The fun and rewarding part of a slot machine is something that almost everyone knows. But, newbies or even some passionate bettors might not know about some of the fascinating things about them. Read on to catch more about the intriguing history and unusual modern symbols of a slot machine.
Slots machine symbols history
Slot machines have an intriguing history that has changed over the last years dramatically and has eventually taken the shape of digital goodies. From the physical and corporeal things to the virtual and intangible software, there is so much to know about them in between. Please go through the following short yet informative points to get an insight into their astounding history.
- The origin is as old as the late 1890s where it is believed that Sittman and Pitt from Brooklyn, New York created a slot machine. The idea got a lot of attention but had certain flaws in execution.
- There is another page to the story that has most of the limelight regarding the history of slot machines. Bettors will often hear the name Fey whenever there are talks about this type of chancy gaming.
- Charles Fey from San Francisco bags the most of the credit for creating the fantastic slot machines. The creation here was devoid of the flaws that were present in the previous version. It was an automated system with five symbols- spades, hearts, diamonds, horseshoes, and a Liberty bell.
- Owing to the local laws, Fey’s creation had to face legal challenges. Some also say that things eventually fell because of problems with the patent process. So, umpteen people copied his idea that later spread to several nations.
- But, according to some resources, Bally devised the foremost known electric slot machine in 1963. Previous machines had to be operated by pulling a lever manually, but this one ran on an electrical connection.
- Another feat in the history of slot machines came in 1976 when a Las Vegas-based Fortune Coin Company added a video system. Being a first of its kind, it gained immense popularity.
- Lastly, with the digital technology and creativity of the enthusiasts, things became more surprising. And, what the world today has is worth mentioning, it is online slot machines that are innumerable to list.
Bar Symbol Meaning
Before knowing the meaning of this symbol, it is vital to know some background in this context. Earlier, slot machines and other forms of gambling were disliked by many. So, a company came up with the idea of giving flavorful gums in place of real cash as the reward for slot machine games. The gums or candies given to the winners had the words written onto the pack as BAR. And BAR was the most renowned company that manufactured gums, candies, etc. So, this is all about the hype and back details about this popular symbol BAR on the slot machines.
Fruit Symbol meaning
The combination of slot machines and fruits has a relation from the early 20th century as per various sources. And America is said to be the place of origin behind this bond. As learned from the previous paragraph, gambling was considered unacceptable, and slot machines belonged to the same type. So, instead of cash, people were given candies as their prize.
The fruit that would appear three times in a single spin of reels on the slot machine would be the winning candy/gum flavor. For example, if there were three reels of cherries on the machine, the player would get a gum of cherry flavor as the award. You can test all these fruit symbols at Slot Online Casino.
How many different symbols are there?
It is difficult to trace and jot down each symbol shown on the slot machines. Their existence was as early as the 1890s, and plenty of people began to imitate the concept. At many times, the concept was taken down for violating the legal and moral norms of society. So, there is no clarity as to what and what not made it to the public officially. However, some of the most-talked-about symbols other than fruit and BAR are:-
- Poker Symbols- These are known to be the earliest symbols on slot machines. These are said to have made a public appearance even before the fruit and BAR types. Poker belongs to the time of Sittman and Pit, where they included the typical card of decks symbols in their machines.
- Liberty Bell- After that, Fey’s design has made a lot of noise and continues to be in the words of the gamblers. He also included the symbols from the deck of cards, but he replaced clubs with horseshoes and a Liberty bell. The combination of Liberty Bell has the highest reward.
- Fruits and Bells- The later electrical version by Money Honey had both bells and fruits. Players could also see stars and a girl as the symbols that were considered to be a jackpot.
- Wild- These are not defined in a strict sense anywhere. It is a unique combination that may sometimes have a Joker or more as per the creator’s design.
Modern slot icons
With slot machines going online, hosts have shown their utmost innovation with the symbols. They have bizarre themes with unusual signs like never before. To name a few are flying bats, gothic faces, Ancient Egypt, Irish leprechauns, Lucky Chinese, etc. There is no end to the types of symbols now.
Alternative slot machine icons
The rule to winning slot machines is that the player must get the same symbols in all reels in one spin. However, there is an exception where if a player gets the specific or the alternate symbol even in one reel, a prize will be there. The rules may vary from host to host. However, terms like Wild Symbol, Scatter Symbol, Stacked Symbol, or Bonus Symbol indicate alternate types in a slot machine.