Online Slots History

Charles Fey created the first slots machine in 1895 and collaborated with the Mills Novelty Company to produce the famous Mills Novelty Bells slot machine. The slot machine was the basic standards of slots found today, constructed with cast iron and a bell that rang when a player hits a winning combination.

In 1901, the first draw poker machine was invented by Charles Fey and to include the invention of the trade check separator. The trade check separator was used in the Liberty Bell to check fake nickels. The machines were popular at bars and salons.

The demand for slot games continued to grow and Mills Novelty Company began to produce an abundant supply of slots games. The Mills Novelty Company was formally a manufacturer of arcade machines and this made it easier for them to work with Fey.

The Mills Novelty Bell slot machine had reels that portrayed playing cards – A king, jack and a queen. In 1910, a newer version of the Mills Novelty Bell slot machine was introduced and this version had a new name ‘Operator Bell’.

Fruits portrayed the slots machine’s reels and it became very popular, many people calling it the fruit machine. The symbols of the slot machine were painted on each reel and when a winning combination was hit, the machine would make a payout off ten nickels or fifty cents.

These slot machines were very heavy due to it material (cast iron) used in constructing the machine and in 1915 the Mills Novelty Bell Co. introduced lighter slot machines that were made of wood.

Mills Novelty Bell Co. continued to make changes to its famous machines. In 1930, the slots machines were now much quieter because they had adjusted the bell sound and added a new feature of double jackpot. During this period, the slots machines were no known as the Silent Bell and the new added feature enable players to win a jackpot twice in the series of game play.

Several types of slots machines with deferent designs were introduced and the games became more interesting. The machines now had decorations and various designs to attract potential players and this has remained the norm up until today.

Each of the casino slot machines had its own theme such as the pyramids, castles, animals, etc. The machines would produces sound of their theme such as a lion roar and these themes attracted many players. These themes are still being used in today’s slots and they have developed into an advanced stage such that the sound output is close to reality.