Who Invented Slots?
To this day slot machines have been played worldwide since the late 1800s, although there's some debate over who was the creator. But wherever they began, the simplicity of these games makes them easy to understand. And that’s why they’ve become one of the most popular casino games. Although simple, the gameplay can be thrilling and the rewards astronomical. In fact, here at Betway Casino online we hold the world record for the largest jackpot payout on an online slot machine at £13.2 million.
There are two main ideas about where the modern slot machine originated. The first begins in 1891 with Sittman and Pitt of Brooklyn. Their gambling machine contained five drums holding a total of 50 card faces. The drums would spin and when they came to a stop, the five cards displayed at the front would form a poker hand. A winning hand would pay out. The machine became increasingly popular at bars throughout the city but there was no direct payment mechanism, so patrons were rewarded in free beer or cigars, depending on their cards.
Another contender for the first slot machine is that of Charles August Fey. Sometime between 1887 and 1899, Fey developed three slot machines. The most famous of these is the Liberty Bell, which was made up of three spinning reels, each containing a total of five symbols – horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts, and a Liberty Bell.
One of the main differences between the Sittman and Pitt slot machine and Fey's Liberty Bell is that Fey was able to automate the payout mechanism. Lining up three Liberty Bells along the payline of Fey's machine would reward players with the biggest payout of ten nickels.
The video slot machine as we know it today was first introduced in 1976 in Las Vegas. Instead of actual spinning reels or drums, this machine used a colour video display. It’s not hard see how the land-based slot machines of the 1970s evolved into the colourful and feature-packed slots you can find online slots here at Betway.