Sport Special

The Sport Special, produced by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1940, is the free-play (replay) counterpart to Bally's payout game 'Sport King,' released the same year. Like its sibling, it continues Bally's line of horse-racing themed electro-mechanical (EM) games.

Key to the Sport Special's gameplay is its extensive use of trap holes (28 in total), which add an element of strategy and challenge to the game. Players can opt for a Skill Lane option in 5-ball jurisdictions, adding a further variant of play. One notable feature is the "buying the board" option, where players who spend 40 consecutive coins without achieving a winner will activate all seven backglass selections, lighting up all 28 trap holes and providing an increased opportunity for awards.

The Sport Special's design, art, and theme are reflective of its time period, with the horse racing theme prominent throughout. While the machine's designer remains unknown, its close relationship to Sport King makes it a notable example of how Bally adapted a single game design for both payout and free-play markets.