The inventor of the slot machine is Charles Fey. The slot machine that he invented in San Francisco, California in 1895 is the predecessor to all modern slot machines. His machine was known as "Liberty Bell". It was a simple 3-reel machine, and the symbols used were playing cards symbols, horse shoes and Liberty Bells. You would get a jackpot if you had three liberty Bells in a line. The jackpot payout was 10 nickels or 50 cents. If you want to see Charles Fey's machine you can do so by visiting the Liberty Bell Saloon & Restaurant in Reno Nevada.

In those days the term slot machine also referred to vending machines, but this did not last very long. The first slot machines were very popular. Soon it seemed like everybody wanted to capitalize on Fey's idea. No latter than 1907 a Chicago manufacturer improved Fey's machine. These machines were very similar to Fey’s original design and were called Operator Bell.