We like to set our junior writers the occasional challenge, here at WhichSlotMachine.com.  One potential employee decided to write this rather nice historical piece about the bandits. We didn't offer him the job but we are happy to be utter shits and publish his work. Meh!

Today playing an online slot can be a thrill-a-second rollercoaster ride.  Jackpot bonus rounds, special features, and interactive features all add to the excitement.

The Godfather Of Slots

It hasn't always been like this. Slots, fruit machines, one armed bandits have been around in some shape or form for more than 100 years.  Ready for a little spin through history?

In the late 1890s, the American industrial revolution was in full swing.  Invention was prolific and the workers had money to burn.  In San Francisco, mechanical, coin-operated, poker games were all the rage.

Players would insert a coin and spin five reels – all holding real cards.  If they were lucky enough to hit a winning combination, it was time to summon the attendant who would take care of the prize money.

The problem was the need to have an attendant. With five cards, there were so many winning permutations (based on poker), human intervention was necessary.  Inventor Charles Fey decided to try and simplify the machine and reduced the number of reels to three.

This entry was posted by admin on Tuesday, March 22nd, 2025 at 3:59 pm and is filed under Slots News, Tips And Tricks.