Understanding Slot Game Symbols

by Tim | Jul 07, 2022

Understanding Slot Game Symbols

A lot has changed since the inception of the first slot machine, and online slots are now a completely different ball game from the classic fruit machines that we know and love. Of course, the technology behind online slots is a huge change from those found on the casino floor. However, another big difference comes in the form of the symbols used.

While some slot machines online have the usual three rows with the cherry, BAR and 7 symbols, most have completely evolved, and you’ll find more rows and a whole bunch of different symbols. So even if you know the symbols used in brick-and-mortar slot machines, you may still be unsure of the symbols used in online casino slots. Let’s take a look at what to expect when you play free online slots or online slots for real money.

Online slot symbols

Most online casino slots have a variety of different symbols that are generally categorised into standard symbols, scatter symbols, wild symbols and bonus symbols. Each category has a unique role to play.

Standard symbols

Standard symbols are the basic type of symbols that you’ll come across in every type of slot game. These are the symbols that you need to try to match across paylines to get a winning combination. Almost all online games have playing-card icons – ace, king, queen and jack – as the least valuable symbols in the game. In casino-based games or really old-school, classic online games, the low-value symbols are usually represented by fruit symbols like cherries, lemons, grapes and oranges.

You’ll then find higher-value standard symbols. In classic games, these are usually represented by the BAR symbol. In more modern games, however, they are usually symbols that fit the theme of the game. For example, you’ll find a ship, parrot, cannon, treasure chest and other similar symbols in a pirate-themed online slot.

The common characteristic that standard symbols all have is that they don’t have any other function in the game except for paying out when you land a certain number of them on a payline. In most games, you’ll need to land three or more standard symbols to form a winning combination.

Wild symbols

A wild symbol and multiplier in an online slot game.

Wild symbols are popular in all the best slots online, and you’ll certainly come across them. The most common role that the symbol has is to replace other symbols in a winning combination. For example, if you had a queen on reels one and three and a wild symbol on reel two, the wild would turn into a queen to create a winning combination for you. In most games, the wild will only replace standard playing symbols and won’t substitute for symbols like the scatter.

There are even different types of wilds found across online slots, and you could land expanding wilds, multiplier wilds and much more. The expanding wilds will cover the whole reel, while multiplier wilds will increase the amount you win when it forms part of a winning combination. For example, if it is a 2x multiplier wild and forms part of a winning combination, the amount you would normally win from the standard symbols is doubled.

Scatter symbols

Scatter symbols are some of the most exciting in online slots, and they usually have two functions within a game. They can be represented like standard symbols, where matching a certain number of them on your reels will result in a paying winning combination.

In addition to a payout, scatter symbols normally trigger one of the game’s special features and bonus rounds. This usually comes in the form of some sort of free spin feature. In most games, three or more scatter symbols will trigger the special feature round, and the more scatters that are part of the combination, the more rewarding the round will be. For example, three scatter symbols could give you 10 free spins, four scatter symbols could give you 15 free spins, and five scatter symbols could trigger 50 free spins.

Bonus symbols

A bonus symbol screen from an online casino slots game.

Bonus symbols are less common than scatter and wild symbols, but they are certainly highly anticipated. These are the symbols that usually trigger some sort of bonus game within a slot game where the payouts can be massive.

In most cases, this symbol won’t pay out any money on its own by forming a winning combination. It is strictly there to trigger the special bonus game. In many games, this symbol can only appear on certain paylines, such as the second, third and fourth, and you’ll need to land all three in order to trigger the special bonus round.

Play no-deposit slots in the UK

At The Phone Casino, we have a wide variety of free slots games for you to practice with before putting your own money down on any games. Our slot range is guaranteed to keep you entertained.

Create an account with The Phone Casino and play all your favourite online casino games.

Register today!

NO Deposit Required
Register

Something went wrong!

We haven’t been able to verify your address details.

The requires all Casinos to carry out Customer Due Diligence at certain intervals. As such, you are required to update your address details on this occasion.

To continue and access your account, we now require you to email us with proof of your address.

Please EMAIL one of the following documents to our Customer Support team:

  • 1. Utility Bill
  • 2. HMRC/Council Letter
  • 3. Bank/Credit card statement

The document cannot be older than 3 months from today's date and it

MUST be a complete document showing your name, address and the date of the document.

Internet downloaded documents are also acceptable in a pdf form.

The following CANNOT be used: Mobile Phone or Satellite/Cable TV bills.

Once our team have reviewed your documents they will be encrypted and stored within our secured server.

We do not pass any of your personal details to any third party marketing company.

Please email your proof of address as outlined above to?[email protected] or use the submit button below. Please include your mobile number or account ID.

Support hours are outlined in full here.

Documents will be processed as a priority.

This message will display until your details have been verified.

The requires all Casinos to carry out Customer Due Diligence at certain intervals. As such, you are required to update your address details on this occasion. Please fill in the fields below to access your account.

Always Play Responsibly

To revise any of your play limits at any time just look for the Responsible Gaming links at the footer of the page or in the Main Menu under Know Your Limits.

Also please do not hesitate to contact us or use the help links provided, if you need any further help or assistance.

You are seeing this message because you have hit a standard limit or because you have changed a particular set limit, a number of times.

Please note: Restrictions on your play can be set at any time from within the main menu.

You can limit play, deposit, losses or wins.

You can even set reminders to tell you how long you have been playing for.

Remember gambling should be fun and you should always play within your means.

By clicking confirm you acknowledge that you have understood you are in control of your gambling

Are you aware you have hit certain limits or that you changed certain limits again and again?

Are you aware that Customer Services are here to assist you if you need help?

Are you aware of your current limits and how you can change them?

Are you in control of your gambling?

Indicate the extent this statement applies to you and your gambling over the last three months.

Data Protection and updates

Data protection laws mean that we need the OK from you to keep you protected and to keep sending you news and updates about great things that are coming up, such as;

 First play of our latest games, casino products and innovations

 Exclusive cash and prize giveaways

 Fantastic exclusive bonuses and rewards designed for you

Simply click the button below to choose how you’d like us to keep you updated. Just give us the go ahead and we’ll keep you in the loop.

If you change your mind in the future you can withdraw your consent at anytime by using the stop or unsubscribe option in the message you receive.

To find out more about how we use and protect your personal information as well as your rights, please see our privacy policy.

VERIFICATION

In order to complete your verification and to process any withdrawal, we require you to upload one of the documents from the list below. This helps us confirm we are paying the right person and protects our players against any authorised use of their account.

Once received, your ID is encrypted and stored within our secured server. We do not pass any of your details to any third party marketing company.

Opening hours are outlined in full on the support menu. Documents will be processed as a priority.

Please email to [email protected] a copy of your;

  • Driving license
  • Passport
  • National Identity Card
  • Biometric Residence Permit

Great NEWS

It looks like you already have an account with us. The reference number is please either email us or call us on

Please update your mobile number.

In order to continue, we need to validate your current mobile number.

Please enter your mobile number as well as your current pin/password and then select UPDATE to save the changes.

We'll send you a free SMS to validate your mobile number later on.

If you think this message is displaying in error, please click the customer services link at the bottom.

Customer services

 ATTENTION REQUIRED

Congratulations, The Phone Casino is giving you £200.00 in real cash with no restrictions.

You are seeing this message because you are a valued and VIP customer.

Under the terms of its license, the Gambling Commission requires that The Phone Casino request additional information from its VIP customers to meet its licensing obligations.

The Phone Casino UK license number 00-039397-R-319363-002

All UK regulated, online casinos must abide by the regulations issued by the Gambling Commission and as such, you are requested to provide additional information so that The Phone Casino can meet the Gambling Commission’s requirements for:

  • Prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism; and
  • Social responsibility regulations.

Customer actions:

In order, to claim the free £200.00 cash and to remove this marker from your player account, you are required to provide one or more of the following types of documentation:

  • Copy of a recent p60;
  • Copy of a recent pay slip;
  • Copy of any other source of income (i.e. your company’s latest accounts, income letter from the government etc);
  • Copy of your most recent tax return payment (if self-employed).

Please email these documents to:

[email protected]

Our team will review your submission and aim to reply to you within 24 hours.

This message will remain in place until the documents have been accepted and you will be notified immediately when this notice has been lifted.

Thank you for your co-operation

The support team is on hand to assist you with any questions you may have. For support click here

 Documents are encrypted & stored securely. Your information is NEVER shared with third party marketing companies.