Have you ever thought about why most slot machines still show fruits, bars, and lucky sevens? These symbols are not just random—they have a long and interesting backstory. Let’s look into how these signs became part of slot machines and why they’re still around today. You might be surprised how far back some of these go and how they’ve managed to stay fun and familiar through all the changes in the game.
How It All Started
The First Machines and Basic Symbols
Slot machines go back to the late 1800s. The first proper one was made by Charles Fey in 1895. It was called the Liberty Bell. This machine had three spinning reels and five symbols—hearts, diamonds, spades, horseshoes, and a cracked Liberty Bell. That Liberty Bell symbol became a favorite because if you lined up three of them, you hit the jackpot. People loved the sound of the bell and the chance to win coins.
At that time, it was just about fun and simple signs. There were no fancy graphics or animations—just a small machine in a corner of a bar or shop. But people really liked it because it was easy to play and gave you quick wins.
Why Fruits Became So Popular
The Fruit Gum Trick
By the early 1900s, gambling laws got tighter, so machines had to change a bit to keep running. To work around this, many สล็อต machines started offering fruit-flavored chewing gum as a prize instead of money. That’s when fruit symbols like cherries, lemons, oranges, and plums appeared on the reels.
If you got three matching fruits, you would win gum with that flavor. For example, three lemons might give you lemon-flavored gum. This was not only fun but also smart. It made the machines look more like candy dispensers than gambling devices. That kept them legal in many places and still gave people the thrill of winning something.
Even now, fruit symbols are still used on many slot games—not because they give you gum anymore, but because they’re colorful, cheerful, and remind people of simpler times.
What’s with the BAR Symbol?
It Came from a Gum Company
The BAR symbol is one of the most famous slot signs, but not everyone knows what it means. It actually started from a logo. Back in the day, the Bell-Fruit Gum Company used a bar-shaped logo on its machines. Players soon called it just “BAR,” and that’s how it’s shown on reels even today.
Later, to mix things up, machines added single, double, and triple BARs. That just made it easier to create different win combos and keep the game interesting. It also helped bring in slightly bigger payouts when you matched the higher BAR versions.
It might look like a simple line, but that BAR stands for a clever way to keep machines running during strict rules while still giving people fun prizes.
The Lucky Number Seven
A Symbol of Good Luck
The number seven has always been tied to luck in many cultures. In slot machines, it became the symbol for high payouts. Getting three sevens usually meant you hit the biggest prize. This idea came from how seven is often seen as a lucky number in everyday life—like in lucky charms, lotteries, or even superstitions.
Players still get excited when they see a seven pop up. It gives a feeling that something big might happen. And many slot games today still use the red or glowing number seven to grab attention and bring that lucky vibe to the screen.
Other Classic Symbols and Their Meaning
Horseshoes and Bells
Before fruit and BARs took over, symbols like horseshoes and bells were very common. A horseshoe has always been known to bring good luck. Bells—especially the Liberty Bell—meant winning the biggest prize. These signs helped build the image of early slot machines and are still used today in some retro-style games.
Stars, Crowns, and Diamonds
Later on, as slots started appearing in casinos, more glamorous symbols were added. Crowns, diamonds, and stars showed up to make the games feel a bit more shiny and royal. They gave players a feeling of winning something valuable and added some excitement to the spinning reels.
These symbols weren’t from old machines but were added in the 70s and 80s to give the games a rich look. And they’ve stuck around in many modern machines just because they look nice and feel lucky.
Moving from Mechanical to Digital
Symbols That Never Left
As technology got better, slot machines changed from mechanical to digital. But many of the classic symbols stayed the same. Even when video screens took over, developers kept fruit, BAR, and seven symbols because people loved them. These signs made the games easy to understand and kept the charm of the old machines alive.
Some online slots now mix these old symbols with new themes. You’ll see cherries next to wild symbols, scatter features, and bonus rounds. It’s a mix of old and new, but it still feels familiar.
Why These Symbols Still Work Today
People Like Familiar Things
Even though games are getting more modern, players still enjoy things that feel known and trusted. Seeing a cherry or BAR on the screen brings back memories of old-style machines—even if you’re playing on a smartphone now. It’s like a small reminder of a fun moment from years ago.
Easy to Understand
Another reason these symbols still work is because they’re clear. You don’t need a manual to know that three sevens is good or that fruit means a reward. This helps both new and long-time players enjoy the game without feeling confused. And that’s always a win.
Final Thoughts
Slot machine symbols have a past that’s full of smart moves, fun prizes, and good old-fashioned fun. From Liberty Bells to juicy fruit to shiny sevens, these symbols each tell a part of the slot machine story. They’re more than just pictures on a screen—they’re a part of why slots have stayed fun for so many years. And even with high-tech changes, these symbols remind us that simple things can still make us smile.
If you’re spinning reels and see a cherry, a BAR, or that lucky seven, now you know a bit more about why they’re there. And who knows? That next spin might just bring some sweet old-school luck your way.
