The very first slot machine (called 'Liberty Bell') was created by a man called Charles Fay from his workshop in San Francisco in 1887. Slightly smaller than today's average slot machines, Liberty Bell contained 3 reels and 20 symbols and operated pretty much in
same way as today's slot machines. Within a relatively short period of time, Fay's creation became so popular and successful that he began to work overtime in his workshop to meet
demand for his slot machines. Capitalizing on their success, Fay rented
machines to gambling establishments at a 50% commission rate, refusing to sell
manufacturing and distribution rights of his slot machines to gambling manufacturers.In 1907, Herbert Mills, a Chicago manufacturer created 'Operator Bell', a slot machine similar to 'Liberty Bell' in design. Produced and distributed at a greater rate than Fay's 'Liberty Bell',
'Operator Bell' slot machines experienced even greater success and by 1910, slot machines were very common in
United States of America. As soon as slot machines had reached a new peak in popularity and became common throughout
USA, new laws were introduced and passed to ban slot machines. In spite of this, slot machines continued to be popular throught America during
1920s and 1930s. During
late 1940's, Bugsy, a well known gangster, added slot machines to his Flamingo Hilton hotel in Las Vegas where
profit from slot machines eventually exceeded that of table games.
The objective of
slot machine is to try and spin a winning combination of symbols on
payline.
There are basically two types of slots.
Straight Slots
A Straight slots jackpot will remain at a set amount of money until it is won, after which it resets and starts over again at that same amount. For example, a straight jackpot may be set at $20,000 and will remain at $20,000 until it is won, no matter how many coins are deposited into
slot machine.
Progressive Slots
On
other hand,
amount of money that may be won playing progressive slots is determined by
amount of money deposited into
machine. Thus
progressive jackpot continuosly increases with each player until it is won.