Each slot in Canada has reels set-up that acts as a playing field displaying different symbols. While the old-fashioned machines featured fruity icons and sevens and bells, the array of symbols on today’s casino titles has changed considerably. Now, we are dealing with symbols in slot machines divided into two categories: payout symbols and special icons. So, let’s find out what we can expect from certain symbols on a slot machine reel.
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Let’s take our minds back to the beginning of the 20th century when a ban on gambling machines paying out winnings in coins came into effect. Saloons, to avoid banning, began to place slot machines that gave out fruit-flavoured chewing gum instead of cash payouts. So, it is now clear why the first symbols in slot machines were depicted as fruit. Half a century later, due to the popularity of poker machines, their card symbols also began to appear on the reels of regular slots. Although a long time has passed, in 2026 there are still card symbols on a slot machine reel depicted as card denominations. However, to provide a more immersive gaming experience, modern slots have added reels and some special symbols as well, as discussed below.
Often the most valuable symbol on the paytable of many slots in Canada, Wild serves a traditional substitute function, acting as any simple icon to help complete winning combinations. However, slot makers have gone even further by introducing several varieties of Wild:
In addition, several other types of Wild increase the chances of landing combinations in one way or another due to their ability to replace simple icons.
The key to some extras, such as the free spins bonus, Scatter is probably the most popular icon among special ones. When it comes into play, you can always expect some greater wins. As its name suggests, it forms valuable combinations without being tied to paylines. Simply put, you need to land 3 or more Scatters anywhere on the game grid to activate a particular prize feature. In some titles, Scatters work as symbols on a slot machine reel with additional payouts attached to them. For example, hitting a combination of three or more special symbols in slot machines will result in a fixed payout before the bonus game starts.
These are another kind of special icons that are always a joy to behold when they land on the reels, as they, like Scatters, are capable of triggering some bonus features. The key difference between the Bonus symbol and the Scatter is that the former has no payout attached. Bonus icons will not reward you with cash prizes if you land them in enough quantities to qualify for the bonus game. The reason this symbol gets its name is that it is directly responsible for activating the extra features.
When playing online slots, you’ll often see the so-called standard symbols, and they can be divided into 2 categories:
Notably, in some slots, the standard icons can take on the function of the special ones, usually in bonus rounds.
The main purpose of standard symbols is to form combinations of at least three – or more rarely two – matching icons located on active paylines. To win, you must land a combination with the first symbol located on the left-most reel, but this rule does not work for all titles. As for the bonus icons, they are introduced for triggering bonus features. In some games, bonus symbols are also paid if you form a combination of them. No matter their role, symbols in slot machines will always be an essential element of any title.
To find out the number of possible combinations, go to the paytable section. Here, you will find all the symbols available in the game and the minimum number of matching ones required to get a payout. The information contained in the paytable also gives you an idea of the value of symbols in slot machines.
So, now that you know everything you need about symbols in slot machines and the functions they perform, it’s time to try them in action. Play any slot you like in risk-free mode first. Once you understand how these symbols work, you can try your luck by switching to the real game.
Written by
Daniel King
Deep research and a pinch of creativity - these are my secret ingredients in online casino reviews I serve to my readers!
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In the 1890s, when the first slot machines were introduced, they displayed card symbols on the reels but were later replaced by fruit icons.
Stacked/expanding/sticky Wilds and Scatters with attached multipliers are the best icons in terms of potential payouts.
Introduced when slot machines paying out cash prizes were banned, BAR looks like a bar of gum.
