As we’ve discussed in our previous article about the history of slot machines, we learned about the invention, evolution, and future of the machines.Now, we’ll dig a little deeper and focus more on the slot machine symbols and icons.
The difference between them is that the 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 an actual payout.
The icons, on the other hand, are more like the slot machine’s logo and represent the game as a whole. For example, the icon from the Wheel of Fortune machine in 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 the different game icons, which we’ll explore in more detail later. In addition to this, we’ll also take a look at the famous 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 very beginning. The first one was invented by Charles Fey around 1895. However, looking back even further, we’ve learned that another gambling machine was invented, which was actually more like a poker machine and used playing cards as its symbols.
With that said, many people believe that the first known symbols to appear on these machines were playing cards. In fact, even today, you can still find many machines that use these symbols, mainly the 10 card through the Ace. From these card symbols comes one of the most famous casino symbols: the lucky number seven.
From the card symbols used on the first gambling machine, Charles Fey introduced the suit of the cards, as well as horseshoes and liberty bell symbols. Just like the original card symbols, you can still find these symbols on machines today. As slot machines continued to grow—and were even banned at one point—casinos had to find alternative forms of payouts besides using real money. One notable example is the introduction of fruit symbols, which rewarded players with fruit-flavored gum based on the winning symbols, such as cherry symbols. These payout rewards also attracted many young people, prompting machines to introduce other payout forms to appeal to older crowds—eventually leading back to monetary payouts.
Types of Slot Symbols
There are many slot symbols out there, each offering unique bonus games and features. With that in mind, let’s go over some of the common types of slot symbols.
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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 seen on some classic slots, but newer video slots feature a much wider variety of symbols.
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Scatter Symbols can award both regular payouts and trigger bonus rounds.
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Bonus Symbols trigger bonus rounds, but unlike Scatter symbols, they must appear in specific positions or on certain paylines.
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Wild Symbols come in many types, but the most common Wild replaces other symbols on the reels to help create a winning combination.
Slot Machine Icons
Slot Machine Icons play a crucial role in representing the thousands of slot machines available. They serve as the branding behind the machines—similar to a book cover. The images and names on these icons can reveal a lot about the game, from the colors, animations, characters, and text styles used. While they may seem insignificant, especially online, a great deal of effort goes into their design. This attention to detail is essential when targeting specific or broad audiences. If you’ve ever played online before, you can click here to see an example of what all our video slot game icons look like at Caesars Casino online.
Fruit Slot Machine
Taking a look back in time, some of the first symbols on slot machines in the U.S. featured fruit, such as cherries, grapes, oranges, melons, and lemons. These were known as Fruit Slot Machines. The first one to appear in the U.S. came out in the 20th century. The original payouts back in the day were in the form of fruit gum. Players would win a specific flavor of gum based on the fruit symbols that landed on the reels. For example, if three grape symbols appeared, the player would receive grape-flavored gum. Similarly, landing three orange symbols would result in orange-flavored gum.
The reason these machines rewarded chewing gum in the first place was that gambling was entirely illegal at the time. This was one of the creative ways to offer payouts while avoiding legal restrictions. As the machines grew in popularity, some people even referred to them as chewing gum dispensers rather than slot machines.
With so many new symbols being introduced, it’s not easy for the classic ones to keep up. Regardless, many players stay true to their roots and stick with classic-style games, which evoke a nostalgic feeling. There’s just something about cherries and liberty bells that brings back memories. Seeing these symbols instantly reminds people of what they represent. Simply put, it’s a classic—and it will never go out of style. In fact, you can start playing some of these free classic slots here at Caesars Casino online for free, 24/7.