Have you ever wondered where the slot machine came from? Who invented it? Was the first the first slot machine(s) as popular as they are today, or did they have a slow beginning?

Well the slot machines history began all the way back in the year 1895. It was the first mechanical slot machine which went by the name of The Liberty Bell. It was located in San Francisco. It was invented by a car mechanic by the name of Charles Fey who was born in the year of 1862 and died in the year of 1944. He was only thirty three when he created the world’s first mechanical slot machine. This is quite an achievement in and of itself at that point in time.

The Liberty Bell is a slot machine that had three spinning reels in all. The heart, the spade, and the diamond symbols were painted on each one of those reels. The jackpot symbol was a painted on version of a cracked Liberty Bell, in cohesion with its name of course. If you were to hit the three jackpots in a row your total payout would have been a grand total of fifty cents or ten nickels. Not much to us now, but it was worth more during that time then it is for us right now.

The original Liberty Bell is still in existence, and is on display. It is located at a restaurant called the Liberty Belle Saloon & Restaurant. The restaurant is located in Reno, Nevada.

Apparently even back then the demand for the Liberty Bell slot machines were high in demand. So much that Charles Fey could not keep up with the growing demand that he had back then. A company called Gambling supply manufacturers tried to buy the manufacturing and distribution right to The Liberty Bell but Charles Fey refused to sell them. As a result of that in 1907, a company called, Herbert Mills, made a knock off version of the Liberty Bell. Herbert Mills was the first company to use to use the fruit symbols lemons, plums, and cherries on there machines.

In actuality, in 1891, the first slot machine idea was invented. It had five drums that would display poker hands. It didn’t have a payback mechanism in the machine so the places that bought the machine, usually bars, had to provide there own prizes such as drinks and whatnot. But the invention of what became the modern day slot machine has to go to Charles Fey for his invention that eventually changed the dace of gaming today.

It wasn’t until the late 80’s that a fully electronic slot machine, introduced by Bob Dylan, came around. So, in essence, Charles Fey did start the legendary trend of slot machines that we have come to love today.

So now you know a little bit more about how the slot machine came to exist. How the first slot machine grew to great horizons that Charles Fey couldn’t keep up with the demand. We’ll have to thank him every time we pull down the lever to take that epic spin.

So, you’ve heard about Slot Machines before but you don’t exactly know for sure what they are, or how they operate then you’ve come to the right article. We will start off first with a basic description, and definition, and then move on to the more complex Slot Machine details.

Slot Machine: It is a gambling machine which is operated by placing coins into a slot, and more often then not pulling down a lever making the machine bring up your symbols.

Slot Machines are also one of the most popular casino games out there, so more likely than not if you have ever been inside a casino you have seen people playing Slot Machines, or have even played them yourself. Since it is the easiest game, there has been a study saying that over 50% of people who are first time visitors to a casino immediately go and play the slot machines since it doesn’t take much skill, or strategy to play these games.

Slot Machines usually comprised of levers, wheels, and reels, that spin when you insert the coin and pull down the lever, or when you push a button, and then the wheel and reels go. But before you decide to play slots for money, you will need to learn how to play online slots.

Reasons to Play Slots

There are several reasons one plays Slot Machines. The first reason is that the slot machines are both easy to play, and relatively inexpensive to play. The second reason one would want to play the slot machines is to get that well-rounded Jackpot.

Since that is the main objective of playing Slot Machines in the first place. Everybody wants to win the big bucks. You put in little after a little amount every time you pull that lever to make multiple times the amount of money that you put into the Slot Machine in the first place.

The above process of winning the Jackpot usually involves simply matching the bright, easily recognizable symbols on the screen in front of you, usually the symbols are fruit.

Have you ever wondered how the Slot Machine comes up with all those different combinations of symbols that you see on the Slot Machine in front of you on occasion. Well there is a computer chip inside that Slot Machine that calculates a thousand different combinations every second.

Once you put your coin in the machine stops making combinations and gives you the one it stopped on the exact second you put that coin in. That computer chip is called the RNG, or Random Number Generator.

The first Slot Machine was invented in 1887 by a car mechanic named Charles Fey, who made the mechanical, but not electrical yet, Slot Machine in his basement. From that point on the Slot Machine has gained massive popularity.

It was so popular back when Charles Fey created the first Slot Machine that he couldn’t keep up with the orders that were coming in for his product. Which eventually brought in a company who wanted to buy the rights to the Slot Machine from Charles Fey so that they can mass produce the Slot Machine in there factory line. This resulted in a spin off of Charles Fey Slot Machine game, but with fruits instead of the card symbols, which became the much loved game that we play today.

Haven’t you ever wondered if there was any etiquette, or things you are supposed to do while you are playing the slot machines? Sure we have all heard of casino etiquette but are there certain things that one should do when playing the slot machines?

Most people who play Slot Machines or Video Poker don’t take the time to think about etiquette, and respecting the other slot players out there.

First off we will talk about some basic etiquette concerning coin cups on handles or coin cups on the seat. If you were to find a coin cup somewhere in front of a machine that usually means that someone is still sitting and playing there. They might have taken a bathroom break, a cigarette break (if the casino doesn’t allow smoking), gone to the bathroom, or went to go get change. This is also the same if someone placed there jacket on the seat; it basically means the same thing.

It is the proper thing to acknowledge that, and move on to another machine that is currently available. If you are not the one who is holding the seat then you should not be playing on that machine, do the proper thing and move on to the next, or you could possibly wait till that one opens if you really want to.

If you are the one holding the seat while you run to the bathroom you could do the above mentioned etiquette or you could ask an attendant in the area to watch your seat for you. If you do want to have an attendant to watch your seat for you it is common etiquette to tip them for there time.

Next we move on to etiquette for when you are playing on multiple slot machines. Some of the players who play the slot machines at the casino like to play more then one of the machines at one time. They basically feel the need to play as quickly as possible, and on multiple machines at the same time.

It is common etiquette to refrain from using multiple machines when the casino and or the Slot Machine area of the casino are busy. Since you will be taking up more then one slot machine it is best to only use one during this time so that others can also use the machines as well.

Some casinos will even have a sign that states you should only use one machine during these times if you forget, and they get too busy. The same thing occurs when the slot player has a companion with them who is sitting in the spot next to the person who is playing the slot machine.

Another common etiquette is if the last player left there card in the machine you are supposed to kindly put it up on the top of the machine, and the person that left it will soon realize they did and come back for it. Smoking is a controversial subject. If you have to smoke, and the casino that you are allows you to smoke on its game floor, then please make sure the others around you aren’t bothered by your smoke.

Now you know some basic Slot Machine etiquette that you can use the next time you go to the casinos. If you practice it the people around you might start practicing it too which will make the environment better.