Ultimate Slot Machine Symbols Guide
Slot Machine Symbols Explained - Ultimate Guide to Slot Symbols & Bonuses
Before playing slot games from leading game providers at Stake Casino, you need to understand what symbols are and how they work.
Symbols are integral to all slot games, from progressive jackpot slots to Megaways titles. Here, we explain everything you need to know about slot machine symbols so you can spin the reels and land big payouts at Stake.com.
What are Slot Machine Symbols?
Symbols are integral to online slot games, powered by random number generators (RNGs), as they determine the value of winning combinations that land on the reels. Each game has low-value and high-value symbols, which are indicated in the game’s paytable.
For example, a game might have 5 low-paying symbols (10, J, Q, K, A) and 5 high-value symbols (a fish, a snake, an eagle, an elephant, and a lion).
The objective of a slot game is to land winning combinations of these symbols on any of the game’s paylines. Naturally, the high-paying symbols offer the biggest wins, as they are the most valuable symbols in the game.
History of Popular Slot Symbols
Slot machines were created in the late 19th century by Charles Fey. The Liberty Bell slot machine featured simple symbols like a horseshoe, stars, and standard card icons. From there, slot games evolved and became what we know today, starting with classic slots.
Classic slot games are often known as fruit machines as they tend to use fruit symbols as the main pay symbols. The low-value symbols tend to be fruit icons like cherries, watermelons, and lemons, while the high-value symbols in these games include things like bells, BARs, and lucky 777s.
Though these Vegas-style slots are still popular at Stake.com, software studios release a huge range of games that include loads of well-designed symbols, from Greek mythology games to Egyptian slots.
Why Slot Machine Symbols Matter?
Playing at online casinos is all about being entertained by the games you choose. Whether you’re keen to explore video poker or you enjoy cluster pays slots with cascading reels, symbols are the heart and soul of what makes those games work.
Having an immersive experience while playing your favourite progressive slots would be impossible without game symbols to guide you on the reels. It’s thanks to game symbols of every shape and size that a grand jackpot could be at your fingertips!
Whether they’re card symbols, fruit icons, and beautiful works of art, symbols are what make slot games as enjoyable as they are with every spin.
Types of Slot Symbols & How They Work
In addition to regular symbols, slot games by providers like Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Nolimit City, and many others tend to include a host of special symbols to make things even more interesting and to potentially increase the value of your wins. Common types of symbols on modern video slots include:
Wild Symbols
Wild symbols can substitute for all regular paying symbols to create winning combinations. So, for instance, if two gems land on one payline and are accompanied by a wild, you would earn a payout for three-of-a-kind.
Wilds can also come in the form of stacked symbols and sticky wilds. Stacked wild symbols are stacked across multiple rows on a single reel, therefore increasing the chance of landing on a line. Whilst sticky wild symbols are similar to regular wilds, they stay on the playing grid rather than disappearing after the reels spin again.
Scatter Symbols
Scatter symbols are your keys to the bonus game. Most slots require three scatter symbols to land across the reels, which then triggers access to the bonus game. For example, three scatter symbols might provide a payout of 50x the bet alongside ten free spins rounds. Some slots have bonus buy options that let you buy scatter symbols to trigger the bonus game right away.
Multiplier Symbols
Multiplier symbols increase the value of winning combinations. For instance, if you land a 2x multiplier as part of a 40x regular game win, the multiplier would deliver a payout of 80x the bet. The size of the multiplier varies from game to game, but you can expect to see anywhere between 2x and 100x the bet. You'll find a lot of multipliers in slot games with Hold & Win features, which you can read more about on our blog.
Bonus Symbols
Bonus symbols are like scatter symbols, as they trigger access to the game’s bonus features. As some games have multiple bonus symbols, it’s best to check the paytable to understand their functions before spinning the reels.
Sticky Symbols
When they land, sticky symbols remain on the reels for a predetermined number of spins. These symbols are commonplace in bonus rounds like free spins, and lock onto the reels until the end of the feature. This is beneficial because they can help you form wins for the duration of the bonus game.
Mystery Symbols
Some slots make use of mystery symbols. When these land in the game, they tend to transform into a specific symbol that offers a particular modifier or bonus feature. Mystery symbols may also transform into high-value symbols, depending on the rules of the game in question.
Standard Symbols
Finally, standard symbols are those that are included in the game’s paytable. There will be low-value symbols (often 10-A royals) and high-paying symbols, which are aligned to the game’s theme, be it ancient, Latino, sea, or the Wild West, for example.
Slot Machine Symbol Comparison
| Symbol Type | Main Function | Key Features & Variations |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Symbols | Substitute for regular symbols to complete wins | Variations: Standard, Stacked, Expanding, Sticky, Walking/Shifting. Cannot substitute for scatters/bonus symbols. |
| Scatter Symbols | Trigger free spins and bonus games | Typically 3+ needed. Also pay directly (2x-100x bet). Work anywhere on reels. |
| Multiplier Symbols | Multiply win values | Range from 2x-100x. Common in bonus rounds. Can combine with other multipliers. |
| Bonus Symbols | Activate special features | Functions vary by game - wheel spins, mini games etc. |
| Sticky Symbols | Lock in place for multiple spins | Common in free spins/respins. Remain until feature ends. |
| Mystery Symbols | Transform into other symbols | All mystery symbols on screen typically transform into the same symbol type. |
| Collector Symbols | Collect cash values/multipliers | Common in Hold & Win features. Award accumulated values from other symbols. |
| Expanding Symbols | Expand to fill entire reel | Trigger when part of a win. Most common in free spins features. |
| Standard Symbols | Basic paying symbols | Low-value: 10-A card royals. High-value: themed symbols. Pay per paytable. |
How Many Symbols are in Slot Machines?
This really depends on the game, but most slot games have between five and 12 regular symbols. Each of these symbols is attributed a value, which is paid out when at least three of these symbols land on one of the game’s paylines.
In addition to the regular symbols, the game might also include various special symbols like wilds, scatters, and multipliers. These slot machine icons can unlock special features and big bonuses, depending on the type of slot machine.
What are the Best Slot Symbols, Combinations & Tips to Win
To determine the best slot symbol and combination, you need to check the game’s paytable. Typically, most slots require you to land combinations of at least three symbols in a specific pattern across the reels to earn a payout.
In most games with five reels, landing five of the most valuable symbols in the paytable will yield the biggest payout in the base game. This could be 5 candy symbols or 5 animal symbols, depending on the theme of the game in question.
You can also land wins when the wild symbol contributes to a winning combination, and when the wild has a multiplier attached, you can potentially land huge payouts as a result.
While slots are games of luck, there are some things you can do to boost your winning chances when you spin the reels:
Learn how to play slots and check out our guide that explains the ins and outs of slots to fully understand how these games work.
Our how to guides are also packed with top tips, and our online casino guide is the perfect resource as you place your bets.
Browse through our best games - including games only on Stake and Stake Originals - to discover a wide variety of slot games to play. This keeps things interesting as you spin the reels.
You should always read through the rules and study the paytables in every slot game that you play, so you know how to win and how much you can earn when winning combinations land.
Odds, House Edge & Return to Player (RTP) Explained
Every slot game is unique, so you need to refer to the game description before placing a bet. A game’s return to playerpayout percentage (RTP) is important, as it indicates how much, over time, a game typically pays out. The higher the RTP, the lower the house edge, which is ideal for players.
You should also look at a slot’s volatility to discover how frequently a game pays out. Slots with high volatility tend to payout higher amounts less frequently, while low volatility games typically payout smaller amounts more frequently. Medium volatility games are somewhere in between the two.
If you're keen to learn more, check out our slot volatility guide for more information.
How to Deposit & Withdraw Funds to Play Online Slot Games
Playing slots at Stake Casino is easy! Start by accessing your account using secure login methods, like a passkey and then deposit in a local currency or via cryptocurrencies.
We support plenty of local currencies, including ARS, CLP, CAD, VND, INR, and TRY. If you’d prefer to view your balance in other currencies, we support that option from your wallet. Find more information about our local currency options on our community forum, as well as our local currency payment guide.
If you’d prefer to use cryptocurrencies to make a deposit, we support many of the best coins on the market, including BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, Doge, LTC, SOL, TRX and more. Using a seamless crypto payment system like Mesh is a great way to make deposits with ease. You can find the full list of available cryptocurrencies, our recommendations, and our guide for choosing the right coin on our blog.
To buy your chosen crypto, we recommend using reliable crypto exchange platforms such as Moonpay and Swapped.com . Stake also supports Swap Crypto , a feature that lets you exchange one crypto coin for another.
If you’re in need of help, our customer support staff is available 24/7 to help with issues like depositing and withdrawing units, and more. You can also learn all about using the Stake Vault to securely store your funds online. Read our crypto security guide for more information.
Stake Casino Promotions, VIP Club & Responsible Gambling
The best way to boost your bankroll while playing casino games is to unlock the current promotions, slot tournaments and bonuses available to new and existing Stake customers, which offer great value gaming.
The more you bet at Stake.com, the more exclusive rewards you can earn as part of the Stake VIP Club, which is a great way to maximise your winning chances while playing online slot machines! You can get your hands on rakeback bonuses, reload offers, and even a VIP host at higher levels. Learn more by reading the VIP FAQs post on our blog.
Please always remember to gamble responsibly at Stake.com. You can find out how to stay in control with our Stake Safe guidelines, and it’s important that you set your limits, bet within your means, and stay in control. Use our gambling calculator and learn how to set a budget to play with handy tools.
