Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1904 — Money in the Slot Machine. [ARTICLE]

Money in the Slot Machine.

The slot machine in New York and at Coney Island is coining money for its owners. One man who controls the slot machine privileges at many of the Coney Island resorts makes a profit of more than S6OO a week after the cost of concessions, attendance and maintenance has been deducted. He has more than $28,000 invested in the plant, the machines costing anywhere from $25 to S3OO each. There are between 300 and 400 styles of slat machines. The aim of the experienced inventor is to provide a machine of sufficient attraction to charm the copper from the pocket without yielding anything tangible in return. Lung testers are the favorites. Great as is the vogue of the slot machine at Coney Island it is greater in Now York City. One amusement parlor occupies a building that commands a rental of $19,000 a year. It is estimated that exclusive of the gambling machines which still flourish in the west more than 500,000 pennies are dropped into slot machines every day, while on a holiday 1,000,000 would be nearer the mark.