The development of slot machines has not just occurred overnight, taking plenty of new technologies, key figures, and cultural impacts to make slot games what we have today. There have been many key moments in the evolution of the casino industry as a whole, now providing players with the ability to access live casino games, interacting with real dealers across a series of online games. As of 2025, developers have built slot games that are based on a wide variety of themes, whether it be pop culture, sports, or even musicians. To get to this point, a lot of changes have had to be made, so today, we will be taking a look at 8 milestones in the development of slot machines.
1894-1895: The Creation of the Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell machine is credited as being the starting point in the development and introduction of the slot machines that we see today. In 1984, Charles Fey of San Francisco created a machine that consisted of 3 spinning reels and symbols, which, when matching, could award users a prize. The card symbols and singular lever are now iconic, with slot games that are being created today still featuring the classic mechanics and visuals, maintaining the legacy of the Liberty Bell Machine.
1900s-1930s: Gum and Candy Machines
While the Liberty Bell Machine became popular in more areas than just San Francisco, gambling was slowly becoming banned in many US states in the early 1900s. Jurisdictions meant that cash payouts were no longer permitted, resulting in machine producers having to modify their games to provide prizes in different ways. Players able to land symbol combinations across the reels could trigger gum or candy prizes from play. This was a new era for slot machines, creating a shift towards vending-style machines, while maintaining gameplay and complying with new laws.
1960s: The Arrival of Electromechanical Slot Machines
Slot machines took a modernised turn in the 1960s, a while after the legalisation of slot games after their brief ban in many states. Up until the 60s, a growing demand around the world stimulated the development and production of electromechanical slot machines, first introduced by Bally Technologies. What this meant was that machines were now incorporated with electrical components that allowed reels to spin mechanically, but be controlled electronically. This allowed for more complex game logic, which laid the groundwork for the upcoming transition to video technology.
1970s: The Development of Early Video Slot Prototypes
During the 1970s, the introduction of video slot concepts appeared, which was beyond anything that had been seen in the industry to date. These early introductions created digital reels that were presented on displays that appeared to be similar to TV screen monitors. The initial adoption of these new styles of slot games was slow, but over time, developers began to realise that video technology would allow more variation in features such as paylines and the visual presentation.
1980s: Expansion in Commercial Sectors
The 1980s were one of the biggest turning points in the expansion of slot machines, not just across the US, but around the world, becoming more available in both video and electromechanical formats. In the UK, fruit machines became more popular in the likes of arcades, bingo halls, working men’s clubs, and pubs, making them more widely available. This was a point where UK machines began to differ from the American ones, which were imported in previous years, providing different features. This was a key time for the growth of slot machines around the world, not just the UK.
1990s: Widespread Adoption of Video Slots
In the 1990s, video slots became standard in casinos, which feature a variety of new features, such as multiple paylines, bonus rounds, and themed artwork. This was a key moment that stimulated the development of the slot games we have today, consistently evolving from this point forward. The implementation of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and more advanced graphics processors meant that slot games were becoming more visual than ever, creating some more complex titles.
1996: Online Slot Machines Enter the Market
The mid-1990s marked the emergence of online gambling platforms, with 1996 often being credited as the year this took place. These essentially became machine games that could now be accessed online via PC browsers. These online slots provide the same core principles as the physical machines with an RNG backbone, but allow for more detail and visuals that support a new era for slot machines.
2010s – Present: Complex Math Models and Mobile Integration
By the time the 2010s came around, mobile integration had been introduced, using HTML5 software that allowed for titles to adapt to different screen sizes. Since 2010, there has been plenty of development when it comes to slot features, such as network progressive jackpots, Megaways, and Slingo, just to name a few. Online casinos have become the main face of the industry, with physical machines still being used, but not as frequently. In the future, there is no reason to believe that casinos will not continue to grow and develop, continuing to shape the industry.
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