The gaming machine was invented by Charles Fey, a Californian mechanic, in 1895.
This spinning reel machine was the forerunner of all modern gaming machines and was a mechanical device operated through levers and gears.
Versions of this ‘slot machine’ began appearing in Australia in the early 1900s.
Gaming machines were later legalised by all State and Territory Governments, with New South Wales being the first in 1956.
In 1978, the first spinning reel gaming machine to use microprocessor technology was produced in Australia. This gave rise to a significant export industry for the nation, which was established alongside an already strong manufacturing base predominantly situated in Sydney, NSW.
The gaming industry expanded following the legalisation of machines in other parts of Australia in the 1980s and 1990s, as State and Territory Governments recognised the potential the machines had for providing revenue to fund local clubs and community organisations.
In 1994, the GTA | Gaming Technologies Association was formed as the peak national industry body that represents the organisations that manufacture and supply EGMs (Electronic Gaming Machines), and equipment to gaming and hospitality venues, as well as government regulators, right across Australia.