Gamblers in the saloons and brothels of 1895 San Francisco dropped a nickel in the Liberty Bell's coin slot and tugged a spring-driven lever to set its three mechanical reels spinning. With its heavy cast iron cabinet and brass claw feet, the first coin-paying slot machine looked like a mash-up between a cash register and a Victorian-era bathtub. View full size Associated Press A casino technician examines a slot machine's electronics.
