Slot Machine Symbols: Definition, History, Types and Their Role in Gameplay

Slot machine symbols are the images you see on slot reels. These pictures are not mere visual representations of random things. They reflect the theme of the slot, and some symbols, such as fruits, go back to the earliest brick-and-mortar machines. 

Slot machine symbols range from classic and traditional symbols to a wide variety (and ever-evolving) collection of themed machine symbols, including scatters and wilds. The role of these symbols in gameplay is to determine payouts. The best tip for winning on slot machine symbols is to understand the paytable of your chosen game and to adjust your bets accordingly. Keep in mind that a random number generator produces the results of each spin. The mechanism ensures fairness but there’s not much you can do to sway video slots to produce more winning combinations.  

Let’s explore slot machine symbols in greater detail so you can bet like a pro! Knowing more about symbols will allow you to experience more excitement and anticipation when you play our broad range of casino slots here at Fruity King!

What Are Slot Machine Symbols?

Slot symbols are the images displayed on game reels. Slots and symbols are inseparable. In fact, without these icons, a slot game couldn’t exist! In essence, their purpose is to land in combinations after a spin. Certain combinations of single, double, or triple images result in a payout or bonus. There are various types available with the most common being scatters, wilds, and standard symbols. 

Symbols impact player experience in several ways. Well-designed icons add an immersive and visually pleasing aspect to the game. Of course, when high-value symbols start landing on the reels, they bring a lot of excitement!

How to Understand Slot Symbol Meanings?

To understand slot symbol meanings, you must invest some time in getting the basics under your belt and always visit your chosen slot game’s paytable to view the values attached to each symbol. To learn more about the variety of slot symbols and what they mean, please visit the section “Types of Slot Machine Symbols” below. 

History of Slot Machine Symbols

The history of slot machine symbols is a fascinating one. The first mechanical slot machine was the Liberty Bell. Created in 1894 by Charles Fey, it had three reels and symbols you might recognise today – a horseshoe, a star, a Liberty Bell, and icons from playing cards (the diamond, heart, and spade). Some of the earliest games that followed introduced 7s and fruits. Both these classic slot machine symbols can still be found in modern video slots. Speaking of the latter, gaming developers release new symbols every year, mostly to support the themes of pop culture slots.

Types of Slot Machine Symbols

The types of slot machine symbols are classic, standard, wilds, scatters, speciality symbols, and multipliers. Some of the most common slot images are wilds, scatters, and multipliers! The section below covers each symbol in more detail. 

• Classic Symbols: Classic symbols hark back to the classic slot machine. These are the fruit icons, lucky 7s, BAR symbols, and more. Their function is to produce a payout if you land two or three along the same payline. 

• Standard Symbols: Standard symbols are the mainstay of the modern slot game. They can be anything (usually related to the game’s theme). These icons also produce wins when you land two or three during the same spin. 

• Wild Symbols: Wilds are tokens that exist to help you land more successful combinations by acting as a substitute for any symbol to match others on the reels. 

• Scatter Symbols: Scatters unlock special features in a game, including free spins and bonuses.

• Speciality Symbols: Some games offer speciality symbols to maximise winnings. These can include stacked wild symbols, expanding wilds, bonus symbols, Free Spin tokens, Re-Spins, and Pick-Me features.

• Multipliers: Multipliers carry random number values that boost your bet. For example, when you win a 10x multiplier, the earnings are 10x your bet.

Role of Slot Machine Symbols in Gameplay

Slot symbols have a surprising number of roles, especially when it comes to gameplay and user experience. The section below looks at some of these roles in more detail:

• Creating Winning Combinations: Slot symbols mainly exist to create winning combinations, usually by landing on three consecutive reels.

• Impact On Payouts: There are low-value and high-value symbols in every game. Depending on which type lands as a winning combination will impact how big or small the payout is.

• Triggering Bonus Features: Special bonus tokens can unlock mini-games, pick-me features, free spins, bonus wheels, jackpot rounds, and more. 

• Enhancing Game Experience: Various symbols and their effects on the game offer players an engaging experience that banishes boredom. Hoping for, and finally landing specific symbols makes for thrilling gameplay every time you hit that spin button. 

Tips for Winning on Slot Machines

Slot machines are designed to produce random results. This makes them fair but also impossible to manipulate to produce more winning spins. That being said, there are things you can try to win on slot machines. The section below provides more information about each tip. 

• Understand Payout Table: When you select a slot game, carefully read the provided paytable to ensure that you will play with high-value symbols. This will increase your chances of decent payouts.

• Betting Maximum Spins: Betting maximum bets is a risky strategy. When things go well, you can rake in huge gains. However, a losing streak can quickly deplete your bankroll.

• Higher-Dollar Machines: These machines have high RTPs, progressive jackpots, plenty of bonus features, free spins, and other high-value features that can maximise your earnings.

Symbols on Modern Slot Games

When it comes to modern symbols, there is almost no limit to what players can experience. Gaming developers are constantly creating high-quality symbols to enhance a slot’s theme and trigger exciting payouts and bonus features. This makes modern slots an evolving wonderland, always offering something new and ensuring a great user experience. 

Some of the best modern online slot games offered at Fruity King include Jackpot Party, Starburst, Gonzo’s Quest, King Kong Cash, and Buffalo Rampage. 

FAQs