Before video slots, slot machines took the gaming industry by storm. Slot machines are a popular type of casino game in land-based casinos. Due to its widespread success and the rise of virtual gaming platforms, online slot games were developed to cater to online bettors.
Aside from being a popular game of chance, slots are fun and easy to play. They come with a reel, symbol, and winning combination that all fit the game’s theme. What makes playing slots exciting is that these games come with different symbols that offer low to high volatility and prizes.
The slot machine symbols usually depend on the slot machine you’re playing. If a slot game has a fruity theme, its symbols will come in fruits such as watermelons, papaya, and bananas. Depending on the slot machine you’re playing, the value of slot symbols also differs.
What are the symbols on a slot machine?
Slot machine symbols icons come in various kinds. Depending on your game, slots offer symbols with their own values. If lady luck is on your side, these symbols can form winning combinations and win you big prizes.
Some of the most popular slot machine symbols include:
- Characters – Character symbols on a slot machine are often based on famous places, movie characters, and games.
- Fruit symbols – Fruit symbols are often found on slot machines with a fruity theme. Fruit symbols are often watermelon, banana, and apple icons.
- Card symbols – The card symbols in a slot machine are inspired by the values in a deck of cards. These symbols are often A to 9 royals, jack, queen, or king.
Each symbol found in a slot machine has its value, meaning, and function. To help you know how each symbol functions and forms winning combinations, here’s a guide on the various types of slot game symbols and slot machine symbols meaning:
Common slot machine symbols
Every type of slot machine boasts its unique symbols. Slot machine icons are also categorised into high-paying and low-paying symbols. Some of the famous symbols often found on various slot machines include:
Fruit symbol
Classic slot machines often depict fruit slot machine signs such as cherries, apples, oranges, and watermelons. Fruit icons on machines were considered classic slot machine symbols. The first fruit slot machine was released in the 20th century in the United States. Since gambling was illegal back in the day, the prizes were fruit gums.
When playing fruit slot machines in the old days, the flavour of the gum you’ll win depended on whatever fruits appeared on the reels. For instance, if you spun in three grapes, you win a grape-flavoured gum.
Some other popular fruit symbols include:
- Watermelons
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Strawberries
Card symbol
As slot machines became more popular, more symbols in slot machine games were added to keep the excitement going for players because the gameplay is constant and unchanged. Since many players enjoy playing various card games, card numbers and symbols such as hearts, spades, and diamonds were added to slot machines. Some of the other popular card symbols are:
- Jack
- Queen
- Ace
- King
Characters
As the world of casino gaming evolved, more modern and unique types of online slot symbols were introduced. Animation, drawings, and movies often inspire these special symbols. Some slot character symbols also took inspiration from other popular online game themes.
Types of online slot symbols
Many players love to play online slots because they offer various features and themes and a bonus effect and payout effect in their images or symbols. Online slots also come with different reels, paylines, and return-to-player rates to cater to every player’s preference. The common types of online slot symbols and their functions are:
Standard symbols
Standard symbols are one of the common types of slot machine symbols that can also be found in online slots. At the beginning of the game, they are just regular symbols. But once you land several of them in the correct spots, you can activate high-paying symbols and win bigger prizes.
This includes the amount you wagered, the number of winning symbols, and the payout rate associated with the symbols. You must match more symbols to receive bigger payouts and win free spins.
A slot game’s standard symbols are frequently based on its theme. For instance, if it is an ocean-themed game, the icons may include various kinds of fish. Some slot games use card ranks and suits despite their theme.
Scatter symbols
A scatter symbol is found in the majority of modern online slot games. This symbol has double functions. It activates a bonus game with free spins and awards higher payouts. Free games are triggered automatically whenever three or more scatters appear on the slot’s grid.
Some slot games have a set amount of free spins, while others award additional spins based on the number of scatter symbols you activate. Most slots’ top rewards can be activated by scatter symbols.
Bonus symbols
Bonus symbols are popular slot machine symbols found in online slot games. These symbols are those that activate a special bonus feature game or the slot’s progressive jackpot round. Bonus symbols are similar to scatters in that they activate a feature when they appear on the reels, but they don’t normally pay out.
Wild symbols
Slot games offer wild symbols to increase your odds of winning. Essentially, wild symbols can replace any other regular icon. For instance, a slot game’s highest-paying symbol is a diamond. You spin the reels and get a wild symbol and four diamonds on a single payline.
Since the wild substitutes for diamonds, a winning combination of four diamonds on a payline will be counted as five diamonds. Aside from replacing regular playing symbols, wild symbols also feature special effects such as substitute free spins.
Multiplier symbols
Slot games with multipliers provide some of the highest payouts. Multipliers are a feature of several online slot games that multiply the value of your winnings. Multiplier symbols can be optimised in various ways.
For instance, a wild with a multiplier number (such as x3) will increase your payout by that amount. Multipliers can also act as scatters. Being present anywhere on the grid during a win will increase the amount of money one can take home. In the event of a win with multiple multipliers, the total amount of all multipliers will be used to calculate the payout.
How many symbols do slot machines have?
The standard slot machine with 3 reels often features 20 common slot machine symbols. However, there are slot machines with more than 3 reels, meaning the symbols in this game can be more than 20.
Slot games to play at BC.GAME
Now that you know the traditional slot machine symbols and how they work, it’s time to put your luck to the test when playing slot games. At BC.GAME, you have access to thousands of unique and popular online slots to choose from.
Depending on the type of slot game you want to play, you can find ones with unique themes, generous symbols, and high return-to-player rates. What makes playing at BC.GAME even better? The site is an online casino and a renowned bookmaker that offers various betting categories, such as sports betting.
Some of the popular slot games with fun symbols you can play at BC.GAME are:
- Golden Leprechaun Megaways by Red Tiger
- Speed Winner by PG Soft
- Aztec Magic Megaways by BGaming
- Gold of Sirens Bonus Buy by Evoplay
- New Year Rising by Ruby Play
Check the symbols and spin the reels on online slot games
Knowing which slot machine symbols are the high and paying symbols helps determine how much you want to bet. It also lets you know which symbols to land to trigger the bonus rounds.
If you play at online casino sites such as BC.GAME, you can choose from various online slots with unique and high-paying symbols. Use your cryptocurrency when betting at BC.GAME and see if you land the winning symbols on the site’s popular slot games.
FAQs
Learn more about slot machine symbols with these frequently asked questions:
How many symbols are on a slot machine?
A slot machine with a standard 3 reel often features 20 symbols.
What are the best symbols in slot machines?
The best symbols in slot machines are the scatter and wild symbols.
Can I win real cash from slots?
Yes, you can win real cash from playing slot games.
Why are slot machines popular?
Slot machines are popular because they are easy and fun to play. They also do not require intricate strategies for you to win big prizes.
