Known as the “one-armed bandit“, this gambling device can be a slot machine, fruit machine or poker machine, depending on the game type.

It was called the “one-armed bandit“ especially in early times, due to its handle and as a hint of its ability to leave you penniless. The first “bandit“ was invented in 1887 by Charles Augustus Fey, in San Francisco, based on the game of poker. It was only later that the ten card were replaced by five symbols: the horseshoe, the diamond, the spade, the club and… Liberty Bell (a sacred American symbol).

A few years later, in 1891, Sittman & Pit of New York made a gambling device which can be considered the precursor of the current slot machine, which was also based on fiftycard poker. Its success was so arge that in no time every bar in New York had a slot machine. Back then the devices were not fitted with payout systems, so the owner of the bar was the one setting the prizes. Thus, for a pair of kings you would have usually received a free beer, and for a royal flush, spirits and cigars. It was in the bar owners interest to prevent winning, and so two cards, the 10 of spades and the Jack of clubs were dropped, lowering the chances of a royal flush to half.

Despite all this, more and more Americans were attracted to play, with the real “boom“ occurring in the 40’s, when Bugsy Siegal introduced the slot machines in his casino at the Hotel Flamingo in Vegas. Initially intended as means of passing time for the wives and girlfriends of “real“ players, the slot machines went on to gather a great number of enthusiasts. Currently, slot machine player make up for 70% of casino revenues, and are also available on the internet. Returning to the history, it is necessary to mention that it was the year 1964 when Bally Technologies Inc. of Las Vegas first started to manufacture the electro-mechanical devices, known as Money Honey. These new slot machines had the advantage of offering up to five hundred coins to potential winners. The extraordinary development of technology and information allowed a rapid transformation of the device size. Such progress provided a great diversity of casino and network games, using popular subjects as Walt Disney stories, adventure themes, holidays and others, with astounding and exotic graphics and real life sounds.

The devices have evolved spectacularly, reaching so many different versions that one could play for a whole month without repeating a single game. Playing slot machines is extremely fun and easy, allowing you to arrange the symbols on the cylinders in a winning formation, by the simple press of a “Play” button or turning of a lever.

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