When I started thinking about creating a post about famous slot machines, a question quickly came to mind. What makes a slot machine famous?
Your definition of famous might be different than mine. But I put together a list of slot machines that definitely fulfill the definition of famous. In fact, I’ll be quite surprised if you haven’t heard of every slot machine on this list.
This list of famous slot machines required quite a bit of opinion. In other words, your list of the most famous slot machines might be a lot different than mine. And if you don’t agree with my list, compile your list. I don’t think there are many wrong answers when it comes to making a list of the best known slots games.
Table of Contents
1- The Liberty Bell Slot Machine
If the Liberty Bell slot machine isn’t the most famous slot game, it should be. Invented by Charles Fey in 1894, the Liberty Bell created the slot machine industry. Fey, who died in 1944, worked as an automobile mechanic and used his mechanical knowledge to build Liberty Bell slot machines.
Every modern slot machine exists because of the Liberty Bell.
Using a simple three reel design, each spin costs a nickel. The Liberty Bell used a single pay line, and players could win from five cents to 50 cents on each spin.
Each of the three reels had the following symbols:
- Horseshoe
- Liberty bell
- Star
- Spade
- Diamond
- Heart
Three liberty bells paid 50 cents and three hearts paid 40 cents. Three diamonds paid 30 cents and three spades paid 20 cents. Two horseshoes and a star paid 10 cents and two horseshoes paid five cents.
When you completed a winning combination a bell sounded on the machine. The pay table was displayed on the bottom of the machine, the coin slot was on the upper right of the machine, and you pulled a lever located on the right side of the machine to activate the reels.
2- Megabucks Slots
Megabuck slot machines are often credited with being the first wide-area progressive slot machines. Introduced in Las Vegas in 1986, the International Game Technology (IGT) manufactured machines quickly became a hit.
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Wide-area progressive jackpot slot machines are linked so all of the machines contribute to the progressive jackpot. Linked machines build a big progressive jackpot much faster than stand-alone machines.
The biggest Megabucks jackpot in history was $39,700,000 in 2003. And because the jackpot resets to $10,000,000 after every win, Megabucks attracts slots players everywhere it’s available.
While Megabucks was exclusive to Las Vegas for many years, the machines are now available in many other states.
The original Megabucks slot machines used a simple three reel system. To win the jackpot you have to land three Megabucks symbols on the pay line. The cost per spin required to win sits at $3. Newer Megabucks variations have been introduced over the years, but the original Megabuck machines are quite famous.
3- Wheel of Fortune Slots
Wheel of Fortune slot machines are famous because, according to the manufacturer, IGT, they were the first licensed slots brand. And because Wheel of Fortune slots are based on the popular television show, the brand and machines have staying power.
Of course, the opportunity to spin the wheel on the slot machine like contestants do on the show and the big progressive jackpots don’t hurt either.
The first Wheel of Fortune-themed slot machines appeared in 1997. But the first machine using a big wheel sitting on the top of the screen or machine didn’t launch until 1998. Currently, IGT offers over 250 variations of Wheel of Fortune slot machines.
Wheel of Fortune launched a wide range of licensed slot machines. Now you can find as many branded and licensed slot machines as generic machines in most casinos. And this doesn’t stop in land-based casinos. Many online slot machine developers use licensing for popular slot games.
4- Mega Moolah Slot Machines
Mega Moolah first appeared in November of 2006. Developed by one of the oldest online casino game companies, Microgaming, Mega Moolah quickly became the most popular slot machines on the platform.
The main attraction of Mega Moolah for many players is the progressive jackpot which starts at $1,000,000 and quickly climbs because so many players play every day.
Microgaming claims Mega Moolah holds the title of the most famous progressive slot game. While I don’t know if it’s the most famous, it does belong on the list for consideration.
Mega Moolah uses 25 pay lines, three rows, and five pay lines. The game includes four progressive jackpots and uses an African theme.
Unlike many progressive jackpot slots games, you don’t trigger the jackpot round by lining up symbols. Instead, the progressive jackpot wheel triggers at random. Supposedly, the higher your bet amount, the higher your odds of triggering the progressive wheel.
Once the progressive wheel triggers, you spin the wheel and hope to win.
5- The Mega Fortune Slot Machine
Mega Fortune slots awarded two of the biggest online progressive jackpots to claim a spot on the famous slot machine list. The top prize of €17,860,868 was hit in January of 2013. The second biggest jackpot of €11,735,446 was hit in September of 2011.
Netent, one of the most popular online slot machine developers, launched Mega Fortune in 2009, and the game still attracts players today because of the progressive jackpots.
Mega Fortune can only be played online. And it’s not available in most states in the United States. As more states legalize online gambling, Netent games like Mega Fortune will be more widely available.
6- The Gonzo’s Quest Slot Machine
Gonzo’s Quest has a loyal following of online slots players and continues adding new fans every time someone tries the game for the first time.
Launched by Netent in 2011, Gonzo’s Quest players enjoy the game in ways many slot machines don’t seem to offer. I believe the main attraction for players comes from following Gonzo, the main character after he steals a treasure map. But other slots games with a character don’t hold the same attraction.
I’ve played Gonzo’s Quest and don’t find it better than many other slot machines. But I’ve learned not to talk bad about the game with fans of Gonzo because they’re loyal and don’t appreciate my views. I recommend trying Gonzo’s Quest to see if you love it as much as many other slots players.
But there’s no doubt Gonzo’s Quest belongs on the list of famous slot machines.
7- Cleopatra Slots
The original Cleopatra slot machine, created by IGT in 2012, doesn’t really offer anything you can’t find on 100s of other slot machines. But I felt it has to be included on this list of famous slot machines because of how it influenced the entire slots industry.
Cleopatra slots showed the slot machine industry how popular Egypt-themed slot machines are. I don’t remember the last land-based casino I entered or online casino I played in that didn’t have several Egypt-themed slots options.
Many Cleopatra-themed slots games are available, and there are even more Egypt=themed slots games.
The original Cleopatra slot machine uses 20 pay lines, five reels, and three rows.
8- Lion’s Share Slots
I opened the list of famous slot machines with a machine you can’t play. And I’m ending the list with another slot machine you can’t play.
Lion’s Share was one of 50 slot machines specifically designed for the MGM Casino in Las Vegas when the casino opened in 1993. Over the years, every machine in the group was replaced by newer slots games.
But MGM didn’t replace Lion’s Share until 2014. So, why did it take so long for Lion’s Share to go away?
Lion’s Share offered a progressive jackpot and nobody hit the progressive. Under the laws in Nevada, money collected for a progressive has to eventually pay out. While there might be a loophole allowing a casino to transfer the collected money to another jackpot in certain situations, the MGM decided to keep the Lion’s Share machine in play until someone won.
When a lucky player hit the progressive jackpot in August of 2014, they won $2,400,000.
Lion’s Share became famous because it took over 20 years for someone to hit the jackpot. Because only one machine existed, some players waited in line to get a chance to win. This created quite a bit of press, making the machine famous.
Conclusion
Some slot machines are famous because they have big progressive jackpots. Others gain fame because people love the theme. But you can’t even play a couple of famous slot machines anymore.
The Liberty Bell slot machine started the entire industry, so it might be the most important machine on this list. And surprisingly, modern slot machines still use a couple of things found on the original machine.
Lion’s Share got famous because it took so many years for someone to win the progressive jackpot. But once the jackpot hit, the casino retired the machine.
You can still play the other slots games on this list. And I recommend trying each of them so you can see for yourself why they’re famous.
