December 10, 2018
What are the origins of a slot machine? And if you’ve found yourself to be the owner of a slot machine, how are old slot machines restored? Who embarks on such an activity and is it actually legal to own one in your personal possession? We cover these questions in our very first blog. Hang tight and we’ll give you the answers.
The Origins of the Slot Machine
It was in the late 1800s that the origins of the slot machine can be traced back to. It started out with the “neighbourhood saloon” where gentlemen used to meet. For the owners to make some additional earnings apart from selling whiskey, beer and cigars, a machine was invented which was used in conjunction with the purchase of a penny or nickel item. This could have been a pack of gum or a cheap cigar. The patron would accordingly place a nickel or a dime in the machine and a certain trigger would, in some cases, release the desired item. However, the aim to win money out of these machines arose and machines were re-designed leading to the creation of the ‘coin-operated gambling machine’. It was in 1892 that the first machines with an actual payoff mechanism was devised. The first type of cash payout machine was called the 3-for1. “The player put a coin into the top of the machine, and as it dropped through a maze of pins, it was routed into one of three different tracks. If it fell into the winning track, a three-coin payoff was automatically made.”
We then have the German-born Charles Fey who was born in 1862. At the age of 33, he decided to move to San Francisco in the US and that’s where he invented the Liberty Bell. This is known as “the backbone” for today’s three-reel slot machines. It would be remodelled and re-invented several times before we have today’s slot machines, but nonetheless, he is still considered to be the father of the modern slot machine.
Is it Legal to Own a Slot Machine Privately?
What happens if you want to own your own slot machine? We delve into this topic here. We have some definitive answers if you are living in the US. For example, there are 43 legal states for slot machines in the US. Potential slot machine collectors should accordingly check the link we’ve provided to see if they are or are not allowed to own a slot machine. We can confirm, that in the state of Florida, you can only own a slot machine that is 20 years old, while new slots are illegal. In New York, the law states that you may only own a vintage slot that was manufactured before 1941. Nevada, the go-to state for all things gambling, is an exception and allows for ownership of any slot machine in any manufactured year. It doesn’t matter if the machine is vintage or not.
Conclusion
As we reach the end of our blog, we hope you found it informative in the sense that you now know a bit more about the history of slot machines. In addition, you’ve learned about whether or not you can legally own a slot machine. Did you find this information useful? Write to us and let us know!