What Are Wild Symbols and Scatter Symbols?
Slot machines are a fun and easy way to try to win some money on your downtime, but there are so many symbols; what do they all mean? It’s important you know the difference between the symbols on the screen before you risk your money.
From wild symbols to scatter symbols, it’s important you know what these symbols mean before you play. Read on to learn all about the different symbols on a slot machine.
What Are Wild Symbols?
On a slot machine with wheels that turn, you are generally spinning in the hopes of having your screen filled with a certain symbol that creates a line (meaning, they connect somehow as they cross the screen). A wild symbol is a substitute for all symbols, which can be used to create any combination. Similar to a wild card, you want wild symbols when you spin, as they can increase your chances of winning.
The look of the wild symbol will vary from machine to machine, but generally it will include the word “wild,” though on certain machines, the wild aspect is devoted to a certain character, especially in branded slot machines devoted to a specific show or individual. On the Buffalo machine, for example, the wild symbol is a sunset.
What Are Scatter Symbols?
Scatter symbols have more variance than wild symbols, and not all slot machines have them. Scatter symbols, when hit, trigger bonuses like free spins, bonus rounds, or unique multipliers. There isn’t always a rhyme or reason to scatter symbols, like there is for wild symbols, and sometimes you will have to collect multiple before they activate. Other times, just having one on your screen is enough, which is why these are referred to as scatter bonuses, because hitting one may “scatter” bonuses around that you don’t necessarily receive right away.
Scatter symbols, because their purpose varies widely, so does their appearance. They are rarely labeled “scatter” and instead labeled “bonus” or “free spins” on many machines. Like the wild symbols, branded machines may have something completely different. The scatter symbol on the famed Buffalo slots is represented by a gold coin.
Multiplier Icons
Multiplier icons are self-explanatory, but just in case you are new to gaming, these are icons which multiply your winnings from any specific round. For example, if you have a line of matching icons across the screen, and one of the symbols is a 2x, you will receive two times the normal payout for that line.
While these icons used to be quite popular and found on most machines, they’ve been phased out more recently, especially with the rise of branded slot machines with scatter icons which can distribute these bonuses at will. But if you head to where the older machines are in a casino (or the retro ones), you’ll probably find a machine with a multiplier icon!
Pick and Click Symbols
As you read further down this list, understand that you are reading based on prevalence. This means symbols listed high on the list are common, while ones low on the list are not. Our next one, pick-and-click symbols, tend to only be found in certain slot games, and depending on your preferences, you may never come across one.
Pick-and-click symbols tend to activate mini-games or special bonuses and can sometimes be found on progressive slot machines. They are also sometimes called Bonus symbols. That being said, it is more common to see a progressive jackpot symbol than a traditional pick-and-click. To our knowledge, the Buffalo slots we’ve been using as an example do not have a pick-and-click symbol. The Mega Moolah slot machine, however, does have a progressive jackpot symbol.
Stacked Symbols
Stacked symbols are another slot machine symbol type that is currently falling out of popularity. Stacked symbols are when more than one of the “basic” symbols appear on a single reel. These symbols were common on the old, wheeled machines, specifically the ones featuring the fruit, and often it was the cherries or other high-value regular symbols which would be stacked.
This doesn’t mean you won’t see stacked symbols anymore, especially if you play the old fruit-themed machines. However, they are becoming less and less common as slot machine creators replace them with other bonuses from this list (like scatter symbols) which are considered to carry a higher value for players.
Why Should You Know Slot Symbols Before You Play?
Slot machines are generally considered to be the easiest gambling games to play; however, they tend to cause players large losses at the same time. While slot machines are truly a game of chance, you can have a better chance at winning when you know the symbols for that game.
This is because game creators have gotten sneaky, often creating bonuses that need to be activated by players. That means that when you win a certain bonus (like for a mini-game) you might not even realize it if you don’t recognize the symbols.
There has been much debate about this in recent years, and many casinos have begun to offer gambling lessons to abide by regulations—however, most customers don’t know they exist or that they should be using them!
So, if you love slots, we recommend learning all about the symbols for your favorite machine or two before you head gambling. This can ensure that you are aware of the bonuses you may win, as well as give you further instruction on how to play. If you’re new to gaming, don’t be afraid to ask about gambling classes at your local casino—most of the time they are free. Of course, on the flipside, you can read blogs just like this one and use the internet to complete your research. Either way, the choice is yours, and good luck!
