Slot Machine Symbols & Icons: The Complete Guide

In addition to all of this, we’ll be taking a look at the famous Fruit Slot Machines that you may or may not be familiar with. These symbols can often trigger extra features, like a free spin round, when a certain number of these scatters appear on the reels. If a player got three matching fruit symbols on the payline, they could win more gum, but cherries had special rules. A prize could be won if three cherries appeared, no matter where they were on the board. Each of these symbols has its own unique history and significance in the world of slot machines. Playing card symbols are still some of the most used icons in modern-day Slots, with the likes of ‘10’, ‘Q,’ ‘K,’ and ‘A’ usually making up the low-paying combos in today’s games. However, these symbols actually go all the way back to the very first machine on record.

They are a fundamental set of symbols that, when arranged in the correct order, provide a successful payout for the player. Examples of standard symbols include playing card symbols such as a king, queen, jack, or ace, as well as fruit-based symbols like cherries, strawberries, melons, and oranges. Taking a look back in time, some of the first symbols on the slot machines in the U.S. all had fruit on them, such as (cherries, grapes, oranges, melons and lemons). Originally, you would win a certain flavor of gum depending on which fruit symbols would land on the reels.

  • This paid homage to the creator of this slot – Charles August Fey – and became a classic symbol within the slot game landscape.
  • Before we dive into the intriguing world of symbols and themes, let’s take a brief journey through the history of slot machines.
  • Wild symbols can act as any other symbol on the reels and create more winning combinations.
  • The origins of them can be traced back to the 19th century when the first mechanical slot machines were created.
  • The use of wild symbols and bonus symbols has also become a staple of the slot machine experience, increasing winning opportunities and revealing new prizes and features.
  • In fact, slot machines were so frowned upon that governments inflicted heavy restrictions and fines on gambling of any kind.

A strong theme creates a cohesive gaming experience, making players feel like they’re a part of the story. The flashing lights, catchy sound effects, and vibrant symbols create an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation. The brain releases dopamine, a feel-good neurotransmitter, as players watch the symbols spin, building suspense with each passing moment. These symbols are often related to the theme of the slot and can vary from game to game. For instance, in an Egyptian-themed slot, high-value symbols might include pharaohs, scarabs, or pyramids.

While the exact result of a modern slot game may depend on a random number generator, the symbols offer a visual interpretation of the slot’s computer-generated result. No doubt gamblers aren’t thinking about this as they look to see those key symbols show up in front of them, but a modern slot is just a computer with the software determining wins and losses. But that doesn’t mean the graphics, video, and slot symbols can’t make playing a fun experience. Games are also not based on mechanical reels anymore with most machines even featuring only video options. No longer do the machine’s mechanical inner works and the symbols landed on determine if a player wins or loses. Instead, the machine’s random number generator creates a completely random result which is then represented by the reels on the machine.

This means it’s not enough to simply land more than one of the same symbols on the grid; it all depends on where they fall. Slot machine technology has come a long way from those early days in Charles Fey’s machine shop. Players can now even play right on their mobile phones at sites like Jackpot Party. One day this friend of mine, Beverly, asked me if I’d like to join her at one of her weekly sessions at the casino. I’d never been to a casino, and as I said – it just didn’t seem like my scene. I have light sensitivity issues, and I’m definitely a died-in-the-wool, hard-core hermit.

Why do slot machines use fruit symbols?

Sittman and Pitt’s 1881 creation featured five drums and 50 symbols, all of which were card suits with the aim to roll in Poker hands. Classic fruit machines harken back to the early days of slots, featuring symbols like cherries, lemons, oranges, and watermelons. These simple yet iconic symbols evoke a sense of nostalgia and are beloved by players of all ages. Knowing a game’s symbols dead or alive slot is fun and can add to the excitement and anticipation of seeing which ones appear on those pay lines, but a machine will guide players who can’t keep up with it all. Today’s games highlight those wins with coins/credits hitting your bank on the machine with no need to worry about coins at all. The number of slot machine symbols can vary from 1,000 to 64,000 combinations.

Nature and Wildlife

Others may use the bar symbol to trigger bonus rounds or special features, adding an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay experience. As technology advanced and the world of online casinos emerged, Scatter Symbols were adapted for use in online slot games. This allowed software developers to create even more exciting and innovative Scatter Symbol features, which contributed to the growing popularity of online slots. Today, Scatter Symbols can be found in a wide variety of slot games, both online and in physical casinos, and they continue to be a favorite feature among players. The advantage of modern slot machines is that they offer a vast selection of bonus rewards. Bonus symbols can significantly differ between various types of slot machines, but the principle generally remains the same. Having a bonus means you can collect multipliers and increase the size of your prize, get one or more free spinning rounds, or unlock other bonus features.

Special Features and Bonus Rounds

Knowledge of these various symbols can improve gameplay and boost your chances of winning. In this guide, we aim to quench your curiosity by delving into the fascinating world of understanding slot machine symbols, from classic fruit symbols to modern video slots with diverse themes. When Microgaming developed the first online casino in the 1990s, the games also came with symbols – many early online slots featured fruit and playing card numbers and letters. And although it’s been well over 100 years since slots first came to be, some traditions continue today. If you’re familiar with online slot machines, you’ll know that symbols and icons are the very things that make the slots exciting. As you spin the reels, you’ll see them appearing, and if you land symbols that match, you can trigger a win.

Progressive jackpots are special prizes in slot machines that grow with each game played, often reaching life-changing sums. These jackpots are triggered when a specific combination of symbols appears on the reels, which is typically rare and challenging to achieve. Multiplier symbols play a crucial role in increasing the payouts obtained from the payline(s) on which they appear. In some instances, certain multiplier symbols can also act as wild symbols, substituting for other standard symbols to form winning combinations and augment the prize. Diving into the world of slot machine symbols, gaining comprehension of the different types and their functions proves invaluable. Symbols play a vital role in bringing the video slot to life and can have special effects such as activating bonus features, increasing payouts, or acting as wilds. We will not only explore the evolution of slot machine symbols but also discuss their various types and functions, helping you master this vital aspect of gambling.

The BAR symbol on a slot machine originated from the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company, which used to produce slot machines. The company’s machines would dispense gum as prizes, and the BAR symbol represented a stick of gum. Slot machines use Random Number Generators (RNGs) to determine the outcome of each spin, making it impossible to predict when a machine will hit. However, understanding the game’s paytable and special symbols can help you maximize your potential winnings. In this section, we’ll address some of the most frequently asked questions about slot machine symbols. These questions cover a wide range of topics, from the basics to more specific historical queries. Special symbols like wilds, scatters, and multipliers can significantly boost your winnings.

Standard Symbols

In certain slot games, the Scatter symbol can only appear on certain reels, while on others, you can land it on any of the reels. You’ve probably seen these Bar symbols before without considering what they mean. One popular theory suggests that when gambling was prohibited in the United States, slot games paid out with chewing gum, particularly a brand with a Bar symbol. That’s also a theory about why fruit symbols became so popular – they were chewing gum flavors. Successful gamers would receive gum with the corresponding fruit flavour as their prize. When developing a winning strategy for slot games, it’s essential to consider the role of Scatter Symbols and how they can contribute to your success. By understanding how Scatter Symbols work and how they can impact your gameplay, you can make more informed decisions when placing your bets and increase your chances of winning big.

These unique gambling symbols are designed to allow the player to land several stacked symbols. You stand a good chance of winning whether you land a stacked standard symbol or wilds and multipliers. The interesting thing about this slot machine icon is that it counts as a joker. The wild symbol can replace any other symbol on the reels, increasing the chances of hitting the winning combination.

All slot games must come with some symbols – otherwise, they wouldn’t be slot games! The term “symbols” or “icons” doesn’t only apply to the themed imagery on the game reels; sometimes, it can be a lot more simple. The reason why these machines were rewarding chewing gum in the first place was because gambling was entirely illegal at that time, and this was one of the creative forms of payouts at that time. With popularity growing around the machines, some people were actually calling them chewing gum dispensers, rather than slot machines. Believe it or not, slot machine symbols have come a long way since they’re very beginning. However, after looking back even further, we’ve learned that there was another gambling machine invented, which was actually more like a poker machine and used playing cards as their symbols.

There are a lot slot symbols out there, and they’re all unique in offering different kind of bonus games and features. As time moved on, various gaming restrictions were put into place, so slot machines had to offer non-monetary prizes like fruit-flavoured chewing gum. They are known for the different symbols that fill the reels depending on the specific slot you’re playing. RTP, or Return to Player, is a percentage that indicates how much a slot machine pays back to players over time. Choosing games with a high RTP can increase your chances of winning in the long run. Slot machines have captivated the hearts of many, offering an exciting blend of chance and entertainment.

Next, we’ll discuss what you’ll typically find on a slot machine, whether you’re trying your luck at a casino or playing online. The independent reviewer and guide to online casinos, casino games and casino bonuses. RTP (Return to Player) and volatility are essential factors to consider when choosing a suitable slot game. The RTP indicates how much a player can expect to gain from a slot game over time, while volatility refers to the frequency and amount of payouts.


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