Slot Machine Symbols: From Classic Fruits to Modern Wilds

At the top of the most popular casino games, you’ll find the same game year after year: slot machines. Casinos are no strangers to this. In fact, there’s a reason slot machines are the first game you’ll come across at any casino, anywhere in the world. That’s because they draw the most attention: the lights, colors, and sounds. With older slot machines, other players would even know when you won, as they would hear the classic clink, clink, clink sound of the coins dropping into the slot machine tray. 

Fast forward to today, and most slot machines no longer use coins or have a tray. However, they still have one thing that is common across all slot machines, old to modern, that will likely remain a part of slot machines for as long as slot machines exist: slot symbols. 

Understanding what slot symbols mean is more than just interesting. It will help you better understand paytables, payouts, and help you appreciate the design that’s gone into making a slot machine great. 

Over the years, slots have evolved from classic fruit machine symbols to modern wilds. Slot symbols are vastly different from when they were first introduced to players. This is largely due to the introduction of themed slots, video slots no longer needing mechanical reels, and tons of different features and bonus games. Come along with us as we explore where slot symbols came from and what they mean. 

The History of Slot Machine Symbols

Charles Fey created what is considered the three-reel slot machine in 1895, and with it created the first slot symbols. He called the slot Liberty Bell. And with it, the history of gambling would never be the same. 

For the Liberty Bell, Charles chose a horseshoe for good luck, spades and diamonds to connect the slot to playing cards, stars, and a Liberty Bell as the jackpot. In a stroke of brilliance, Charles decided to go with symbols so people who couldn’t read would still be able to play. Winning the top prize of 50 cents required the player’s spin to land on three bells. 

Gambling regulations forced slot machine makers to get creative, finding ever so creative ways around the tightening laws. Around 1902, the Mill Novelty Company introduced fruit slot machine symbols. The cherry, lemon, and orange symbols dispensed matching gum flavors. From there, companies tried everything from discounts at their store to various other prizes rather than money. 

The mechanical reel limited slot machines to anywhere from 10 to 22 symbols per reel until 1960. At that time, electromechanical slots emerged. This gave game designers more flexibility. However, it wasn’t until the 1970s-1990s that the real revolution started. The combination of video screens and random number generators (RNG) limited slot machine symbols to the creativity of the machine’s creator. At that time, a lot of different mechanics appeared. Here’s a snapshot of a few:

• Spin mechanics: Slots no longer had to have a circular spinning wheel or vertical reels. Cascading reels, megapays, expanding reels, cluster pays, walking wilds, etc. Progressive slot machines have also become very popular
• Bonus symbols and wilds: There could now be a lot of different symbols that appear less frequently. These symbols can transform into other symbols or trigger a bonus game.
• Mini games: The reels were no longer the only game played. Mini games and other types of bonus games were now possible.
• Multipliers: Wins can now be strong together to increase the amount a player wins.

From there, the only limitations were basically, would a player spend money to play this? Today, you can find countless slot machines and a list of features too long to read. However, they all have one thing in common: slot symbols.

Why Symbols on Slots Matter

Slots are important because they are the core mechanic of a slot machine. If you remove the slot symbols, you’ll no longer have a slot. After all, it’s the symbol that determines if a player wins or loses and if a bonus game is triggered. Symbols also control how much each player wins, as each symbol has a unique value. 

Symbols are also a big part of the story a slot machine tells. For example, if you’re playing a pirate slot, a treasure chest may open a bonus game where you have to click on a random X to see how much you’ve won.

The introduction of bonus games also introduced a new type of slot player. The strategic slot player. As many bonus games require you to play for a while before they are awarded, there are now players who walk around the casino looking for a slot with a bonus game that is really close to being triggered. It’s actually not a bad system.

Classic Slot Machine Symbols and Their Meanings

There are certain slot machine symbols that have become known as classic slot machine symbols. A classic symbol is one that was used on slot machines in the early days and somehow managed to survive the evolution of slot machines. Here’s a quick look at a few classic slot machine symbols:

Fruit Symbols (Cherries, Lemons, Oranges, Melons, Plums)

In the early 1900s, classic slot machine symbols of fruits were introduced as a way to try to get around the tightening gambling regulations. As we’ve mentioned, a winning combination of classic slot machine symbols  would give the player a lemon drop or cherry chew. 

Historically, cherries are worth the least, with plums or melons being worth the most. Like any slot machine, players are awarded small wins more frequently and narrowly miss big wins to build suspense and keep them playing.

BAR Symbol

The classic slot machine symbol of a bar is an interesting one. It originated from the Bell-Fruit Gum’s logo. It was introduced in the 1910s on Mills machines. It always represented the top prize. It was instantly recognizable against other slot machine symbols. In fact, when the US legalized slot machines in 1931, the bar symbol had become one of the most recognized slot symbols. And because of that, it remains on slot machines to this day. 

The only difference being that, today, you can find single bars, double bars, and triple bars. You’ll also find things like gold and diamond bars, which is really just a modern twist on classic slot machine symbols.

Lucky Number 7

The number 7 has always been seen as a lucky number. Most people believe 7 is lucky because of its deep biblical and natural connections. For example, 7 days of creation or 7 colors in a rainbow. The concept of the classic slot machine symbol being a 7 in slot machines exploded with the introduction of Mills’ “7-7-7 Special Award” slot in the 1950s. 

Today, you can find several variations like double 7s, flaming 7s, and diamond 7s. Basically, any form of 7 you can really think of has likely been on a slot reel.

Bell / Liberty Bell

To symbolize triumph and to match the name of the slot machine, Charles Fey made the top slot symbol a bell. As it was the top classic slot machine symbol on the first slot machine, it has basically been grandfathered into modern online slots. 

As a way to highlight its importance, many modern online slots have turned the bell symbol into wild or scatter symbols. It’s kind of a nod to where things all started. Check out some classic free slot games today.

Modern Slot Symbols: From Wilds to Bonus Icons

Fast forward to today, and you’ll find that modern slot machine symbols are mostly classified by the type of online slots they’re found on. Any symbol appearing post the 1990s is often considered modern even though that was over 30 years ago. Since then, engagement has become one of the most important things to consider when designing modern online slots and modern slot symbols. Here are some of the symbol types and mechanics used in modern slot machines today:

Wild Symbols

Wild slot machine symbols are basically any symbol that can be turned into any other symbol on the slot. Bally’s Money Honey slot arguably introduced the first wild symbol in 1963. Since then, wilds are some of the most exciting symbols on a slot machine to see hit, as most of the time, a win comes along with them. Here are a few types of wilds:

• Standard wild: turns into another symbol on the reel.
• Stacked wild: Several wilds on top of each other.
• Expanding wild: starts as one wild slot machine symbol and then turns into more.
• Sticky wild: A wild that stays in one location across various spins.

Each slot machine has unique mechanics controlling which symbol the wild turns into. The only standard rule is that the wild will never turn into scatter symbols or bonus symbols. Check out some modern slot machines and free slot games today.

Scatter Symbols

Scatter symbols are symbols that trigger a bonus game. Normally, three scatter symbols are required to trigger a bonus, with each additional scatter resulting in additional bonus spins.

The best thing about scatter symbols is that they pay or trigger a bonus no matter where they appear. Meaning, they don’t have to have certain positions on the reel.

Bonus Symbols / Bonus Game Triggers

These symbols are likely the best symbols on a slot machine. The bonus symbols trigger a bonus game. These games can range anywhere from a pick’em game to a spin on the bonus wheel to extended reels and reel spins with mechanics that are different from regular spins.

Players love modern slot machine bonus games because their payoff is so much higher. It’s not uncommon for a bonus game to pay up to 10,000x your bet.

Multiplier Symbols

These types of slot machine symbols are almost as good as bonus symbols on a slot machine, as they increase the size of your win. A multiplier slot machine symbol can have various types of mechanics and appear both on regular reel spins and bonus games. 

A multiplier more often than not appears in bonus games, increasing with each spin or win. Whether it’s in a bonus game or not, the multiplier mechanic is great to see in modern slot machines.

Feature / Mini-Game Symbols

In modern slot machines, a feature or a mini-game slot machine symbol often triggers a mechanic that is different from the slot’s main mechanic. Here are some examples:

• Pick’em: This could be something as simple as picking from 10 different boxes to reveal your prize.
• Building: The reels contain pieces of something you need to build, like a castle. If you complete the castle, you receive a prize.
• Catching: It could be a fisherman trying to catch fish that may have dollar amounts written on them.

The list of min-games is endless. One thing is for sure, mini-games add a more engaging aspect to what would typically be a monotonous reel-spinning game.

Other Thematic Symbols

It’s very common to now see slots connected to a popular movie/TV show or some other theme like Egypt, pirates, cowboys, hunting, etc. They draw more players in as the player now has a deeper connection to the game. Check out some modern slot machines or online slot games now.

Symbol Variations Across Slot Themes and Game Types

As technology has changed the basic mechanics of slot machines, you’ll now see various types of symbols on a slot machine. These typically fall into one of these categories:

• Movies/TV shows: Use symbols on a slot machine of characters or props from the movie or show.
• Classic: fruit machine symbols, bells, and bars.
• Historical themes: These use symbols on a slot machine associated with Egypt, pirates, cowboys or anything else historical.
• Fantasy: Uses fairies, magic, and stones.
• Science fiction: Uses aliens, lasers, and spaceships.

No matter what type of slot you play, you’ll want to look at the paylines to understand which slot machine symbol is worth the most.

Strategy Implications of Slot Machine Symbols

There really aren’t many strategies with slot machines. However, here are a couple of things you can do to increase the chances of a win:

• Look for specific symbols on a slot machine: You’ll want to play slots that have wild and scatter symbols.
• Volatility: Different slots have different volatility levels. If you want to win big, go for higher volatility. If you want to win less but more often, go for lower volatility. 
• Bonus triggers: You’ll want to play slots that have bonus games that are close to being triggered.
• Budget: Always play with money you can afford to lose. Make sure you have the spin amount set low enough so you can play for longer.

If you follow these simple strategies, you’ll have more fun, play for longer, and hopefully make more money.​

Conclusion

There you have it. A brief history of slot machine symbols: from fruit machine symbols to bells to more varied and complex symbols on a slot machine. Understanding how each symbol functions will help you pick the slot machine that will provide the most entertainment. 

If you’d like to test out some of the things we’ve covered, head over to spinarium, the trusted online casino, and check out over 9000 slots. Try out the themed slots and get familiar with the different slot machine symbol types found on slots and how they function. If you aren’t into slots, check out other free casino games.

For more info on slots and symbols, read our blog. And always, be sure to play responsibly!

FAQ – Common Questions About Slot Machine Symbols