Then, in 1894, Charles Fey pioneered the first ever slot machine, named the Liberty Bell, which featured three spinning reels and five symbols: horseshoes, spades, diamonds, hearts, and an image of a cracked Liberty Bell. The goal was to line up the best possible poker hand, so we can say that the predecessor of modern slots was a poker machine. The machine had a total of 50 cards with five drums. The first slot machines date back to the 19th century to a machine developed by Sittman and Pitt in 1891. So, what makes them so popular? How did they evolve over the years? What can we expect from slots in the future? For answers to these burning questions, you have come to the right place. There are virtually thousands of slot machines on casino floors worldwide and just as many in the realm of online casinos. Slot machines have come a long way from being used as a name for just about any mechanical vending machine to casino’s most popular games. Electronic Slot Machines See the Light of Day.