Ever wondered why cherries, lemons, and other colourful fruits keep popping up on slot machines, even in high-tech online games? These symbols almost feel like a tradition, but there is more to their story than you might expect.
From the flashing screens in your local arcade to the digital reels on your mobile, fruit symbols are everywhere. They instantly appeal to players and give slots a familiar feel, but their origins go back further than you might think.
If you are curious about why these fruity icons became such a staple, and what they actually mean, you are in the right place. There is a fascinating bit of history behind every spin, and it might just surprise you.
When Did Fruit Symbols First Appear On Slot Reels?
Fruit symbols first appeared on slot machine reels in the early 1900s, when manufacturers in America began redesigning their machines to award goods rather than cash. Many venues could not pay out money, so the machines offered “trade stimulator” prizes such as chewing gum or sweets.
The reels showed pictures that matched the flavours you could receive. Cherries, lemons, plums, and oranges were not random choices. They told you, at a glance, which flavour was on offer if the reels stopped in your favour. A cherry line might match cherry gum, while lemons could point to a citrus sweet. The images were bold and simple, so they worked well on painted metal reels.
As the format spread, the fruit look became part of the identity of the machines themselves. By the 1920s, fruit-covered reels were common, and the style stuck even as the prizes and mechanics changed. One famous offshoot was the BAR symbol, which grew out of the Bell-Fruit Gum Company logo and sat alongside the fruit signs on many classic machines.
When slots moved from mechanical cabinets to screens, designers kept the fruit. It was familiar, readable, and instantly connected modern games to their roots. Today, those cherries and lemons are mostly there for style and tradition, even when you are spinning on your sofa rather than in a seaside arcade.
So if fruit started as a way to show what you could win, how did cherries and lemons end up with star billing?
Why Are Cherries And Lemons The Most Common Symbols?
Cherries and lemons became common because they were clear, recognisable, and tied to early prize flavours. When cash payouts were restricted, these two stood out on the reels and on packaging. Players could see them in an instant, which made them ideal for fast-moving games on busy counters and bar tops.
Colour contrast mattered too. The red of cherries and the bright yellow of lemons were easy to spot against dark reel backgrounds. On older machines with small windows, sharp colours helped people track the outcomes without squinting.
Tradition then did the rest. Many classic payout tables used cherries as one of the most frequent low-value symbols, sometimes awarding a small return for even a single cherry showing in a winning position. Lemons often sat just above them in value. As fruit machines spread to pubs and arcades, these patterns became familiar, so designers kept them when new formats arrived.
New symbols have appeared over the years, but cherries and lemons have held their place because they make a game feel instantly readable. Which raises the next question: do these pictures change how a slot pays?
Do Fruit Symbols Affect Payouts Or Game Maths?
The pictures on the reels do not change the underlying maths of a slot. Whether you see fruit, bells, numbers, or anything else, outcomes are decided by a Random Number Generator, or RNG. This technology selects results independently on each spin, so previous outcomes do not influence the next one.
Each game also has a Return to Player, or RTP, shown as a percentage. This describes the long-term average proportion of stakes that the game is designed to return over time. It is not a prediction for any short session, but it does provide a guide to how the maths is set up. The artwork on the reels does not alter this figure.
Within a particular game, different symbols can carry different values. Three plums might pay less than three watermelons because the paytable and reel strips are designed that way. Volatility, which reflects how frequently a game tends to award smaller or larger outcomes over time, is also part of the design. None of these elements depend on the theme. Fruit remains a visual choice.
So if the artwork does not affect the maths, why do fruits keep coming back in new releases?
Why Are Fruit Symbols Still Popular In Modern Slots?
Fruit symbols endure because they are clear, cross the language barrier, and signal the classic slot experience in a single glance. Designers know that many people enjoy games that feel straightforward, and fruit imagery communicates that without needing long explanations.
There is also a usability angle. Simple shapes with strong colours remain easy to read on small mobile screens and from a distance on cabinet displays. That readability helps the action feel smooth, especially in faster games. The same principle explains why other long-running icons, such as bells and BARs, continue to feature alongside the fruit.
Nostalgia plays a role, but it is not the whole story. Fruit themes bridge the gap between land-based machines and online titles. A player who grew up seeing fruit machines in pubs or arcades can recognise the visual language at once, while a newcomer can understand what is happening without learning a complex set of symbols.
With all that in mind, you will still find fruit alongside modern features, bonus rounds, and crisp visuals. If you want to see how that looks in practice, here is where to start.
Play Slots Online at Clover Casino
Explore a wide range of slot games at Clover Casino, from classic fruit-themed titles to modern releases with extra features. The site layout is straightforward, so finding a style you enjoy is simple whether you prefer traditional reels or newer mechanics.
Each game page includes key details such as theme, features, and RTP, helping you compare options before you play. You can browse on desktop or mobile, with the same account giving access across devices.
Clover Casino is licensed and regulated in the UK, and uses up-to-date security to protect your account. If you are ready to see how classic fruit symbols sit alongside today’s features, log in and explore the latest slots on our site.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to these slot games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.