Slot machines are easy to recognise by their spinning reels and colourful icons. Among them, the BAR symbol is one of the most familiar. You’ll often see single, double, and triple BARs, yet many people are unsure what they actually mean.
There’s a story behind these symbols that reaches back to early machines and even chewing gum. Over time, BARs moved from company branding to a staple of classic slot design, shaping what we still see today.
In this article, you’ll find where the BAR symbol came from, how it spread into modern slots, and how it fits into pay tables. Along the way, we’ll clear up a few myths and keep things grounded in how slots really work.
What Does The BAR Symbol Mean On Slot Machines?
The BAR symbol is a simple rectangular icon with the word “BAR” across it. You’ll most commonly see single, double, and triple versions on the reels, usually sitting alongside cherries, bells, and sevens.
In modern slots, BARs work like any other symbol. Matching the required number on a payline can award a prize, with single, double, and triple BARs usually paying at different levels. The symbol itself has no special function baked in and does not alter a game’s mechanics.
Every spin is determined by a random number generator. That means BAR symbols, like all others, appear according to the game’s programming, and outcomes cannot be predicted or influenced.
How Did The BAR Symbol Originate?
The BAR symbol dates back to the early 1900s. Before it appeared, slot machines typically used bells, horseshoes, and playing card suits.
Its roots are usually linked to the Bell-Fruit Gum Company. To comply with laws restricting cash payouts, some machines awarded fruit-flavoured gum or sweets. Reels featured fruit to reflect those flavours, and the company’s logo, a stylised bar, was adapted into the now-familiar “BAR” symbol. What began as branding soon became part of the visual language of slot design.
This origin also helps explain why BARs often sit naturally alongside fruit symbols on classic-style machines.
Why Did Early Slot Makers Use BAR Symbols Instead Of Fruit?
Early slot makers leaned on fruit to represent non-cash prizes, but the BAR symbol provided a clean, distinctive addition that also nodded to branding without breaching the rules of the day. It was simple, bold, and easy to recognise at a glance.
Using BARs alongside fruit kept machines compliant while giving manufacturers a way to differentiate their products. Over time, players came to associate BARs with reliable, classic reels, which helped cement their place in slot design.
The Link Between Bell-Fruit Gum And The BAR Symbol
During periods when many types of gambling were restricted, companies explored ways to offer entertainment that stayed within the law. Bell-Fruit’s approach was to award gum, reflect flavours with fruit images, and place its logo on the reels. The rectangular logo evolved into the BAR icon and became a standard feature that others imitated.
As more manufacturers entered the market, the BAR symbol travelled with them. Even on machines not made by gum companies, BARs acted as shorthand for a traditional, fruit-style slot. That familiarity helped the icon spread far beyond its original branding roots.
How The BAR Symbol Spread Into Modern Slot Machines
From mechanical cabinets to electronic machines and then to online games, BARs kept their place because they were clear, versatile, and instantly recognisable. Designers used them to signal a classic theme and to build tiered payouts in a straightforward way.
Today, you’ll still find BARs across many titles, both in venues and online. Sometimes, they serve as lower or mid-value symbols in a game’s paytable; other times, they appear purely for style in retro-themed slots. As noted earlier, their role is visual and organisational rather than functional.
Different BAR Designs And What They Signify
BAR symbols don’t all look identical, but their purpose is consistent. Single, double, and triple versions usually appear together, creating clear steps in a game’s pay structure. Exact values differ by title, so the pay table is the place to confirm how each one is treated.
Single BAR
A single rectangle with “BAR” across it. Often the entry-level BAR, it typically pays less than the higher-tier versions when lined up on a payline.
Double BAR
Two stacked “BAR” rectangles. This version usually sits between single and triple in value, helping games create simple, graded payouts.
Triple BAR
Three stacked “BAR” rectangles. In many titles, this is the highest-paying BAR, though the precise return depends on the game’s paytable.
Because designs vary, it’s always worth checking the information panel for the specific slot you’re viewing. Some titles also award “mixed BAR” wins when different BAR types land together on a line.
Do BAR Symbols Affect Payouts Or Odds?
BARs influence payouts only in the sense that each symbol has a value set by the game’s design. They don’t change the underlying odds. Modern slots use a random number generator that maps outcomes to reel positions, so each spin is independent.
Behind the scenes, developers control how often each symbol appears by setting reel strips or virtual reels. That weighting determines the probability of landing a given symbol or combination, while the paytable sets how much those combinations return. BARs follow the same rules as any other symbol within that framework.
So, while triple BARs might pay more than single BARs in a given game, the chance of seeing them is governed by the machine’s programming, not by anything special about the BAR icon itself.
How To Read A Slot Pay Table With BAR Symbols?
A pay table explains how a slot works. It shows each symbol, the number needed for a win, and the amount paid for those combinations. With BARs, you’ll usually see entries for single, double, and triple versions, and sometimes a line for mixed BAR wins if the game allows them.
It also sets out how wins are formed. On classic-style slots, this is often one or more fixed paylines, where matching symbols must land from left to right on a specific line. On some modern titles, there may be many more lines or even “ways to win,” which pay for matching symbols on adjacent reels regardless of exact position.
Other parts of the information panel may cover RTP, special features, and whether wild symbols can substitute for BARs to complete a line. Taken together, these details show how BARs fit into the wider structure of the game and help you understand what any on-reel combination really means in that title.
Common Myths About BAR Symbols Debunked
One myth is that BARs carry a hidden function that boosts the chance of a win. They don’t. BARs are standard symbols whose value and frequency are set by the paytable and reel configuration.
Another is the idea that BARs are “due” after a run of spins without them. Each spin is independent. Past results do not influence future outcomes, and patterns on the reels cannot be used to forecast what comes next.
Some players also assume BARs are always the highest-paying regular symbols. That can be true on some games, but not all. The pay table, not the symbol’s history or appearance, defines its role.
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Whether you spin the reels or simply enjoy the story behind them, you now know why BAR symbols still have pride of place on slots today.
**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.