From Bars to Cherries: The Evolution of Slot Machine Symbols
Most players take slot machine symbols for granted. We know that fruit symbols, 7s, Liberty Bells, and BARs are retro and that most low-paying symbols will consist of poker Broadway cards (10, J, Q, K, A) or playing card suits (Hearts, Clubs, Spades, Diamonds).
However, only some know why symbols on slot machines look the way they do. Where did they come from, and what is the relevance of using fruits or playing cards over animals, numbers, or anything else?
What Symbols are on a Slot Machine?
Most online betting slots use a mixture of original-themed symbols and classic symbols.
A themed symbol is just one that matches the game’s theme. If it’s set in ancient Greece, as with so many slots, you’ll likely see some Greek gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Hades, Athena), goblets of wine, bronze weapons, and triremes.
The most common classic symbols are Broadway cards and fruits, specifically cherries, lemons, plums, and oranges.
How Many Symbols on a Slot Machine Reel?
The reels and rows of a slot machine determine how many symbols you see. In the early days, three reels and a single visible line acted as the payline. These days, it’s more common to see five reels and three rows, although the advent of Megaways and other big layouts means grids can go up to seven or eight reels and rows.
Megaways, for instance, works by adding a random number of rows to each reel spin. So, whenever the player presses “spin”, the rows and the symbols are randomized, adding anywhere from a few dozen paylines to more than 100,000.
These are often the best slot machines to play, although it all depends on preference. Some players prefer to keep things simple.
The Origins of Slot Machine Symbols
The symbols on slot machines are rooted in a rich history dating back to the late 19th century.
The earliest machines were based on poker games and more closely resembled modern video poker machines. The drums in the machines were loaded with poker cards, and players needed to catch a strong poker hand.
All of that changed with the introduction of a couple of machines produced by Charles Fey & Company.
The Liberty Bell Slot Machine
As impressive and popular as the poker machine was, it was also complicated. There were too many outcomes to trigger an automatic payout. Then came the Liberty Bell slot.
Developed by Charles Fey, this machine triggered automatic payouts and included symbols such as hearts, spades, diamonds, horseshoes, and the iconic Liberty Bell.
Gambling was illegal then, so that Fey couldn’t patent his device. Within a few years, various other machines were invented, including ones with flags, wreaths, and other patriotic symbols.
The Liberty Bell design stuck, though, and you’ll still see bells, horseshoes, and playing card suits on many modern slot machines.
The Introduction of Fruits
The fact that gambling was illegal caused a few dilemmas for early slot creators. Rather than dispensing money, they would hand out tickets that could be traded for free drinks and food.
In the early 20th century, operators began dispensing gum. Fruit symbols were added to the reels to match the gum’s fruit flavors, and this is when classic symbols like cherries and lemons were first seen on slot machines.
The Liberty Bell symbol remained on this slot and was also when the BAR symbol was introduced. The genesis of this mysterious symbol comes from the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company, a black bar that stretches across the reel. This bar eventually morphed into a BAR.
Produced by the Mills Novelty Company in Chicago, it set the stage for generations of fruit-based slot machines.
Themed Video Slots
Technically, even the earliest slot machines had themes, including fruit and patriotic slots. However, themed games took hold with the advent of multi-line slot machines featuring bonus rounds.
These games became the norm during the 1990s, so they were well underway before the online gambling revolution. At that point, improved technologies and greater user demand led to various designs, features, and bonus rounds.
In recent years, slots have developed even further, using licenses from films, bands, TV shows, mobile slot machines, and even live slots.
Summary: Understanding Slot Machine Symbols
The symbols on slot machines slowly evolved for nearly a century. In the 1990s, the average slot machine still used playing card symbols, fruits, and Liberty Bells, as they had done in the 1890s.
In 30 years, we have seen incredible changes, leading to complex worlds and themes reminiscent of video games. Developers go to great lengths to tell a story and set their slots apart from other creators.
Whether or not you’re interested in the history of slot machine symbols, you can’t argue with the result—more slots, themes, and a greater variety.
Slots Common Queries
What are the symbols in a slot machine?
Slots use a variety of different symbols. Classic options include fruits, horseshoes, the Liberty Bell, and symbols influenced by playing cards. These all come from the first slots, developed when gambling was largely illegal, and slots dispensed fruit-flavored gum and other items. Bonus slots use more advanced symbols, such as 3D illustrations that match the game’s theme.
What do wilds do on slots?
Wild symbols act like Jokers in card games, as they can substitute for any other symbol on the reel (often except for the Scatter or Bonus). They are usually the highest-paying symbols in the game, and some introduce additional multipliers, as well as Roaming Wilds, which move around the reel; Wild Reels, which cover the whole reel; and Fixed Wilds, which lock to the reels.
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