Slot machines have many nicknames. From the Liberty Bell and Vegas Spinners to One-Armed Bandits and Fruit Machines, there are many nicknames for brick-and-mortar and online slots. In the United Kingdom, they are best known as Fruit Machines.

You can go on this page to try out the online slot gaming experience if you haven’t already! Let’s jump into learning how slot machines became known as Fruit Machines so you can not only learn a piece of history but also understand why certain symbols are on modern-day slot units.

The Early Days of Slot Machines

Fruit machines is a British term for slot units. It all started when Charles Fey became the inventor of the Liberty Bell in the 19th century, which was the name of the first slot machine ever created. Card suit symbols, stars, and horseshoes were the main symbols on these early slot machines. However, it did not take long for fruit symbols to be the new norm on these casino gaming machines.

As American gambling laws became stricter in the 20th century, cash-playing slots were illegal in many places throughout the country. These slot machines started to dispense chewing gum and candy instead of money to get around these laws. The fruits contained on these machines showcased the gum flavors dispensed out of the machine such as cherries, plums, oranges, and lemons.

The Birth of “Fruit Machines”

Players started referring to these slot units as fruit machines because of the colorful fruit symbols pictured on the reels. The name continued to maintain popularity, especially in the UK where these units are mainstream in pubs and arcades.

Bell-Fruit Gum Company was a market leader in developing the early fruit machines whereas players were awarded fruit-flavored gum instead of cash because of the American laws at the time. Their main logo included a bell. Hence, modern-day slot machines now feature a bell in some virtual and brick-and-mortar slot units.

The Role of Fruit Machines In British Pub Culture

Fruit machines are more than just fun casino games at pubs: they have become cultural icons in the United Kingdom. They offer a mix of skill and luck with the incorporation of nudges and holds into the machinery’s layout so you can stop the unit when you want. Many fruit machines feature bonus rounds that could enhance winning chances more so than traditional slot machines that rely on landing on pay lines.

Fruit Machines vs Slot Machines: What’s the Difference?

Both terms refer to the same game. However, there are some key distinctions to note. In the United Kingdom, fruit machines are mainly found in pubs and arcades where there are nudges and hold buttons, adding another layer of strategy to the traditional game.

Slot machines are the term for physical and online units based in the United States in Canada where you can spin reels, possibly land on paylines, and experience bonus rounds beyond just witnessing the fruit symbols on the reels.

Are Modern Fruit Machines Still A Classic?

Modern fruit machines have expanded to more themes such as fantasy, movie franchises, and other pop culture references. However, the fruit symbols remain a nostalgic staple. Classic-style slot games in brick-and-mortar casinos and online ones continue to feature cherries, watermelons, and other fruit symbols for that nostalgic appeal.

Conclusion

The early term “fruit machine” is a reminder of how far slots gaming has come in forging creative ways for slots players to still enjoy the game even beyond legal challenges. Next time you see a cherry or a lemon on a fruit machine or slot machine, just remember that it’s not a randomly placed symbol: it’s an ode to the past.

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