A lot of you, dear iGaming aficionados, have the ability to spice up your games thanks to the virtually monthly introduction of new slots with new features that are becoming more complex and enhanced (as we speak!). Even while slots are becoming increasingly sophisticated, they still mostly rely on the same sorts of symbols, which makes things much simpler for all new players, particularly when it comes to knowing how slot machines work.

But it's vital to recognize that there are several kinds of slot machine icons. In this article, we'll discuss the various kinds of symbols you're most likely to see. After all, what occurs when specific reel symbols spin in has our collective interest.

What is the Oldest Slot Machine Symbol?

The 10-card to the Ace: ten (10), Jack (J), Queen (Q), King (K), and Ace. When it comes to the earliest slot machine symbols, they frequently feature card symbols in three suits—diamonds, spades, and hearts—as well as other symbols (A). In addition to these lucrative card symbols, you'll also frequently see the fortunate number seven on the reels, but we'll get to that in a moment.

The horseshoe looks to be one of the oldest and most revered superstition symbols, particularly when it comes to playing online slots. This is a typical fortunate sign. Of course, there is also the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell was the name of the very first slot machine, so if you're among the more seasoned gamers, you surely know why it became one of the timeless icons usually seen in slot machines.

Fruit Machine Symbols, Bar Symbol, Number 7 and Bubble Gums

The fact that the identical reel symbols appear on the majority of the slots, despite the fact that there are millions of them, surprises us the most. For instance, no matter which 3-reel slot game you choose to play, fruit machine symbols like cherries, melons, oranges, lemons, and grapes frequently occur there. According to some reports, O.D Jennings' Industry Novelty Company was the first to employ fruit emblems.

Slot machine manufacturers returned with all-new symbols in the form of vibrant fruits and bubble gums in the early 1900s after a protracted prohibition. Fun fact: Some slot machines used to award players with chewing gum during the period when slot machines were illegal in the US because to anti-gambling laws.

Bell-Fruit Gum Company, one of the top slot makers, even included its logo as a symbol that appears on the reels. Who would have thought that the slot machine bar symbol, which we are accustomed to seeing nowadays, originated from the company's emblem given that it sort of resembled a bar of gum?

The fortunate number 7, yet another well-liked symbol, was added to the slot machine reels. Given that the number seven is universally associated with happiness and success, it seems sense that it became a natural fit. Not to mention that it has a very specific meaning when it comes to playing online slots and other forms of gambling. It is hence the preferred playing card on many computers.

How Many Symbols Are on a Slot Machine Reel?

You're probably thinking right now how many symbols there are on a slot machine reel. With traditional 3-reel slot machines, it's simple to win a jackpot since there are often 20 symbols each reel, for a total of 60 symbols (20x20x20). This means there are more than 8000 possible combinations.

But when it comes to contemporary electronic games, things are a little more tricky. Your precise odds of winning no longer determine the composition of the reels. Instead, a complicated RNG that is tucked away inside every computer is in charge of everything.

Types of Slot Symbols

We're all aware that there are a vast array of slot machine symbols, but there are also several kinds of them, with three basic types: normal symbols, wild symbols, and scatter symbols. Knowing the distinctions between them is crucial because when you land specific combinations of these slot symbols together with regular symbols, several various features may activate, increasing your reward each time.

Standard Symbols

Standard symbols typically only pay out a particular amount of money when they appear in a row on an active payline; they serve no other purpose. In other words, you will hit a winning combination and be awarded the associated payout if you manage to score at least three matching symbols on an active payline. Stay with us as we disclose more information on which "special" symbols often occur on an online slot machine (or a land-based one).

Wild Symbols

Okay, since they may replace any other symbol in a slot machine, wild symbols are among the most crucial ones. similar to what the Joker card does. As a result, once they appear on the reels, they can take the place of any other symbol except for the scatter and bonus symbols because the wild card is unable to replace them. Expanding Wilds, Sticky Wilds, Stacked Wilds, Walking Wilds, Shifting Wilds, and Transferring Wilds are among the unique varieties of wild symbols.

Expanding Wild symbols are simple to identify since they may often appear on any reel position and, when they do, grow horizontally, vertically, and even diagonally. By transforming any adjacent reel-positioned emblem next to them into the Wild one, they assist you in creating more winning combos.

While stacked wild symbols are piled on top of one another, sticky wild symbols remain on the reels and often provide you with another spin. Although none of these wild symbols are exactly same, as you have surely seen, they do share one thing in common: they all appear at random and take the place of standard casino symbols to assist you achieve greater outcomes.

Depending on the game's regulations, there are also Soaring Wild symbols, Random Wild symbols, or Floating Wild symbols, which are often randomly tied to one (or more) reels. You'll understand how they operate if you only make sure to study the paytable.

Scatter Symbols

One of our favorites, scatter symbols, are quite special since its main purpose is to trigger Bonus Games or Free Spins if the required number of scatters appear on an active payline. Typically, to activate an interactive element, a predetermined quantity of scatter symbols must appear on a single spin. Some slots will require at least three scatters to trigger these features, while others could just need two. In any case, they will start the Free Spin rounds, which may be quite beneficial for you and often range from 5 to 15.

As an instance, if you get three scatter symbols on the same spin, you'll get five free spins. 4 of them will start 10 free spin rounds, while 5 of them will start 15 free spin rounds. You can get all the details regarding scatters (and other symbols) by clicking on a paytable because every slot game operates differently.
Another advantage of the scatter symbol is that it can pay out on its own. Naturally, not all scatter symbol slots have that opportunity, so check the paytable once again to avoid any form of letdown. We'll get to that in a moment, but occasionally scatter symbols may start a round of free spins with a multiplier.

Bonus Symbols

As implied by their name, bonus symbols are used to initiate several bonus games. They resemble Scatter symbols in that you frequently need to get at least three of them on the reels at once in order for the bonus round to be activated. This often entails that you must land them on adjacent reels, and of course, they can only do so on an active payline.

Multiplier Symbols

And last, but not least on our list are multiplier symbols. Now, multipliers do exactly what their name implies - they multiply your wins. They can land on the reel in the form of special symbols (with an extra icon indicating the value of their multiplier bonus), but what they usually do is increase the size of your payouts, usually up to 6x times. However, the more valuable multipliers can also be wild cards, or appear as part of the Free Spin feature, triggered by the scatters.