The first “one armed bandit” was invented in 1887 by Charles Fey. This was the first classic 3 reel Slot Machine ever made, and was the fist standard Slot Machine to devise a simple automatic mechanism. Fey built a machine with three spinning reels containing a total of five symbols (horseshoes, diamonds, spades, hearts and a Liberty Bell). This last symbol gave the machine its name.

By using these five symbols and using 3 reels, it allowed Fey to devise an effective automatic payout mechanism. Three bells in a row produced the biggest payoff at the time: ten nickels. “Liberty Bell” was a huge success and was the start of a growing mechanical gaming device industry. Even when the use of these gambling devices was banned in his home state, Fey still couldn't keep up with demand for the game elsewhere.

The standard 3 reel Slot Machines have been the classic Slot along most of the 20th century and is a machine that is currently available in every land-based Casino on the planet. To win in 3 reel Slots you need to get a winning combination of symbols on the payout lines. There are as many as five payout lines on each game: top row; middle row; bottom row; left diagonal, or right diagonal.

Other newer types of Slot Machines that became very popular more recently are the multi-line Slot Machines and the progressive Slot Machines