The Complete Guide to Slot Symbols

If you are like my younger self and have no idea whatsoever about those little fruits, swords, helmets and leprechauns dancing maniacally on the reels of slot machines, then you should read this guide about slot symbols.

I will help you get a basic idea of what the symbols on a slot machine actually are, what they do, how they relate to one another and how they contribute to shaping the entire gambling experience. Because, truth be told, even with such an excruciatingly simple casino game, you still need to know what does what in order to gamble responsibly and understand what you can win from spinning wins.

What Are Slot Machine Symbols?

Slot symbols are the visual icons on the reels of slot machines that determine winning combinations, bonuses, and the overall gameplay experience. Historically, these symbols were simple and straightforward, featuring basic designs like fruits and bells. 

However, as technology and player preferences have evolved, so too have the symbols, becoming more complex and theme-driven.

The role of slot machine symbols in the gaming experience is critical. They dictate not only the potential payouts but also how engaging the game can be. For instance, a game with vibrant, themed symbols can be more captivating than one with generic icons.
Basic Slot Symbols Crash Course

Besides their criminal simplicity and overall excitement, slots are hugely popular for their comically ridiculous diversity of themes and symbols. These are the core of every slot machine, be it virtual or land-based. Symbols exist to cater to a wide range of preferences, so if you were to think in retrospect, they have had an impressive evolution. Let’s discuss them and see what makes them so magical, shall we?

The Grandparents of Slot Symbols

Vintage slot machine symbols are the bedrock of classic slot machines. These include symbols like bars, bells, fruits, and sevens. 

• The bar symbol, for example, is derived from the early slot machines that dispensed chewing gum. 
• The bell symbol is a nod to the Liberty Bell machine, which was one of the first mechanical slots. 
• Fruit symbols, like cherries and lemons, were also commonly used because early slot machines often dispensed fruit-flavored gum as prizes.

Time for the New Kids on the Block

With advancements in technology, modern slot symbols have become more sophisticated and varied. They often align with the slot's overall theme, enhancing the player's experience. 

Besides classic slot machine symbols, thematic symbols are designed to fit a specific theme, making the game more engaging. For example:

• Cultural and Mythological Themes: These slots often feature symbols from ancient cultures and mythologies. Games like Book of Ra and Zeus include symbols of Egyptian gods and Greek heroes, respectively. These symbols are not just decorative; they add to the story and context of the game, making it more fun.
• Film and TV Symbols: Slots based on popular movies and TV shows use symbols that fans will recognize. For instance, the Jurassic Park slot includes dinosaur symbols, while the "Friends" slot features symbols of the main characters and iconic items from the show.
• Fantasy and Adventure Symbols: Fantasy-themed slots often include symbols like dragons, wizards, and magical artifacts. Games like Gonzo's Quest incorporate adventurous symbols that align with the game's storyline.

Okay, but What Does Each One Do?

Even though slot games focus exclusively on the random nature of gambling, there’s a reason why so many different symbols pop on the reels. Different combinations of symbols trigger different effects and/or payouts, so it’s important to have at least a basic understanding of the main types of slot symbols:

• Standard symbols (low and high paying);
• Wild symbols;
• Bonus symbols;
• Scatter symbols;
• Multiplier symbols.

Standard Slot Symbols

Standard symbols are the basic icons that appear on the reels and form winning combinations based on the game's paytable. These symbols can be numbers, letters, or theme-specific images. They don't have special functions like triggering bonuses but are essential for creating winning lines.

Wild Slot Symbols

Wild symbols are versatile and can substitute for other symbols to form winning combinations. There are various types of wilds:

• Expanding Wilds: These wilds expand to cover entire reels, increasing the chances of winning.
• Sticky Wilds: These remain in place for several spins, providing more opportunities to win.
• Shifting Wilds: These move across the reels, creating dynamic gameplay and additional winning chances.
• Stacked Wilds: As the name suggests, the wilds can stack on top of each other, which then gives you multiple ways to win. They are usually found in high volatility slots with multiple paylines.
• Random Wilds: These will randomly appear on the reels during bonus rounds, meaning more winning opportunities for you.
• Duplicating Wilds: Turn regular symbols into wilds.
• Walking Wilds: Move across the reels, often triggering respins.
• Overlay Wilds: Form shapes to replace regular symbols and activate bonuses.
• Colliding Wilds: Activate bonuses when they meet.

Scatter Slot Symbols

Scatter symbols are unique because they don't need to appear on a specific payline to trigger a win or bonus feature. Landing a certain number of scatters anywhere on the reels can activate free spins or other bonuses. 

Bonus Slot Symbols

Bonus symbols activate special bonus rounds, which can include free spins, mini-games, or other interactive features. These symbols are often key to unlocking the most exciting parts of the game. 

Multiplier Symbols

Multiplier symbols increase the payout of winning combinations by a specific factor, such as 2x or 3x. These symbols can significantly boost winnings, especially when combined with high-paying symbols or bonus features.

Slot Machine Symbols and Game Mechanics, Explained

Slot symbols are integral to the mechanics of the game, as some symbols can appear more often than others. This influences how well the game pays back and the overall gameplay.

What’s the Deal with Paylines and Symbol Alignment?

Paylines on slot machines are the specific patterns that symbols must follow across the reels to result in a win. 

Traditional slots might have a single payline, typically a straight line across the middle row, while modern video slots can feature multiple paylines, ranging from a few to hundreds of thousands. 

These can take various shapes, including horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and zigzag patterns. There are also megaways formats, where any symbol repeating on consecutive reels, regardless of its alignment, can trigger payouts.

Symbol alignment refers to how symbols land on these paylines to create winning combinations. 

For a win, a specific number of matching symbols must align on an active payline, starting from the leftmost reel and moving to the right in general. But this isn’t a general rule.

There are games in which the direction is from left to right but the combination can start from any reel, as seen in Juicy Fruits; and there are games that pay both ways, like Starburst or Extra Stars. 

The exact alignment required can vary depending on the game’s rules and the specific symbols involved.

Aligning three cherry symbols on payline 1 from the leftmost reel to the third reel could result in a payout based on the game's paytable.

Understanding RTP and Volatility

RTP, or Return to Player, is a crucial concept in slot games, indicating the percentage of all wagered money that a slot machine will pay back to players over time. 

For example, a slot with an RTP of 96% will return $96 for every $100 wagered, on average. The RTP is calculated over a long period and many spins, meaning short-term results can vary significantly.

Volatility, also known as variance, measures the risk level of a slot game and indicates how often and how much a player can expect to win. Slots can have low, medium, or high volatility, impacting the gameplay experience.

• Low volatility: Games with low volatility pay out small amounts regularly. It’s usually preferred by players who want steady gameplay with lower risk.
• High volatility: These slots offer larger payouts but with less frequency. If you like taking risks for the chance of big rewards, perhaps these games are for you.
• Medium volatility: These games strike a balance between frequency and size of payouts. It’s a good choice if you don’t want to lean towards either low or high volatility.

How Slot Symbols Activate a Game’s Special Features

Free spins are often activated by scatter symbols. When enough scatter symbols appear, free spins are awarded. There are different types of free spins: some give a fixed number, some can be re-triggered to get more spins, and some come with multipliers to increase wins. 

Progressive Slots

Progressive jackpot slots are particularly exciting because they grow with every bet until someone wins. 

The jackpots can be triggered in various ways, such as randomly, by landing specific symbols, or through bonus games. 

Popular slots like Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune are known for their large progressive jackpots, offering players the chance to win huge amounts.

Interactive Bonus Games and Slot Symbols

Bonus symbols can also trigger interactive games within slots. These games make playing more engaging and can offer extra rewards. 

Types of bonus games include pick-and-win, where you choose from several options to reveal prizes; wheel spins, where spinning a wheel decides your reward. 

Slots like Deal or No Deal feature pick-and-win games, while Gonzo's Quest offers a free fall bonus game with increasing multipliers for consecutive wins, making the gameplay more exciting and potentially more rewarding.

Tips and Tricks for Leveraging Your Knowledge of Symbols

I’m going to be honest with you.

There is no strategy that guarantees wins at slot machines. It’s just impossible. Since all these games are based on pure luck, you can’t actually predict or influence the outcome of the spins. 

What you can do, instead, is learn how the symbols work, how and how much a title pays, and how to adapt your bets and expectations. 

There are two main things to keep in mind when aiming for potentially lucky spins.

Assessing Wins with Slot Symbols

To understand and potentially improve your winning chances, focus on recognizing high-paying symbols. These symbols offer the best payouts and are often highlighted in the game’s paytable. 

Understanding symbol combination can help you get an idea of what you stand to win if you’re lucky enough. 

Look for games where wilds and scatters frequently appear, as they can substitute for other symbols and trigger bonus features. If you land combinations of these and high-paying symbols, you increase your overall win potential.

For example, in a high-volatility game, you might want to bet smaller amounts to stretch your bankroll, while in a low-volatility game, you might place higher bets for more frequent wins.

Learning to Use the Pay Tables

Reading and interpreting pay tables is crucial for understanding how much each symbol is worth and the potential winnings for different combinations. 

Pay tables show the value of each symbol and how many of them you need to land on a payline to win.

Knowing the value of each symbol helps you make informed betting decisions. 

Adjusting your bets based on symbol payouts is a practical strategy. 

You’re All Set for Starting Your Slot Gaming Adventure

Now you should have a basic understanding of one of slot’s core components: the symbols. The first and most obvious role of a slot game’s symbols is to set the theme and vibe of the title. 

We’ve seen how many titles out there bring forth a wide range of themes and aesthetics, from mythology, video games, TV shows, animals, history and a rendition of a grandma’s kitchen to your favorite rapper or soap opera.

Then, we have the symbol’s second most important role: determining the payout and the way it works with other symbols to create winning combinations.

Learning slot machine symbols meaning and how to recognize them is crucial for enhancing your slot gaming experience. 

I mean, sure, ignorance is bliss, and you can do what I used to do when trying my first slot games many years ago: just spin the reels like you’re playing the piano, be completely oblivious to what’s happening on the screen and just pray your bucks double, triple or quadruple.

But if you want to know what you stand to win and adapt your bets accordingly, then I suggest you do your homework, learn the inner workings of a slot game and never skip the responsible gambling part.