Fruit Icons in Gambling Themes – Why is Fruit So Popular?

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In some countries, “Fruit Machines” can be used as the term to describe slot machines. So what is the deal with fruit? Why is it so popular in the world of casino gaming and gambling?

Even today, when there are loads of different themes available (people can even play slots based on Mexican food) there are still a great deal of slot games that have fruit as the main symbols. Manufacturers who were building those early slot machines could have chosen pretty much anything, so what is the story behind fruit slots, or “Fruities” as they say in the UK and Australia?

Where Fruit Icons Started

Casino history and gambling history can sometimes be debated, as a lot of the games started a long time ago, so many people don’t know the ins and outs of how casino games were invented and how they spread.

It is generally agreed that the origins of these colorful symbols lie in the history of the slot machine itself. In the early 1900s,

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slots were made as vending devices that dispensed fruit-flavored gum or candies. Reels featured fruit symbols such as cherries which actually represented the flavors of the gum.

Games would eventually be transitioned into ones with cash prizes and those that dispensed coins, but the symbols still remained. Tradition is a big part of the industry, which means that a lot of symbolism survives for centuries. People always associate fruit with slots, which means when people see a slot machine they almost expect cherries and the like to be the symbols on it.

Why Fruit Symbols Work

If you actually analyze why this works, and what has made fruit symbols such an enduring part of the industry, you’ll see that fruit symbols were actually a brilliant choice. Whether this was intentional or not, we’ll let you decide.

They’re colorful, and they are easy to understand – these symbols stand out and catch the eye, which is crucial in a gaming environment filled with distractions. Fruits are different colors (of course) and this also helps to differentiate. Say a slot machine uses cherries, oranges, and lemons, the fact they’re all different colors means it is easy to see whether there’s a match or not.

The tradition for some gamers plays a part, so familiarity with these icons also evokes a sense of nostalgia, particularly for seasoned gamblers who remember the classic slot machines and 

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one-armed bandits of the past. This nostalgic connection can remind players of a different time in the history of gambling.

Some themes may carry specific cultural or regional connotations but fruits are universally understood meaning slots can be distributed all over the world.

Modern and Diverse Themes

A shift in the industry came when slot machines switched from simply being mechanical to being software. Coded in 

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HTML5 or other similar languages, the games are easier than ever to create. Factories aren’t needed to produce physical reels that spin, and people can simply use the existing platforms to make a slot game that has a new set of features and functions.

Developers manage to create hundreds of new slot games each year and this is one of the reasons why we’re seeing new themes.

Some themes are considered classics, and there are a lot of games with shared themes. Mythology and fantasy themes also provide a significant portion of the slot market. Games may draw on Greek mythology and feature gods and heroes such as Zeus within stories of epic adventure. Imagery from ancient civilizations can sometimes provide a good basis for a game, plus a lot of these games have characters in them based on the gods.

Seasonal themes are massive, too. Around the festive period, more people might be looking to play things like Christmas slots and those that have imagery reminding people of the Christmas period.

Animals are big in the world of slots, and the African safari theme, showcasing a variety of wildlife, is seen in loads of different slots. Adventurous themes attract players who enjoy exploring the wild and experiencing the thrill of a safari.

Themes may also include modern TV shows and movies, which provide an added layer of interest plus familiar characters. Some of these games are even officially tied in with the franchises, but some just provide a similar feeling. Remember when a certain chemistry-based television show was a hit? Plenty of slot games came to the market as a result of this.

Conclusion

Fruits work so well due to the fact they’re different colors and are instantly recognizable. Plus, the fact these machines have been about for so long means people are used to fruits as the symbols. Games aren’t really restricted now as code means that people can use their imagination to create games in virtually any theme, but fruits are still a mainstay.