Why Do Slot Machines Use Fruit Symbols?

Walk through any casino lobby in the real or digital world and the same cherries, lemons and plums will likely appear. Fruit has been part of slot design for more than a century, and it still shows up alongside modern titles such as the slot game Big Bass Bonanza. The question is why these cheerful little icons took root and why they remain so visible today.

Let’s take a closer look.

A Little Slice of Slot History: Gum Prizes to Fruit Machines

The story goes back to the early 1900s, when strict rules around cash payouts encouraged manufacturers to offer non-cash rewards. Machines dispensed chewing gum or sweets instead of money, and reels were decorated with the flavours on offer: cherries, oranges, lemons, and plums.

The famous BAR symbol is widely thought to be traced to a gum company logo, simplified so it would read cleanly on a small reel. In the UK, the nickname ‘fruit machine’ stuck, and it has been used ever since to describe everything from pub cabinets to modern online releases.

Those early cabinets needed to communicate outcomes easily.

Fruit did the job perfectly: bright shapes, strong colours, and easy recognition, even in low light. Symbols were simple to print and durable enough for repeated use, which mattered when reels were physical strips rather than digital assets.

As slot technology evolved—from mechanical reels to electromechanical, and later to video and online—those images were carried forward as a visual shorthand for ‘this is a slot’.

Why Did Fruit Stick Around?

Well, nostalgia plays a part. Fruit icons connect today’s games to the so-called golden age of arcade and pub play, and that link could make new releases feel familiar straight away.

Designers also value clarity. A cherry or a lemon reads faster than many themed illustrations, so players might understand the grid without digging through a long information page. That quick readability can also be helpful on small screens where space is tight.

There’s also the factor of flexibility. Fruit symbols slot neatly into almost any paytable, leaving room for modern extras (scatters, wilds, multipliers) without cluttering the reels.

Retro Appeal in Modern Lobbies

Even with today’s varied themes like fishing, mythology, or adventure, the fruit symbol remains popular. It signals a simple style that many people still enjoy, and it offers a neutral background for the many innovative features that define newer releases. A modern title might combine old-school cherries with cascading reels or free spins, while another could add a progressive prize while keeping the traditional set of symbols front and centre.

Crucially, fruit icons have become part of the shared language of slots. Seeing a row of lemons might remind players of a favourite cabinet on a seaside pier; a single cherry could suggest a near-miss from an earlier era. That cultural memory helps explain why developers continue to revive the look. It keeps retro fans engaged, introduces newer players to a familiar visual setup, and maintains some continuity from the earliest machines to today’s online collection.

In short, fruit icons endure because they are clear, flexible and culturally recognisable qualities that might keep those cherries and lemons spinning for years to come.