Classic Slot Machine Symbols & Their Meanings
Bright colours, moving reels and eye-catching icons have been part of slot machines for over a century. Each symbol has a story, and knowing how they work can make a game easier to follow.
This guide explores some of the most common symbols you will see in both traditional and online slots at Rose Casino. It explains where they came from, what they mean, and how they usually function in modern games.
By understanding these basics, you can read the reels with more confidence, recognise when a feature is triggered, and see how each element contributes to the overall gameplay.
How Many Symbols Are There On a Slot Machine Reel?
The number of symbols depends entirely on the game’s design. In the early days, slot machines used mechanical reels that could only hold around 10 to 20 unique symbols because the reels were physical objects with limited space.
Modern online slots are built differently. Instead of physical reels, they use computer-controlled “virtual reels”. These can have many more symbol positions mapped to them—sometimes 50, 100, or even over 250 stops per reel. This allows developers to design more complex layouts, add extra features, and adjust the frequency of certain symbols.
For example, a digital reel may only display three cherries in view at one time, but behind the scenes, those cherries might occupy 12 out of 256 possible reel stops. This means the chance of them appearing is set by the game’s programming, not just the visible space.
Some slot games may also use expanding or shifting reels, where the number of visible symbols changes from spin to spin. This can happen in formats like “Megaways” or “Infinity Reels”.
Because each slot is designed differently, the game’s paytable or help screen should tell you how its reels are set up.
Types of Classic Slot Machine Symbols
Slot machines can include a wide range of symbols, each with its own role. While designs vary between games, certain symbol types may appear frequently across both physical and online versions.
Standard Reel Symbols
These are the basic icons that tend to form most winning combinations. In traditional fruit machines, they usually included cherries, lemons, oranges, bells, BARs, and sevens. If you match enough of the same symbol along a payline, you win an amount set by the game.
Modern themed slots replace fruit with images suited to their design, but the principle remains the same. Standard symbols are often grouped into lower-value and higher-value categories, with their potential payouts shown in the paytable.
A “payline” is a set path across the reels where matching symbols need to land to form a win. Some slots have fixed paylines, others may let you select how many are active. A single game can have anywhere from one payline, to hundreds of possible winning lines, depending on the game.
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols can substitute for most other standard symbols on the reels. For example, if two bell symbols appear on a payline along with a wild, the wild acts as a third bell.
Wilds can come in different forms:
- Expanding wilds can grow to fill an entire reel.
- Sticky wilds stay in place for a set number of spins.
- Multiplying wilds increase the payout of any win they are part of.
These features do not influence the random nature of the game. Wilds appear according to the slot’s programming, just like any other symbol, and cannot guarantee a win.
Scatter Symbols
Scatters tend to trigger special features or may award payouts, no matter where they land. Unlike standard symbols, they usually do not have to appear on a payline.
A common example is a free spins feature: land three or more scatters anywhere on the reels, and the game may award a number of spins at no cost to you. The specific rules, such as how many scatters are required and what they award, differ from game to game.
Bonus Symbols
Bonus symbols can unlock extra rounds or interactive features. These can include pick-and-click games, prize wheels, or themed challenges linked to the slot’s design.
In some games, bonus symbols may work like scatters, triggering their feature if they land. In others, they must appear on certain reels to be active. The game’s rules should explain exactly how they work.
Why Do Fruit Symbols Appear on Slot Machines?
Fruit symbols became popular in the early 1900s, when certain types of slot machines could not legally pay out cash. Instead, they awarded items such as chewing gum or sweets. The fruit pictured on the reels represented the flavour of the gum—cherries for cherry flavour, lemons for lemon flavour, and so on.
Even after cash prizes returned, fruit imagery remained a favourite. Today, fruit machines in the UK often still feature cherries, lemons, plums, and watermelons.
At Rose Casino, some classic-style online slots still use these symbols as a nod to that history.
3 Cherries Slot Machine Meaning Explained
On many traditional slot machines, cherries were among the lower-paying symbols. Three cherries on a payline often meant a modest prize, while rarer symbols like bells or sevens usually paid more.
Some older machines even awarded a small payout for a single cherry on the first reel. This helped keep the player entertained, as it meant there was a chance of winning something without needing a full line of matches.
In modern online slots, the value of three cherries depends entirely on the game’s paytable. In some, they can still pay a small amount; in others, they may have been given a mid-tier potential payout or used in themed bonuses.
Why Do Slot Machines Say BAR?
The BAR symbol dates back to the early 20th century. It comes from the logo of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company, a chewing gum maker whose machines awarded gum as prizes. The company’s logo looked like a rectangular bar, and this design was soon printed directly onto the reels.
Over time, the BAR symbol became a standard slot icon. Many machines use single, double, and triple BARs, with higher numbers usually paying more. Some games also pay for mixed BAR combinations. This system keeps the reels simple to read, while offering multiple prize levels.
Play Classic Slot Machine Games Online
Rose Casino is licensed and regulated by the Gambling Commission, providing a safe and fair place to explore online slots. You can find classic-style games with cherries, BARs, and sevens, as well as newer titles that build on those familiar symbols with fresh features.
Every game includes an information section that explains symbol values, paylines, and bonus rules.
If you already have an account, simply log in and pick a game that suits your style.
New to Rose Casino? Join online to explore the full collection and see how these classic symbols can be used in modern slots.
Please play responsibly. Set deposit limits that suit you and only play for entertainment.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these slot games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.