It was in 1890 that William F. Pitney created the first coin-operated gaming machine. This was a device that would allow players to insert a nickel and win a prize. Pitney quickly sold the patent rights to Charles Fey, who in turn sold the patent to the American Novelty Company.
With the advent of the slot machine, gambling became big business. The first machine was called the Multi-Ball and was manufactured by Fey. Players were able to insert three to six tokens, slot online which were typically made from plaster of Paris, into the machine. The player would then push a button to start the game. If the player won, he or she would be given a prize, such as a toy or a small amount of cash.
The Multi-Ball was an immediate success and was soon being sold in large numbers. By 1893, there were 1,000 slot machines in operation in Atlantic City alone.
Players were eager to use the new machine, but the machines were a major source of worry to the government. Many people believed that gambling was a gateway to illegal activities such as drug and alcohol abuse.
In addition, many slot machines were found in many small, family-run bars, which made it difficult for the government to monitor them. At the time, the Multi-Ball was installed in nearly every bar in Atlantic City. The machines were also found in virtually every other part of the country.
The Multi-Ball was soon followed by the Poker Wheel and the Gamble Game. The Gamble Game was similar to the Poker Wheel in that it had several rows of five cards. Instead of winning prizes, however, players won cash.
The Poker Wheel and the Gamble Game were a hit, and it was only a matter of time before other companies began to design similar devices. In 1893, a man named Charles Fey bought the patent slot online rights to the Poker Wheel. Fey eventually went on to form the Fey Company and create some of the most popular slot machines of all time, including the Multi-Ball and the first nickel slot machine.
By 1898, slot machines were being manufactured and sold in nearly every state in the country. Most of the machines were similar to the ones created by Charles Fey. The Fey Company produced slot machines that were made from wood and plaster of Paris.In addition, the company began to use interchangeable parts. This meant that one machine could be used for playing poker, slot, or even roulette.