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Why Do Fruit Machines and Slots Use Fruit Symbols?

old style slot close upIf you consider yourself as a slot gamer, then you will likely have played games with fruit symbols. They appear on the reels, representing various fruits, and allow you to form wins from them.

A large number of fruit machines like this exist, and they’re not only online, either. They actually go back to land-based slot games, with original machines incorporating them. Thus, these symbols are well-known around the world. Wherever slot machines have been, players will likely be aware of them. A question remains, though – why do they make use of these fruits for their symbols?

The likelihood is that you have never wondered about this before. After all, most people playing casino slot games for an entertaining time. The idea of how they came about isn’t something that many players consider.

There is actually a rich history behind slot machine games and their symbols, though, with fruit symbols being some of the first used in these games. Therefore, we wanted to delve into the history of why fruit machines and slots use fruit as symbols. Join us as we have a look into this fascinating topic.

Going Back in History to the Early Days of Gaming

old liberty bell slot machine advert 1909

UnknownUnknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It would be easy to make a guess on why fruit symbols appear in slot machines. They represent gifts of nature and have the potential to trigger reward associations. Even if you were to look into Greek mythology, fruits represented various things. Fertility was one such representation, with mountains of fruit echoing this idea. Yet there is a much simpler answer to why fruits come into play in slots.

When it comes to slot machines, the original games of this nature came about in the late 18th century. Yet the very first gambling machine of this ilk gained prominence in 1887. Known as the Liberty Bell, it did not contain fruits on its three reels. Instead, it had hearts, diamonds, spades, horseshoes and the titular bell. The last of those was the most rewarding of all the symbols. A jackpot payout occurred with three of them lining up on the payline.

New additions like stars, moons, BARs and lines appeared alongside in following years. Unfortunately, the United Kingdom prohibited machines like this only a few years after. The British gambling scene ended up deteriorating as a result. A change had to take place to counter that move.

It wasn’t until 1913 that things changed, though. As a way of rebranding, the Bell-Fruit Gum Company opted for something different. It went for innocent and colourful imagery throughout its games. This was quite comparable to games that children would play. Through this, the company hoped people would see slots as a fun way of securing rewards and treats.

The solution to the restrictions came about with chewing gum of all things. An optional gum vending attachment became available. Through this, players could receive fruit-flavoured chewing gum treats from the machines. These came in cherry, lemon, orange, plum and other flavours. To make this work, designers of the games mimicked the flavour on the reels. Thus, the symbols of fruits started appearing within.

Every time a person used their money on these machines, it would guarantee a win. Yet instead of receiving money as a payout, they received a fruity chewing gum reward. Hit three cherries on the payline and a cherry-flavoured chewing gum was dispensed. Three lemons would provide you with a lemon-flavoured gum.

With a few small changes, the machines had transitioned from gambling devices. Now, they existed as chewing gum dispensers that anyone could “play”. One such manufacturer of such devices was the Mills Novelty Company.

By 1944, the company came under the ownership of Bell-o-Matic Corporation. It was this company that ended up distributing the gum machine attachments. Extra gum-vending machines were then manufactured by the company, too.

From Vending Machines Back to Slots

slot reels

Of course, a machine that pretty much sells chewing gum to users isn’t a slot game. It’s not something that could come under the “gambling category” because a payout always occurred. Instead, they were vending machines with a bit of an entertaining “game” in place. Yet despite these machines taking over for a while, it wasn’t the end of slot machine options. Far from it!

If you fast-forward a little bit to 1963, the fruity craze had spread to various countries. Bally and Williams, serving as two of the biggest slot machine developers, set to work. They began to adapt early slot models, turning them into machines suitable for the age. It was these companies which would introduce the first slot running on electromechanics.

In 1964, Bally designed the Money Honey slot game. On its reels were images of the fruits kept from the gum vending machines. The difference was that it provided monetary payouts instead of sweet treats.

As the late 60s came to prominence, Big Bertha launched. This game gained its power from five horsepower electric motors. Twenty-inch-wide chain wheels were also in operation, giving the machine its name. It still exists as the largest slot device ever constructed. Each pull of the lever would cost a huge $100. Today, it sits in Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas. Again, the fruit symbols were present on its reels from the very beginning.

By the 60s, laws were in place in various countries to legalise gambling slot machines. This led to them growing in popularity once again, and they remain at such a level today. So, why did the manufacturers of these machines choose to keep the fruit symbols. Plus, they still exist in online slot games released today. Thus, the idea behind them being present must be the same.

Lemons, cherries, watermelon and other fruit symbols are common within the reels. Fruits will provoke the taste buds when seen by gamblers. The thought process behind this was that if someone sees something like this, they will play. That may indeed be the truth for some players.

Yet, the initial reason for keeping the fruit symbols stemmed from nostalgia. Designers thought they would invoke memories for people from “playing” the vending machines. While gum wouldn’t be the payout, cash would be. On a psychological level, the hope was that the fruits would remind players of rewards.

Many people today will associate lemons or cherries or oranges with slot machines. They are often used as poster symbols in gambling advertising. Even today, slot games will utilise fruit symbols on their reels. The graphics are much more enhanced than in history, too. This helps the fruits to stand out and look juicier than ever before. Doubtless, this will appeal to some gamers.

Do Fruit Machines Still Hold Firm Today?

sweet-bonanza-xmasFruit machines are definitely a staple of casinos. They have been around for such a long time and they likely appeal to many people. Dramatic changes in their design and setup have occurred throughout those years. Of course, it’s likely that someone betting on a slot machine today wouldn’t be happy with chewing gum. Jackpot winners would likely thrown a fit of discontent at such a payout! Yet designers still draw inspiration from these machines.

You only need to look at a slot game such as Sweet Bonanza from Pragmatic Play. This merges the fruit symbols of yesteryear with the the modern-day video slot setup. Games still to this day incorporate such symbols into their reels.

Do these developers just want to play it safe? That’s not likely to be the case. People will play high-quality games, and if they are familiar with the symbols, it’s even better. There is a sense of knowing what to expect from a slot in this instance. Thus, players will access and place bets on a fruit-themed slot game today. This echoes the reasons for playing such games in the past.

The main difference is that today’s fruit-themed slots come with bigger prizes. They also incorporate many more features for you to experience. Rather than only offering the chance to win from matching symbols on a payline, there’s more. Bonus rounds appear in some, free spins functions are present in others. There is so much more that developers can do with slot games today. Fruit games today can cater to both types of gamers. Those who are looking for a nostalgic feeling and those who want modern-day mechanics.

Because developers also know how popular these games are, they have done something else. Slot machines from land-based casinos are available at online casinos. The software has gone through adjustments so that it caters to the online market. This way, there is a faithful replica of a real fruit machine accessible via the internet. With this being the case, it is clear that there is demand for fruit machines. Players enjoy them in both online and land-based circumstances.

Modern Takes on Fruit-Themed Games

juicy fruitsVideo slots are always adapting and changing with technology. Some developers utilise exceptional graphics and software for their games. This has led to fruit machine themes going beyond and into new realms.

The Thunderkick developer is a fine example of this being the case. If you load up the game Fruit Warp, you’ll see something altogether alternative. It still makes use of fruit symbols, but there aren’t any reels in place.

The fruit symbols float on the screen with every spin. It also provides updated fruits, with much more exotic additions to the screen. Thus, you will see starfruit, grapes, bananas, blueberries, and so on. The fruit theme comes to life in its own way through Fruit Warp.

Then again, there are those developers who want to keep things traditional. They’re modern-day companies, but there is definitely a sense of the classic in some games. Super 6 Timer from Stakelogic is one such slot release. The game design makes it look like a traditional machine within a casino. At the same time, the symbols on the reels feature very classic graphics. This type of game is still popular, though. Such releases are nostalgic for many people.

Regardless of which type of slot you prefer, the demand remains in place for them. This is why developers continue to utilise fruits as the base theme in their releases. Players still love spinning the reels of a game with fruit symbols on the reels. There is a certain simplicity that comes with these games. Not only that, but the link to something sweet and tasty remains in place. Gamers likely wouldn’t have that type of thought on slots with stars on the reels, for example. When it comes to fruits though, there is a certain sort of salivation there.

The likelihood is that these fruit-themed slots will remain in casino lobbies. They have been around for so many years that it would feel like something is missing without them. Developers will likely continue to adapt the theme and build new ideas around it, too. Fruit symbols and themes are here to stay in the gambling world.

A quick search online suggests that around 2,300 slots exist with this theme. They date all the way back to the early 2000s, and there are even upcoming fruit-themed slots. It is clear to see that this is a slot theme and symbol design that isn’t going away. Tradition wins out in the end!

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