The Enthralling World of Slot Machines The history of slot machines, which dates back to the late 19th century, is a fascinating journey. In 1895, Charles Fey created the Liberty Bell, the first mechanical slot machinplay slots freee, in San Francisco. This innovative machine had three rotating reels with the famous Liberty Bell, diamonds, and horseshoes as symbols. In order to start the reels spinning and hopefully align the symbols for a payout, players would insert a nickel & pull a lever. With its straightforward yet captivating gameplay mechanic, the Liberty Bell's design set the stage for later slot machine designs and won over generations of gamblers.