Slot machines almost all have the same set up. You pull a lever and watch the wheels spin, hoping for them to land on something that pays out.

Casinos know this, and over the years, a lot of money has gone into making each slot machine different to play. From celebrities to machines based on movies, there’s no predicting what you will find next time you are on the casino floor.

But what are the most popular slot machines of all time? Read on to find out!

10 Most Popular Slot Machines of All Time

Although the themes available change each year with the release of new movies and celebrities rising and falling from fame, there are a few themes that come up again and again.

1. Ancient Egypt

No slot machine theme has lasted as long or graced as many machines as ancient Egypt. We aren’t sure why this one is the most popular theme, but something about pyramids, mummies, and ancient treasure just screams winning theme.

While the exact details vary from machine to machine, pretty much every casino in the world will have at least one slot machine with Egypt on it.

2. Animals

This one is a bit more broad, but honestly anyone who has ever visited a casino has heard the iconic “buffalo!” shout of the famed buffalo machines. We think this theme has spanned decades thanks to the fact that native cultures in the Americas have revered buffalo and the fact that while once plentiful, they are now rare.

While buffalo are the most common animal theme to see, this one is titled ‘animals’ because in Asia, tiger themes are much more common. Yet they, like the buffalo, continue to be resilient to the changing tides of time.

3. Asian Themes

Speaking of which, Asia was once a far-off land that individuals in other parts of the world could only dream of visiting. As such, Asian themes became popular, whether it was the picture of a lotus flower, Buddha, or a pagoda.

Even though Asia is now accessible, Asian cultures are still some of the largest in the world and thus the presence of the machines have persevered, even if they exact décor of each machine has varied through the decades.

4. Fantasy

Fantasy has always held a spot on the casino floor, both with machines featuring Elven lore, The Lord of the Rings movie, and even dragons. When you think about it, most video games are rooted in fantasy as well, which explains why individuals would be more likely to gamble on these types of machines.

Of course, fantasy is another broad topic, but the fantasies of the general public have changed over the years, thus the machine design has too.

5. Fruit

Yeah, we aren’t sure why this theme is a thing, but fruit themed machines have always been popular—all the way back to the earliest slot machines which were literally spinning mechanical wheels! There is just something about colorful fruit that resonates with people, something which has been emulated in other games in recent years—namely, Fruit Ninja.

6. Sports

Casinos invest millions of dollars into ensuring they know their audience, and no matter how you look at it, the overwhelming majority of gamblers are still male. As such, sports themed slot machines continue to litter the casino floor decade after decade.

We suspect this is because sports predated casinos as one of the first things individuals placed bets on besides dice, with the popularity of these bets being traced back all the way to ancient Egypt. While the exact range will vary from casino to casino, we suspect you can always find a slot machine themed in soccer (football), baseball, and basketball.

7. Horror

There is a counterculture in the casino, one which rebels against the likes and tastes of other patrons. Though this culture has evolved over the years, there is still a large number of gamblers who prefer horror-themed slot machines.

This theme doesn’t go back in time nearly as far as the others, but if it does continue to persevere, ensuring you will see at least one horror-themed machine on every casino floor in the world.

8. History

Nostalgia is a very real thing in marketing, and though the early slot machines had nothing to look back on, now there are ample options. Whether it’s a slot machine fashioned like the early machines in the 1920s, or one that features depictions of the wild west, every casino floor will have one machine designed to induce nostalgia.

This is a bit more difficult of a trend to track, as what is considered “historical” varies widely by culture. So, you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to notice this one.

9. Holiday

People love holidays. We aren’t really sure why, but it might be something having to do with not having to work and getting to enjoy their time in a casino. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that holiday slot machines are a mainstay in casinos around the world.

The exact holiday depicted varies from location to location, but we have seen everything from Christmas to St. Patrick’s Day and even Valentine’s Day!

10. Movies and TV Shows

We know this one is a bit of a cop out, but there are always so many movie-themed slot machines on the casino floor, we just had to mention it. Of course, the movies depicted will vary based on what is popular, but we can guarantee you will always find at least one of these.

In Asia, you’ll find machines from popular K-Dramas, and in America, you’ll probably locate at least one Vegas Vacation and The Hangover Machine. In Europe, things are a bit more difficult to predict as popular movies vary by country, but there is almost always a machine-based on a popular superhero movie. In South America, the options vary widely, but we’ve heard rumors of Terminator machines, as well as ones featuring characters from popular soap operas.