also on the market until 1738. The flute player automatically played 12 songs and moved by himself. The drummer also worked automatically due to complex mechanics.

The unnoticed automatic also delighted the spectators at the subsequent "Chess Turk", which Wolfgang von Kempelen created in 1769. For that time, this automaton was considered a phenomenon. With the help of magnetism, the chess master sitting inside recognized the game pattern. In order to react, Kempelen had designed a complex mechanism that also moved the character lifelike.

Pioneer of slot machine gambling

The music machines of the 19th century are also pioneers of today's slot machines. By throwing in a coin, they played music and let people be in tune with the music for a moment. To "sneak" out of the here and now for a moment, to indulge in a fascination or to let the chance of a game determine their own situation, pleased the spectators and those who like to play. Therefore, every further development of the games and machines was an innovation, which is why the roulette game also changed.

Meanwhile, there was already the spinning disc at roulette. In this case, after inserting a coin, a certain color had to be struck. After that, the corresponding profit was paid out. The players had no active influence on the course of the game. The spinning disc literally brought a new random generator into play.

But it was only after 150 years, during which these pioneers of slot machines had developed enormously, that the first real gambling machines emerged.

The big breakthrough

In 1887 there was actually the first gambling machine. Charles August Fey designed the Liberty Bell slot machine. As a result, the history of the slot game was revolutionized and pushed forward enormously. The slot machine from Fey had 5 different symbols and 3 reels. If you hit a line with a liberty bell, the jackpot was close.

The so-called liberty bell makes him the first inventor of a gambling machine. Since the Liberty Bell had an arm on the side, which was used to turn the reel, the machine was also called the one-armed bandit. Later, the term slot machine or in English slot Machine prevailed for such a machine.

Charles August Fey developed his own gambling machine in the following years. However, since he had not applied for a patent, other manufacturers became aware of the success of the game. After that, more slot machines came on the market that imitated and also surpassed the Liberty Bell.

Further development of the first slot machine

The Liberty Bell was now the pioneer for many other vending machines. Thus, in 1907, the first slot machines with fruits were created, which are still very popular today.

Those who won at that time received sweets or chewing gums. There were no real money winnings yet. The gambling machines were also operated with a lever and were the pioneer for today's fruit slots. A spring mounted above the rollers controlled the speed of rotation of the individual rollers. This ensured the mechanics that have been preserved to this day, which stops the rollers one after the other. The person playing thus got the impression that he could control the game himself and influence the outcome of it.

The first electromechanical slot

Until 1963, there were other mechanical slot machines based on the same technique. This changed with the first electromagnetic slot Money Honey from Bally. Only to preserve the feel of the game, the lever on the machine was preserved.

Thanks to the built-in coin compartment, it was possible to withdraw money independently. In addition, there were random generators, which have not yet been integrated in all predecessors. Over time, the lever also disappeared and was replaced by a button.

The first Video Slot

In 1976, Fortune Coin made the first slot machine with video transmission. As a result, the result of gambling was visible on a 19-inch screen. The machine, which was initially only operated at the Hilton in Las Vegas, was soon released and was available in all Las Vegas casinos shortly thereafter. Thus, the first video slot machine caused an even greater sensation than with all previously designed gambling machines.

About 20 years later, the slot machines received a second screen. Another bonus game could be displayed there in order to generate further points within a game or to display more complex content.

Online gambling today

In the 1990s, the era of online casinos began. The first software in the field of gambling was already available in 1994. In the following years, online games became more and more complex and received elements from computer games, animations and more and more new functions. The online world opens up incredible possibilities that seem unlimited to this day. As a result, there are an enormous number of offers from countless game providers who want to surpass each other.

Since then, online can be played at any time and from anywhere on the computer or via the smartphone. Thus, the physical slot machines in casinos have now been released from their original slot machine housing. Offering platforms experiment with different forms of gambling and create more and more new games of chance. While some players still like classic fruit slots, it must be extravagant for others.

The technical possibilities have increased enormously since 2010 and create endless possibilities for new slots, gambling games and online machines. Since then, trends and developments from physical and virtual slot machines have been influencing each other.