A Brief History Of Slot Games
The slot machine game began its success story as an amusement machine in the late 1880s. The French Caille brothers realized then that they could provide good entertainment with such a machine. In 1889 they built their first simple slot machine, which was very reminiscent of a cast iron stove, and named it Black Cat. The principle was simple back then: The Caille Black Cat gambling machine consisted of a plate with different colors. By operating a lever, the plate started moving and then stopped on a color. The player won if he had previously mechanically wagered a coin on the correct color. That was how easy it was to make people happy back then. The Caille brothers, however, quickly developed their slot machines further, also in terms of their appearance. Their later models were real eye-catchers and were beautifully designed in a contemporary style with beautiful ornaments. However, these first machines were initially a very popular attraction in the upper class.
In distant California, the German mechanical engineer Charles August Fey invented the first real slot machine in 1887. It was a machine that was to revolutionize slot machine gaming. It had three rotating reels, a release lever and a deposit and withdrawal compartment and was named Liberty Bell. His machine, which automatically paid out winnings, immediately met with great approval in society at the time. Over the next few years, Fey built other very popular slot machines and triggered a boom for other manufacturers because he had not patented his machine.
In the next few years, the other manufacturers developed slot machines based on a similar principle and for the general public. The company Sittmann& Pitt from New York also built a very popular slot machine in 1891. The game of poker was very popular back then and the company took advantage of the general hype by building a slot machine that made poker hands appear. The mechanics included a deck of playing cards, a coin slot and a lever that started the game. Unfortunately, there was no direct payout for a good poker hand. Since such slot machines were mostly found in pubs or saloons, the landlord simply gave the winner a free beer or a cigar. At that time there were no legally prescribed odds and it is said that it was actually not easy
The history of slot games continued rapidly
The slot machines quickly became one of the most popular games and found their way into arcades and other amusement facilities. Their boom was unstoppable. By the time around 1910 they were already everywhere and they had made a name for themselves in society as one-armed bandits, as gambling robbed many people of their money, so to speak. The heavy cast-iron gaming machines were replaced by wooden ones and a whole industry quickly established itself, with the many different manufacturers outbid each other with new models.
A short time later, machines with double jackpots and multiple wins came onto the market. At the same time, however, especially in America, a gambling country, there were new laws that literally put obstacles in the way of slot machine gaming. For example, cash withdrawals were banned. Of course, this did not lead to the demise of the slot machines, but to their reinvention, which incidentally still has an impact today – fruit and chewing gum were now paid out. This is how the extremely simple but ingenious cherry and fruit symbols were created on the reels, which were first expanded to include the BAR symbol much later. Another law that greatly affected slot machine gaming was the prohibition law in America. Since the one-armed bandits were mostly in bars and saloons at that time, their existence was immediately threatened. But they couldn’t be killed and people were very inventive back then. Due to the alcohol ban, there were illegal pubs that were colloquially called speakeasy. It means nothing more than “speak quietly” to remain undetected. In any case, the gaming machines were relocated to the illegal pubs without further ado and since there was alcohol there, the sweet winnings were immediately switched back to cash or alcohol payments. Incidentally, these restrictions only made slot machine games even more popular among the population. In any case, the gaming machines were relocated to the illegal pubs without further ado and since there was alcohol there, the sweet winnings were immediately switched back to cash or alcohol payments. Incidentally, these restrictions only made slot machine games even more popular among the population. In any case, the gaming machines were relocated to the illegal pubs without further ado and since there was alcohol there, the sweet winnings were immediately switched back to cash or alcohol payments. Incidentally, these restrictions only made slot machine games even more popular among the population.
Especially after the end of Prohibition in America and also due to the widespread use of electricity, a huge gambling industry established itself, especially in the state of Nevada over the next 50 years. A decisive factor in America, however, was that gambling was completely legalized. In Europe and Germany, on the other hand, the options were much more limited, but this did not damage the popularity of the one-armed bandits. They became an integral part of the “little game” in German casinos, which at that time were only available in well-known health resorts. It was only in the 1970s that it became possible to operate casinos elsewhere.