A short history
The first slot machines with spinning reels appeared in the United States at the end of the 19th century. The best known was Charles Fey's Liberty Bell: three reels, five symbols and an automatic coin payout. That is where the bell symbol comes from.
According to a popular account, fruit arrived on the reels in the early 20th century, when machines were disguised as vending machines that "sold" fruit-flavoured chewing gum. The BAR symbol, the same story goes, grew out of a gum maker's logo.
Electromechanical machines arrived in the 1960s, and the first video slots, with a screen in place of mechanical reels, in the 1970s. The 1980s brought the arcade aesthetic â pixel graphics and chiptune sound â that retro slots bring back today.
The classic symbols
| Symbol | Origin | Role today |
|---|---|---|
| Cherry | Early 20th-century fruit machines | Often pays for just one or two symbols |
| Bell | The Liberty Bell | Mid- to high-paying symbol |
| BAR | A gum maker's logo | Single, double and triple BARs pay differently |
| Seven | The lucky number | Usually the top symbol, especially the red 7 |
| Star, crown, diamond | Later classic machines | Often act as the scatter or wild |
Types of retro slots
- Classic three-reelers. One or a few paylines, minimal features, simple maths.
- Five-reel fruit slots. Classic symbols with more paylines, scatters and free spins.
- Pixel and arcade slots. 8-bit console graphics and sound on the outside, modern mechanics inside: cascades, multipliers, bonus buys.
- Hold & Win coin slots. Retro styling with a bonus round where you collect coin symbols on the grid.
Retro doesn't mean easier to win
The classic look is deceptive. A simple three-reel machine can be highly volatile: with no bonus features, most of the return comes from rare combinations of sevens. Retro slots can have higher or lower RTP than average, so check it in the rules just as you would for any other game.
More on RTP and volatility on our Slots page.
How to choose a retro slot
- Decide on a style: strict classic with 1â5 paylines, or retro looks with modern bonuses.
- Check the RTP and volatility in the game info.
- Look at the paytable: what sevens pay and whether a single cherry wins anything.
- Start with the demo version if the operator offers one.
FAQ
What is a retro slot?
A slot machine styled after classic mechanical or early video machines: fruit, bells, BARs, sevens, pixel graphics and chiptune sound.
Why are there fruit symbols on slot machines?
According to a popular account, early 20th-century machines were disguised as vending machines that dispensed fruit-flavoured gum. The symbols stuck.
Do retro slots pay out more often than modern ones?
No. How often and how much a game pays depends on its RTP and volatility, not on how it looks.