While some casino games have been played for centuries, classic slots aren’t that old. The origin of the slots can actually be found at the very first poker machine and fruit machines.
This poker machines was designed by the New Yorkers Sitt and Pittman in 1891. This first poker machine consisted of 5 reels with on each reel five poker cards as symbols which resulted in just one bet line.
The rules were easy. You got a poker combination on the one bet line available, you could expect some sort of profit. At the time, gambling was forbidden in America. Therefore, wins were awarded by free drinks or cigars. Since that time things have changed a lot as winnings can be paid by real money, also the common gambling machine has been through a real revolution.