Today, slot machines generate over 70% of all casino revenue worldwide, dominating the floors with massive screens and loud music.

Tracing the history of these machines reveals exactly how the modern gambling industry was built.

The Mechanical Era: The Birth of the Liberty Bell

Charles Fey, a Bavarian immigrant, revolutionized gambling by creating a machine that could automatically pay out winnings in coins.

The machine was a massive hit, and because Fey refused to sell his patent, competitors quickly began copying the three-reel design.

• These early machines were entirely mechanical; pulling the heavy side lever actually stretched a physical spring that spun the reels
• The physical lever is why slot machines earned the famous nickname 'One-Armed Bandits'
• Fey's original three-reel design was so perfect that it remained the absolute industry standard for over seventy years

The Video and Digital Revolution

Instead of physical reels, the Fortune Coin machine used a modified 19-inch Sony television to display digital, computer-generated symbols.

Video slots allowed developers to break free from the physical limitations of metal reels, adding multiple paylines and complex bonus rounds.

Charles Fey's simple mechanical invention laid the foundation for a multi-billion dollar global entertainment empire.