Charles Fey

Overshadowing the previous trade simulators, Fey’s contraption made exhilarating advances with its distinguished feature of cash outs for winning combinations. The machine originally created included three reels with ten different symbols on each reel. Anyone who lines up three similar symbols, e.g., three bells, spades, horseshoes, hearts, diamonds, etc., hits the jackpot. Today this machine is fondly remembered as the “Liberty Bell” machine.

This novel invention, at a time when technology was at its rudimentary stages and with its three spinning wheels concept, set the foundation and basis for all types of slot machines created later and up to now. One setback Fey experienced in his time was that gaming devices were not patented or protected under governing laws. Therefore, marketing this unique product was not an option for Fey, who instead made arrangements to install one of his slot machines in many gambling saloons and likely places. He then proceeded to amass a 50% fee on any winnings.

Opportunities of hitting the jackpot were somewhat restricted in the early inventions of slot machines. Having ten different symbols in three reels meant the total combination outcome was altogether 1,000. The declared cash payout for a winner who hit the jackpot with similar winning combinations was about 750 coins, allowing the house to retain a profit of 25%.

The winning combination

On the strength of the unprecedented success of his invention, Fey entered into a partnership with Mills Novelty Company’s owner Herbert Mills in 1907. Under the new partnership, Mills Company went on to launch a new machine “Operator Bell” with a new outlook carrying three reels that had 20 unique symbols in each reel. Another distinct feature was its gooseneck on coin entries. Instead of earlier symbols, the machine carried new ones with different fruits and jackpot bells. The machines, which weighed more than 100 pounds, made good revenue for Mills Company as it went on to produce about 30,000 Operator Bells.

The slot machines quickly spread their reputation beyond the shores of the United States and made their presence known in a number of other countries despite legal impediments. Las Vegas had its first slot machine in 1940 when Bugsy Siegel installed a slot machine in his famous Flamingo Casino. Initially, this machine targeted the many bored wives and female companions of the serious gaming table players and presented a pleasant distraction for them. However, with innovations and the evolution of modern techniques, the scenario changed and today slot machines represent more than 80% of a casino's entire revenue. When he invented his simple gaming device, Charles Fey himself would not have perceived how his invention would transform the world of gambling.