The Most Iconic Slot Symbols

Slot games are one of the most popular game types available, offering a full range of different themes, including everything from ancient mythology to popular culture. However, drilling down even further than that, there are individual elements of these slots that will spring to mind and are unshakingly connected to the machines and online slots that now sit at the forefront of the casino.

We have broken down all of the most iconic slot machine symbols, what they mean, and where they come from. Get yourself up to speed with the classic slot machine symbols before playing here at Pink Casino.

Retro Symbols

Despite the many different themes that now have become commonplace with slot machines, the symbols that sit on the reels have largely remained unchanged from the earliest days of these games. Yes, some games utilise different iconography, but a majority of slots will include at least some of the famous slot machine symbol icons.

Fruit

You’re likely aware that slot machines use fruit symbols, including cherries and lemons, which are iconic features of these retro-styled games. Their origin dates back to the earliest days of slot machines, which is a big part of why players recognise them within these games.

Jokers

If you’ve only played poker or another similar game at a casino, you will know that the Joker is a card that is regularly removed from decks when playing. However, in more casual, non-official games, players would often use jokers as “Wild” cards that can replace others in the hand and act as something of a trump card. This was then applied to slots and is why it has become a fixture of machines the world over.

Diamonds

This symbol has a somewhat simple origin. Many early slot machines used card suits as their symbols, meaning that you would regularly see spades, hearts, clubs, and—of course—diamonds. Since then, the design has obviously changed a great deal and become more of a symbol of riches, but it began as a simple depiction of a card suit.

Sevens

Of all the symbols on slot machines, the seven symbols are probably the most recognisable on the reels. Traditional slot games are likely to have included them, and you will also find them appearing in retro-inspired online slots, where you will see them appearing next to fruit symbols.

Bells

The US-based mechanic Charles Fey developed one of the earliest tabletop slot machines, using the Liberty Bell as both a symbol and the machine’s name. This ties the bell symbols to the very first slot machines, securing them a well-deserved spot on modern slot machines.

Royals

This is another group of symbols similar to the diamonds. The royals represent the kings, queens, jacks, aces, and 10s - the cards that can make up a Royal Flush in a game of poker. Both slots and poker are iconic, so it’s no surprise that these symbols exist within the slots world.

Scatter Symbols

Away from the specific symbols that you will often see, there are also some special types of symbols that are common in modern video slots. Scatter symbols are one such type. There’s no hard and fast rule on what scatters will do - in some games, they might trigger a bonus game, in others they might act as multipliers. These symbols can appear anywhere on the reels, without needing to be matched along a payline, to trigger their bonus. A minimum requirement is often needed to trigger the bonus they are associated with, which differs depending on the game. For example, you might have three scatters that appear on all different rows, and this can still trigger the bonus.

Wild Symbols

We’ve already alluded to Wilds when we discussed the Joker symbol. Put simply, these special symbols act as substitutes for different symbols on the reels in order to make wins. In practice, this means that if you are one symbol from a winning combination on one payline, but it includes a Wild, it will act as the final symbol you need to complete that combination. Some of these Wilds will have different abilities based on different games and may even act as multipliers, but you will find that the one symbol that they won’t replace is a scatter.

Multiplier Symbols

These symbols are exactly as they sound. When playing a slot game, you might notice some symbols that include a number with an X in front of it. In a base game, landing these symbols on a winning payline will multiply your win for that payline by the relevant number. However, the rules of how they work can differ wildly based on the game you are playing. Some might pay out in bonus game free spins, for example.

Bonus Symbols

Having covered the most iconic slot symbols that can appear within base games, it’s time to take a look at some of the bonuses you might see.

Collect Symbols

These symbols will build an in-game meter that can trigger a feature like a bonus or multiplier. Collect symbols can also be used to collect all prize values visible on the reels.

The purpose of Collect symbols is dependent on the game itself so it will vary.

Instant Win Symbols

Instant win symbols are very simple as they award a payout or prize when landed.

Jackpot Symbols

Slot games include different jackpot prize pools which can require a minimum number of jackpot symbols to trigger the relevant bonus feature. Jackpot symbols are commonly used as a key component here, but the triggering requirement will change from game to game.