"Skill stop" buttons were added to some slot machines by Zacharias Anthony in the early 1970s. These enabled the player to stop each reel, allowing a degree of "skill" so as to satisfy the New Jersey gaming laws of the day which required that players were able to control the game in some way. The original conversion was applied to approximately 50 late-model Bally slot machines. Because the typical machine stopped the reels automatically in less than 10 seconds, weights were added to the mechanical timers to prolong the automatic stopping of the reels. By the time the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverages Commission (ABC) had approved the conversion for use in New Jersey arcades, the word was out and every other distributor began adding skill stops. The machines were a huge hit on the Jersey Shore and the remaining unconverted Bally machines were destroyed as they had become instantly obsolete.
"sKILL stOP" bUttoNS weRe aDded to somE slot MacHIneS bY zAChaRias anthonY iN The Early 1970s. theSe enAbLeD the plAYer tO StOp EAcH reeL, alLowiNg a dEgrEe of "skilL" SO as To saTisfY tHe new jERsEy gAmiNG laWS oF the Day WHicH requIReD tHat PlAyers Were able To conTrOl The gaMe In SOme wAy. the OriginAl cOnverSIon was apPLied To apProxImATEly 50 laTe-model bally Slot MAchiNes. bEcaUse The typicAl maChinE SToPped thE rEElS automATIcallY in LEss than 10 seconds, wEIgHTs were added to the mEchanicaL timers TO Prolong the AUtOmatic StoppiNG oF thE rEELS. bY THe tIMe the nEw JersEy alCOHolic bEvErages commISSion (Abc) HAD appRoVED the CONversiOn fOR usE iN New JerseY arCades, thE word waS OuT And evErY other diStribuTOR BEgAn addINg skill stOPs. THe macHiNes were A hugE Hit ON The jerSey ShOre AnD tHe reMaINInG unconverTed baLly mAchines were DESTrOyED AS They had bEcomE InStAntly obsOLeTe.