Wild Symbol Slot Machine
Wild Symbols can be found in every type of online slot machine. 3-reel slots like Couch Potato have wild symbols; 5-reel slots like Tomb Raider have wild symbols; progressive slots like Major Millions have them; MegaSpin slots like High 5 have them; even Multi-Player slots like No Worries have them. All Slots has every type of online slot machine and every type of slot machine wild symbol.
Since their appearance at the end of the 19th century (around 1895), slot machines changed the very essence of the term ‘entertainment’. They revolutionized the traditional way of gambling that people who were into that had practiced it until then with various card-based games. Of course, since then slot machines have changed beyond recognition. From mechanical appliances to today’s modern hi-tech ones, and from the ones that needed a croupier to pay out winnings to players to today’s online virtual machines whose contemporary software enables almost instant payouts.
However, although the machines have changed radically, the one thing that remained surprisingly consistent is the slot symbols. A lot of this consistency is down to tradition and the fact that most gamblers like familiarity. This doesn’t mean that they haven’t changed at all or that there’s a lack of innovation from the side of the casino industry. Modern icons are a million miles away from the traditional ones that dominated the casinos up to the 1970s. The earliest ones included diamonds, hearts, spades, and a Liberty Bell.
These come in various sizes and shapes: from famous historic characters to the ones borrowed from popular movies, TV shows, and popular culture in general. This is done mainly because it helps players to easily identify themselves with those games.
If you’re a newcomer to this type of fun, maybe you would like to get familiar with all those different symbols you can find in casinos today. It’s good to know that they are all unique in offering various game features and bonuses but that at times they can cause slight confusion too.
Contents
- 1 Standard symbols
Standard symbols
Before we get to the modern icons, maybe it would be useful to give a brief overview of the first symbols used by traditional machines.
Cards and poker
As it was already said, cards, especially poker, were commonplace in traditional American saloons, just like fistfights and gunfights. Therefore it was no surprise the very first, primitive slots used card symbols and colors – spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds.
The poker symbols remained dominant until the reduction of reels from five to three. But even today you can find that there are still many casinos using machines with cards and these motives, and one of the most famous ones comes from there – lucky number seven.
Fruit icons
Regardless of whether you are into these machines or not, you must have wondered why fruit appears in most of the slot machines you can find in today’s casinos and gambling houses. Fruit icons have become a standard, traditional symbols, and their usage started at the very beginning of the 20th century when these machines became widely banned. To get around this ban, gambling companies started creating slots that started paying out winners in gums and fruits instead of cash.
So, there’s the answer to the question of what do all those juicy fruit icons mean – these would actually be bubble gum flavors! Since then lemons, cherries, oranges, apples, and pears have become so popular that they are now inevitable in almost every major casino.
Scatter symbols
img source: freepik.com
These icons are a common additional, bonus feature that most of the modern (traditional and online) slots have. They all have specific functions depending on the game you’re playing. In some slots, they might trigger various types of bonus features, while in others they might even act as multipliers or a substitute for other icons to help create a winning combination.
But, does this mean that all slots have Scatters? No, it doesn’t. Although they’re very common in many types of games, there are still many slots, especially the online ones, that don’t really feature these types of icons.
Bonus symbols
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These are very similar to scatters but they trigger a special bonus game. Scatters and bonuses can often alter their functions – sometimes the scatters could trigger the bonus game, while special free spin symbols start the free spin rounds. In most cases though, the bonus icons are linked to the slot’s overall theme. Their mechanics often vary from game to game, so it’s a good idea to check it in advance, so that you may know what to expect.
Bonus games are usually the slot’s most innovative features. Bonus games could also require some decision-making, so you should be ready for some quick screen interactions, but since slots are universally liked for their simplicity, it’s very unlikely that you’ll find some gameplay elements that would actually be difficult for you. But at the end of the day, just like in any other casino game, bonus rounds always come down to luck.
Wild symbols
For people who aren’t familiar with slot machines in general wild symbols could be a kind of mystery. But the truth is that these icons have been there from the very beginning of the machines. They are the equivalent of the Joker in a cards deck. The Joker is a Wild card.
The only reason for their existence is to make a game more interesting and more enjoyable. They have the ultimate power to replace any other symbol in the game and they even help when trying to complete a pay line and collect winnings.
The only exceptions when it comes to the substitution are the Scatter and the Bonus icons. The first ones will payout no matter where they appear, while a certain number of bonus icons trigger free rounds of extra spins. Just as there are different slot game types, there are also different types of Wild Symbols. Many modern online casinos like Slots-o-Rama have a plethora of special wild symbols, each bringing a unique zest to the game.
Multiplier symbols
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These are among the ones that you might rarely receive. Their purpose is exactly what their names say – they multiply your wins. They can appear on reels just as any other icons and can also multiply the prize of any winning combinations they join. Naturally, due to their purpose, not many slots feature multipliers, and their number on the reels is usually on the low side to compensate for their high cash returns.
Now that you know the history of modern slot machine symbols and what they mean, maybe you would like to try them for yourself. But whether you choose machines with more traditional icons or the modern ones, remember – it’s the passion that still rules the game!
On this page, we take a look at the main types of slot machine symbols and features you can expect to find in slots machines. If you're new to slots, our handy guide below will provide you with all the information you need to know.
Wild Symbol
Wild Slot Free
A Wild symbol is one of the most common types of slot machine symbols. It can be found in the vast majority of modern 5 reel video slots machines. A Wild symbol simply substitutes for any other symbol. Rules vary depending on the game so you may find a Wild does not substitute for certain symbols, such as the Scatter symbol.
Exactly what happens when you get a winning line with the help of a Wild will also depend upon the rules of the game you are playing. For example, landing a winning line with the help of one or more Wilds may trigger bonus games, free spins, jackpots or other rewards.
As well as the standard Wilds, in some of the latest video slots machines, you can find Expanding Wilds. Which expand vertically or horizontally to helpfully cover more spaces on the reels. There's also Sticky Wilds which will stay in their position when you next spins the reels.
Scatter Symbol
The Scatter symbol is another very common symbol in slots machines. Scatters are really useful slot machine symbols. They can help you create wins regardless of where they land on the reels.
Depending on the game you are playing. Scatter symbols wins may trigger special features such as free spins, or bonus games. In which case they may also be known as Bonus Scatters.
Pictured is a Scatter symbol from our Merlin's Cave slot machine. Getting 3 or more anywhere on the reels will trigger the free spins feature.
Bonus Symbol
Bonus Symbols are symbols with the specific task of triggering bonus features. When they are part of a winning payline. The look of Bonus Symbols varies from game to game.
Please note that many slots machines do not have a specific Bonus Symbol. Offering instead Wild and or Scatter symbols which may trigger bonus features when they are part of a winning payline. These can be thought of as Bonus Wilds and Bonus Scatters. They will often be described as such in a game's paytable.
Pictured is a bonus symbol from our brilliant Robin Hood slot machine. Getting 3 or more anywhere on a payline triggers the Archery bonus game feature.
Free Spins Symbol
Free Spins Symbols are found in many 5 reel and video slots machines. Offering as they do the chance to spin the reels without spending any of your credits. Slots with Free Spins symbols are well worth keeping an eye out for. The nature of Free Spins symbols and Free Spins rules vary from game to game. You can find slot machines in which the Free Spins symbol only appears in a bonus game.
Typically a Free Spins feature has predefined limits such as rewarding you with 3 free spins. Before normal play resumes. However, you can find slots in which Free Spins can be re-triggered during your Free Spins feature. Which means that, in theory, and if you're lucky, you can spin for free many times, repeatedly winning more free spins rounds!
The majority of our slots machines have a free spins feature. The screenshot shows the free spins symbol in our Slots of Vegas slot machine.
Multiplier Symbol
Multiplier symbols appear in many video slots machines and are well worth looking out for. A multiplier symbol, as they imply, will multiply a win. So for example, if you win 300 credits with an x2 Multiplier symbol on your winning payline. Then you will win 600 credits. Multipliers can appear in the base game and/or bonus games or sometimes during special modes. Such as during Free Spins rounds. You can find slots where your multiplier increases with the idea being you try to build up your multiplier to the maximum amount.
Wild Symbol Slot Machines
Gamble Feature
Many slots machines have what is known as a Gamble feature. Typically this is triggered after a win and is a game of chance in which you can opt to gamble on the outcome of a random event. Such as the value or suite of the next playing card to be dealt, or the result of a dice throw (eg if it will be Odd or Even.)
Usually, the gamble feature odds are 50/50. If you guess correctly you'll double your winnings. Beware though - guess incorrectly and you'll lose your win. If you gamble and win. Some gamble features may give you further chances to win even more with subsequent gambles. Continuing until you opt to quit and return to the main game. Or predict incorrectly and so lose any accumulated gamble game winnings.
The gamble feature screenshot is from our Halloween Party slot machine. Which gives you the option of gambling on the playing card color or playing card suite.
Slot Themes
All slots machines have their own individual theme. Themes are varied and cover things such as sports, holiday seasons, adventure and exploration, Halloween, animals and wildlife, Science Fiction, ancient history, and legends etc. Such themes will determine the overall look of the game, of course. Be it a game that's set in the Wild West or a game with a glamorous and girly look set in a shopping mall or city location.
One of the most popular themes with slots players both online and in real-world casinos is the Cleopatra. We even have our very own Cleopatra themed slot with many of the features described on this page. Including a Pyramid bonus game, scatter symbol, wild symbol, and free spins feature.
Some of the big slots developers have attractive big budget slots machines with themes based on popular franchises. Such as famous Superhero and comic book characters. Including Spider Man & Judge Dredd. TV shows such as the X Factor, Hollywood stars and even video game characters. Playtech, for example, have a famous selection of DC Comics Superheroes slots machines. While developer Microgaming has video slots themed around Game of Thrones, Tomb Raider, Hitman, Batman, Hell Boy, Terminator and more.
If you take a look at our main slots page you can see we have plenty of themes to choose from. Including sports, shopping, Halloween, Christmas, Valentines and many more.
Now you're an expert on slot machine symbols and features you might also like to read our guide to the different slots types you can play. Or read up on the history of slots machines and check out our handy guide on how to play slots