Big Bertha

No sooner had the slot machine come into existence than it became a heart-favorite among the public. Right after its invention, slot machine manufacturers plunged into competition to create the biggest slot machine ever produced. Thanks to these efforts, the Big Bertha slot machine was introduced to the world of gambling.

The Big Bertha

The Big Bertha slot machine cost more than $150,000 and measured six by ten feet. It was powered by a five-horsepower electric motor to drive its 21-inch wheels using a giant chain.

Big Bertha featured eight reels, each with 20 symbols, capable of producing 25.6 billion unique combinations. Only one of these was the jackpot-winning combination. The jackpot was one million dollars, requiring a player to pull the lever approximately 205 billion times at $1 per spin. Clearly, this machine favored the casino owners.

With a total of 160 symbols across the reels, it delivered a high level of randomness. At the time, standard slot machines had three reels with 15 symbols each, offering payouts no greater than a few hundred dollars. To attract more customers, casino owners demanded machines with massive jackpots, leading manufacturers to create Big Bertha.

Super Big Bertha

Big Bertha was a success, soon replaced by Super Big Bertha, which improved upon its predecessor. It also had eight reels with 20 symbols each. Production was limited, with each unit costing $150,000 to manufacture. Many Las Vegas casinos featured it, drawing crowds with its huge jackpots.

While expensive, Big Bertha machines also provided high odds favoring the house.

Super Big Bertha remained the pinnacle of slot machine technology until random number generators (RNGs) were introduced. RNGs use programs to randomly select number combinations corresponding to symbols on the reels, determining winners. This innovation led to video slots, progressive slots, and more.