Location
reels was not an original idea, their use in this
context was to draw an equation between the
three-reeler and a legalised form of gambling.
The comparison being that just as a punter
received varying odds on horses (the odds
decreasing with the favourite) so the player
received varying odds on the machine according
to his chances of winning.
In 1932 Brecknell, Munro and Rogers of
Bristol-at that time the largest European
manufacturers of vending machines-launched
the Brooklands Racer. It was of a unique design,
the theme being the Brooklands Racing circuit.
The three reels were concentrically disposed on a
horizontal plane, thereby providing the player
with a graphic representation of the cars on the
track. It included both skill controls and jackpot.
The uniqueness of its design, and the fact that at
first sight it bore little resemblance to a
three-reeler, undoubtedly made it the most
successful pre-war British slot machine.
Success in the courts
Despite increasingly concerted opposition to the
use of slot machines, by 1930 they were still
having a small measure of success in the courts. In
March of that year, in a case relating to their use
in the Waterloo Subscription Bowling Club, their
use in a club was declared to be legal. A month
later in another case Sir Robert Wallace K.C.-a
judge noted for his leniency towards slot
machines-ruled that such machines installed in a
club or even in a private house for the use of
members was no offence against the law. These
cases mark a turning point for the three-reeler, in
that it largely began to disappear from arcades,
pubs and shops, and began to be mainly operated
in clubs, many of a somewhat bogus nature.
Since the earliest days the slot machine had
undergone a parallel development in that the
same model was commonly produced in a number
of different versions, each made to suit the legal
requirements of different locations. It was a rare
occurrence to see a machine in England in a
public place that was not disguised in one way or
another. The strange legal position in England in
1930 although effectively banning its use in public
places (at least not without disguise) now meant
that in certain instances it could be used without
any disguise at all. From this period therefore, the
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importance of disguises lessens considerably.
Despite this small measure of success it was a
situation which was not to last for long. The law
regarding the use of automatic gambling
machines was confused. Conflicting judgements
were continually arrived at. The Acts of 1853 and
1854, while still being in force, had been left to
the local courts to interpret, only in Scotland
under the Gaming Act of 1917 was the law
absolutely clear in its condemnation of such
machines. In England there had been no High
Court ruling laying down basic guidelines in
relation to automatic gambling games. Articles
increasingly appeared in the Press demanding
that the machines be banned outright. The
National Anti-Gambling League considered the
matter so serious that they sent a deputation to
the Home Secretary. In response to this
concerted pressure a Royal Commission was set
up in 1932. Its brief was 'to enquire into the
existing laws, and the practice thereunder relating
to lotteries, betting, gambling and cognate
matters, and to report what changes, if any, are
desirable and practicable.'
Later in that same year, in response to adverse
comments mady by members of the Commission,
Solly Shefras of the Shefras Novelty Company
wrote an open letter to the industry, it ran as
follows:
'I contend that slot machines are not gambling, if a
man wants to win money he backs a horse or a
greyhound on which he gets odds, or he takes out a
sweepstake ticket, but he does not expect to make
money by putting ld in an automatic machine. I feel
quite sure that most of the members of the
Commission have al some time or other put money
In an automatic machine, and 1 am equally sure that
their object in so doing was not monetary gain but
merely to amuse themselves. The Commission
denounces machines as being illegal gambling, but
does not seem to consider the other side of the
question. During the last 30 years the automatic
industry has grown tremendously and now employs
thou.ands of people and pays them good wages. It is
time for the few men in business to stop watching
each other and to get together to protect the interests
of the trade in general. They should form a
committee to go before the Commission and explain
to them that slot machines are only the 'poor man's'
amusement and do no harm. In my opinion slot
machines are the fmest and cleanest form of
amusement.'