The history of slot machines
About 130 years, from a cast-iron box in San Francisco to a phone.
By Ryan Jessop. Last checked .
Key takeaways
- 1890s: the Liberty Bell.
- Early 1900s: fruit symbols.
- 1970s: video and the RNG.
- 1990s: online.
In shortThe modern slot machine began with Charles Fey's Liberty Bell in the 1890s. Fruit symbols followed in the early 1900s, electronics in the 1960s and 1970s, and online play in the mid-1990s.
Timeline
- 1890sThe Liberty Bell: three reels and automatic payouts.
- Early 1900sFruit symbols and the BAR, on gum-paying machines.
- 1963Money Honey, the first fully electromechanical machine.
- 1976The first video slot machine.
- Mid-1990sThe first online slots.
- 2016Megaways.
- 2019Britain cuts the betting-shop terminal stake to £2.
- 2021Britain bans online slot autoplay; 2.5 second minimum spin.
- 2025Britain caps online slot stakes at £5, and £2 for ages 18 to 24.
In more detail
More history
What they have been called
| Name | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Slot machine | Worldwide | The coin slot |
| One-armed bandit | United States | The lever, and the losses |
| Fruit machine | Britain | The fruit symbols |
| Pokie | Australia and New Zealand | From poker machine |
| Puggy | Scotland | Origin uncertain |
Dates are approximate where sources differ.
Go further: Multipliers, How to win on slot machines and High volatility slot machines.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; the version at your casino can differ. UK land-based stake and prize limits and online rule dates were checked against Gambling Commission and licensing authority sources on 6 October 2026. History follows commonly cited accounts. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
Frequently asked questions
Who invented the slot machine?
Charles Fey built the Liberty Bell in the 1890s.
When did online slots begin?
The mid-1990s.
Why are they called fruit machines?
For the fruit symbols of early gum-paying machines.