Fruit-themed slots are a great hit in casinos worldwide. But how did these symbols become representative of the design of slot machines, and how did other slot themes succeed to stand out? To answer these questions, we have joined forces with the editorial team of CasinoAlpha to explore the history and evolution of slot machines together.
76.8 x 44.5 x 70.5 cm, Edition of 2 + 1 AP, © Urs Fischer, Courtesy the artist and Gagosian
Slot machines started their journey as simple mechanical entertainment within casinos but became the highest-grossing casino game worldwide.
Still, nowadays, CasinoAlpha’s team notes that slots remain the most popular casino game among gamblers, with fruity slots still being among the most sought-after title options. However, with more and more themes being developed each year, new designs have also become representative of the slots industry.
Why Do Slot Machines Have Fruit Symbols?
The first slot machines did not have fruit symbols! So, what is the story of fruit ideograms appearing on slot machines? To learn more about that, we must travel back to the 1900s, when slot machines were officially banned. People feared cash-prize machines due to one-armed bandits’ reputation for robbing them.
However, the thrill of spinning reels proved too irresistible for many people. Hence, many manufacturers added fruit and bubble gum symbols to their reels. In most cases, you would receive a fruit-flavoured gum if you landed three matching symbols.
Because of this, slot machines were called vendor machines as they needed to be classified differently than slot machines. Still, they actually operated on the same principles as the previous ones.
Experts at CasinoAlpha note that the Bell-Fruit Gum Company was among the significant manufacturers using this loophole to promote their products. However, there has been some debate regarding its exact name. As it resembled a gum bar, the company’s logo was a natural addition to slot machine fruit symbols. It was later transformed into the BAR stamp, which is still displayed on many machines.
Therefore, if you have ever wondered: “What does slot machine fruit symbolism mean?” Here it is – bubble-gum flavours. Funny story, isn’t it?
The Journey of Slot Machines Through History
Contemporary slot symbols are significantly different from traditional slot ideograms used in abundance until the 1970s. Nowadays, spinning games have a large array of themes they are based on, such as mythological slots that juggle with ideograms representing Egyptian Gods, archaeological artifacts, pyramids, and so on.
Some of the slots we play today are also inspired by important historical figures. Gonzo’s Quest, for example, is a direct reference to the famous conquistador.
There are noticeable design differences between the 19th and 21st-century slots. Still, even the symbols created back then continue to exist within today’s gambling market. This is due to the symbols’ wide recognizability maintained through time.
Where Did The First Slot Symbols Come From?
Slots and video poker are quite different in the online world. Even though one-armed bandits have been with us for centuries, poker machines and wheels of fortune have a much older claim. American bars with such games were quite popular during the 19th century.
Believe it or not, fruity slots were not the first symbols to be used in spinning games. When the prototypes for this casino game appeared in 1891, they were heavily inspired by poker games. A card face was displayed on each of the five reels.
One-armed bandit games were born as a result of this. Bars quickly adopted them, and people were fascinated by them. Because you could lose money after playing them, they came to be called bandits – and the protruding lever was their ‘one arm.’ As popular symbols of slot machines, the playing cards have retained their significance since those early days.
Slot Symbols in the Modern Day
Some trends never go out of style, and this also applies to the popular fruity and card symbol slot games that are still among the most beloved themes in the gambling community. However, although card symbols and fruit symbols remain relevant to today’s players, CasinoAlpha’s team notes that the market is also slowly shifting towards new patterns. So, even though the classic reels can still be seen in many games, more diverse themes also succeed in standing out.
Moreover, CasinoAlpha’s editorial theme notes that the new slot symbols are more sophisticated, advanced, and practical. From bonus symbols to stacked, scattered, sticky, wild, and stacked ones, you can find a whole new collection of modern spinning symbols that activate special features, ready to impress and make players’ gambling experience even more captivating.
