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| Image Credits: pexels.com |
Slot machines have been popular in the gambling industry ever since their creation in the last century. Over the years, such machines have developed from purely mechanical structures to complex electronic systems, yet, there is one feature that has not changed – the symbols that are displayed on the reels of the machines. These symbols are not mere pictures; they have a history and a strong relation with the development of slot machines. In this article, I will explain where some of the most traditional symbols of slot machines come from and what they signify.
The Birth of the Slot Machine
Slot machines are said to have been invented in the late 1800s by a San Francisco mechanic named Charles Fey who developed the first real slot machine in 1895. Known as the Liberty Bell, this machine featured three spinning reels with five symbols: There was a horseshoe, diamond, spade, heart and Liberty Bell. The game had mechanical reels that players would spin by pulling a lever; if they got three Liberty Bells in a row, they got the jackpot of 50 cents.
The Liberty Bell machine was a simple slot machine that used symbols that would define the evolution of the subsequent slot machines. These first symbols were selected for their clear and attractive appearance and their ability to be associated with slot games, a principle that is still used in the design of slot machines.
The Horseshoe
Of all the symbols that have ever been used in creating slot machine games, probably one of the most familiar is the horseshoe. Often used in amulets and talismans to bring good fortune and ward off evil, the horseshoe was an appropriate emblem for the early slots where the possibility of winning was often viewed as being down to fate.
The use of the horseshoe as a talisman can be traced back to prehistoric times when people started to use iron to protect against evil forces. The “U” shape where the open end was always pointing upwards was also said to capture good fortune and not let it escape.
The horseshoe was the symbol of luck and of hoping for a big win when it comes to the slot machines. It is to this day one of the most common symbols used in both the physical and virtual slot games.
The Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell symbol – the mascot from which the original slot machine by Charles Fey was named – has its roots in American history. The real Liberty Bell is a symbol of freedom in America and its presence in Fey’s machine would have appealed to the patriotism of the period.
In the present world, there are various new-age virtual slot games, including Slots Paradise that pay tribute to these symbols and use them in their games. Here, the Liberty Bell and other classic symbols, are still popular, as the players are reminded of the historical background of slots.
In the world of slot machines, the Liberty Bell symbolized the ‘Big Win’ and to this very day, you will find various symbols denoting the ‘Big Win’. The symbol of the bell has come a long way, but the idea of a big payout is still central to the experience of a slot machine.
The BAR Symbol
The BAR symbol is arguably one of the most ambiguous and most famous symbols of all-time slot machines. The history of slot machines can be dated back to the early 1900s whereby the machine used to be placed in bars and saloons. In the past, particularly during the Prohibition period when alcohol was banned in the United States, many of these machines instead of spitting out cash, were programmed to release gum and other sweets to avoid being deemed as gambling devices.
The BAR symbol came from the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company, which owned many of these machines. The company logo, which was the word “BAR”, was incorporated into the slot machines’ design and it became one of the most famous symbols in the sector.
In the present, the BAR symbol can still be seen on slot machines and is used in the industry as a way of marking the machines’ history and development from the mechanical kind to the more advanced form that is available in the present.
The Fruit Symbols
Other common symbols include fruit symbols such as Cherry, Lemon, Orange and Plum which are recurrent in most of the slots. They were also established at the beginning of the 20th century, particularly during the period of prohibition.
With the change of the machines to give out chewing gum instead of cash, the symbols on the reels had to be changed to represent the different gum flavors. For instance, if the symbols depicted are cherries, then getting three cherries in a row may lead to an award that is in the form of a piece of cherry-flavored chewing gum. Over time, these symbols became so much a part of the slot machines that even after gambling was allowed they remained fruit symbols.
Fruit symbols are now considered to be a reference to the initial-stage slot machines and they are frequently employed in games that are designed to have a vintage feel to them to appeal to the players.
The number seven in slots is still a clear indication that gambling has its roots deep in the spiritual world relying on luck and other supernatural powers.
The Bell
Another is the bell, which has become a standard element of the slot machine imagery since the Liberty Bell machine. Bells have always been rung to announce some good news or an event of significance and thus are apt for denoting a winning combination.
The bell is one of the high-paying symbols and is usually combined with other high-paying symbols on the reels and when it appears on the reels it is accompanied by a ringing sound. With time, the bell has been associated with winning and triumph when it comes to slot games.
Conclusion
Symbols on the slot machines are not only pictures; they are a historical retrospective of the development of the game. When you see the Liberty Bell, the horseshoe, the BAR symbol or the fruit symbols, each of these has a story that narrates the transformation of society and the evolution of the gambling business in the last one hundred years. Knowing the history and significance of these traditional symbols not only improves the enjoyment of playing slot machines but also helps players to be associated with the tradition of such games.