As we’ve discussed in our previous article about the history of slot machines, we learned about the invention, evolution, and future of these machines. Now, we’ll dig a little deeper and focus more on slot machine symbols and icons.
The difference between them is that symbols appear on the game’s reels and paytable. From the paytable, you can learn about the different symbols for a specific game, what they represent, and the combinations needed to trigger a payout.
The icons, on the other hand, are more like the slot machine’s logo and represent the game. For example, the icon from the Wheel of Fortune machine in Las Vegas is represented by its famous wheel, followed by the name of the game, Wheel of Fortune. If you’re familiar with online casino games, you’ll recognize different game icons, which we’ll explore in more detail later. In addition, we’ll also look at classic fruit slot machines, which you may or may not be familiar with.
Slot Machine Symbols
Believe it or not, slot machine symbols have come a long way since their early beginnings. The first slot machine was invented by Charles Fey around 1895. However, looking even further back, there were earlier gambling machines that resembled poker machines and used playing cards as their symbols.
That said, many people believe that the first known symbols to appear on these machines were playing cards. Even today, you can still find machines that use these symbols, mainly from 10 through Ace. From these card symbols came one of the most famous casino symbols: the lucky number seven.
From the card symbols used on early gambling machines, Charles Fey later introduced additional symbols such as card suits, horseshoes, and the Liberty Bell. Just like the original card symbols, you can still find these on machines today.
As slot machines continued to evolve and were even restricted at one point, casinos had to find alternative forms of payouts instead of using real money. One notable example is the introduction of fruit symbols, which reward players with fruit-flavored gum based on the winning combination, such as cherry symbols. These types of rewards also attracted younger players, which led to further changes in how payouts were handled over time.
Types of Slot Symbols
There are many slot symbols available, each offering different features and gameplay elements. Let’s go over some of the most common types.
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Standard Reel Symbols are the classic ones we’ve discussed, such as fruit symbols (cherries, grapes, oranges, melons, and lemons) and playing card symbols (Aces, Kings, Queens, Jacks, and Tens). These are still found on some classic slots, though modern video slots feature a wider variety of symbols.
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Scatter Symbols can award payouts and may trigger bonus rounds.
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Bonus Symbols trigger bonus rounds but typically must appear in specific positions or on certain paylines.
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Wild Symbols come in many types, but the most common version substitutes for other symbols on the reels to help create winning combinations.
Slot Machine Icons
Slot machine icons play an important role in representing the many games available. They act as a visual identity for each game, similar to a book cover. The images and names on these icons can give insight into the game’s theme, including colors, characters, animations, and text styles used.
While they may seem minor, a significant amount of design effort goes into them. This helps attract different types of players. If you’ve played online before, you’ve likely seen a wide range of slot game icons across different platforms.
Fruit Slot Machine
Looking back in time, some of the earliest slot machines in the U.S. featured fruit symbols such as cherries, grapes, oranges, melons, and lemons. These became known as fruit slot machines. The first versions appeared in the early 20th century.
Originally, payouts were not made in cash but in items such as flavored gum. Players would receive a specific type of gum depending on the symbols that landed. For example, three grape symbols would result in grape-flavored gum, while three orange symbols would reward orange-flavored gum.
This approach was used because gambling laws at the time restricted cash payouts. As a result, these machines were sometimes referred to as vending machines rather than gambling devices.
Over time, as regulations changed, slot machines evolved into the modern games we see today. While many new symbols and features have been introduced, classic symbols remain popular. Many players still enjoy the traditional style and nostalgic feel of classic slot games.
If you enjoy classic-style gameplay, you can explore free-to-play slot games within Fortune’s Ultimate Slots, available 24/7.