Since the early days of mechanical slot machines, certain symbols have become ingrained into casino and slots culture on such platforms as SlotLords. But why were specific images like fruit, horseshoes and bells chosen in the first place? What do they represent?
Humble Cherry
The most iconic slot symbol didn’t originate with slots at all. Fruit symbols emerged from late 19th-century poker machines which rewarded chewing gum combinations rather than money to conform to anti-gambling laws. While various fruit images were used, the cherry proved most popular and made the leap to early slot machines in 1902.
But why cherries specifically? In Victorian England, cherries represented vice activities like drinking, revelry and sexual promiscuity due to their rich red color and sweet flavor. This made the forbidden fruit a cheeky symbol of activities perceived as sinful yet pleasurable, much like playing slots. The cherry evoked a sense of transgression that attracted players.
Bars Symbolizing the Machine Itself
Early mechanical slots were crude affairs made mostly from cast iron. It’s believed the bar symbol simply represented part of the machinery inside the cabinet itself.
The visual design likely referenced the metal strips and braces that held mechanical reels and other internal components together. So rather than some deeper meaning, the unassuming bar symbol simply showed part of what made the slot machine work under the hood.
Over time, single bar icons gave way to double and triple bars. Whether this corresponded to any specific internal mechanism is unknown, but the graduated series gave players something to aspire to. Three bars in a row delivered the highest pays, making them the most coveted alignment.
Lucky 7s Winning at the Tables
It’s widely believed slot machine 7s were adapted from blackjack where drawing a 7 card of any suit held favorable odds for the player. The red 7 especially was regarded as a “lucky” card to receive.
When slots were first introduced to https://www.freeslots99.com/igt/solar-disc-igt alongside table games, designers wanted to ease the transition by incorporating familiar symbols blackjack players knew represented a good fortune. Aligning three 7s resulted in the highest payout, though red 7s tended to pay slightly more as a nod to their heightened lucky status.
Over time, red 7s became the predominant color used. Today 777 still represents the top jackpot on many slot games, preserving that heritage of Lucky 7 symbolism.
Bells: Sounding Off Wins
In late 19th century San Francisco when the first slots were developed, coin payouts were preceded by ringing bells. These noisy mechanical rings alerted casino staff to a win and notified the player that coins were on their way. Given their association with winning ransoms, bells are imprinted strongly as symbols of celebration.
Early slots also included larger pull handles that produced a jangle as they were cranked. Together with internal winner bells, this created a merry cacophony of sound everyone hoped to hear. When electronic slots with spinning buttons emerged, the bell remained as a callback to those audible roots. Even without actual chimes, their presence carries the inherent promise of possible celebration ahead.
Horseshoes
Like four-leaf clovers and rainbows, horseshoes have a long history as symbols of good luck and divine blessing. According to myth, blacksmiths in 9th century Britain forged metal shoes to protect horses from evil spirits lurking below that might lame them. This brought good fortune to riders, so hanging spent horseshoes with ends pointing up kept luck from running out.
Later lore like Saint Dunstan purportedly nailing a horseshoe to the devil’s hoof reinforced their protective abilities. This notion endured for centuries, making horseshoes a natural fit for early gambling machines where players hoped to turn their own luck around. Positioned facing up, horseshoe slot icons promised better fortunes ahead for lucky winners.
Crowning Symbols of Random Reels
Classic reel symbols have far deeper meaning than just random artistic choices. Next time you spin slots loaded with bars, 7s, fruit and bells, you’ll have a greater appreciation for the cultural history behind those iconic images.
While their predefined payout arrangements are less relevant on modern slots, classic symbols help anchor games in enduring traditions and nostalgia. They transport players back to slot machine roots where mechanized chimes celebrated coin showers under flashing incandescent bulbs, pulling levers with crossed fingers as forbidden fruits and lucky charms spun into bell-ringing alignments promising fortunes anew.
