The Best Fruit Machines at the Online Casinos

A fruit machine is the British term for a particular type of betting game. Slots with this theme are distinguishable from other titles, due to the use of fruits, sevens, bells and star symbols, which are displayed on the reels. The fruit theme can be found on the three-wheel classics as well as the four or five-wheel video slots and progressives.

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This version of the slot machine has a specific set of features which includes [Hold] and [Nudge] buttons, bonus trails, double or lose gamble options, and repeats. These features provide the player with a degree of control over the outcome of the game. For this reason, the British fruit machine can, to some degree, be considered a game of skill. This makes ‘the fruity’ different from other slots, which are purely games of luck, in which a player has no control.

From Convenience Store to Casino Floor

Fruit machines were a spin-off from the classic slot versions with a distinct theme and some unique game features. The first fruit variant made an appearance in 1909, when the Industry Novelty Company introduced a game called ‘Chewing Gum Dispenser’. This particular one was built with the specific purpose of getting around the gambling machine prohibition laws that were in effect in many states in North America. The game used fruit symbols to represent chewing gum flavors.

When the fruit symbols lined up, the machine would dispense the flavor of gum that had been won. The fruit machine/gum dispensers became popular in convenience stores over America and was developed until it was ultimately dispensing coins. When video slots were introduced in the mid-seventies, this theme continued, and the traditional fruit symbols were integrated into the four and five-wheel games. The fruit machine theme is not as popular as it once was, having been overtaken by other more modern slots in the online casinos. However, it is still going strong.

The Online Casinos that Offer Fruit Machines

Most of the online casinos will provide a selection of three, four and five-reel video slots, and progressive jackpots with a fruit machine theme. The easiest way to find these versions online is to look for casinos that provide Microgaming, Betsoft, Playtech or NetEnt games. All these software companies have a good number of popular fruit machine titles. In particular, Microgaming, which supports over 120 top online casinos, has some very impressive games, such as Fruit Fiesta, Big Kahuna, and Cherries Gone Wild.

Fans might also want to look at the options available on some of the larger sports betting sites. Such casinos tend to work with a greater number of software suppliers. This makes it possible to unearth some of the best fruit machine games online, which are provided by a few of the smaller developers.

How to Play Online Casino Fruit Machine Slots

How the fruit machine is played very much depends on what type of slot it is. Many of these online games are for classic 3 reels, video ones, and progressive jackpots. In this case, the player must follow the rules that govern the type of slot being played. On the other hand, if a classic British style fruit machine is being played, the rules will be somewhat different, as there are a number of unique game features to take into account.

Hold and Nudge – Opportunities to hold and nudge the reel can come up randomly. A [HOLD] button allows the player to hold any of the three reels for the next spin. The [NUDGE] button allows a player to nudge any reel down to align the symbols up with the number of nudges awarded.

Bonus Trail or Bonus Board – This is a circular board that is activated randomly. It gives the player a chance to stop the sequence of lights to collect a cash prize or cash multiplier.

Cash Ladders – This is like the bonus trail, but has lights flashing up and down. The closer a player gets to the top of the ladder, the greater the potential winnings.

Gamble Feature – After a win, a gamble feature is sometimes activated for a double or nothing bet. Usually, the player must guess high or low correctly to win.

Cash Pot – Some fruit machines have a cash pot which can be a jackpot. This grows the more the game is played.

The Best Software providers of Classic Fruit Machines

When it comes to fruit machine themes, many of the smaller software companies are crowding the market with developers like EGT, Play’n Go, Merkur Gaming, and Wazdan making a big impact. The Bulgarian company, EGT, deserves a special mention, with some of its most popular fruit machine games positioned above the bigger companies.

NetEnt, Playtech and Microgaming are also reliable picks in this niche. To find the best fruit machine casinos, look for an online venue that supports one of these software providers, and you will be well entertained.

The Popularity of Online Fruit Machines

The role of fruit machines in the history of slot gaming is undeniable. They have been popular everywhere, from the gaming halls of a Las Vegas casino to the Great British Pub. Online fruit machine slot games are still popular and are relatively easy to find. It is possible that the younger generation of players, who did not grow up playing fruit machines in their youth, will overlook this type of game in favor of the more modern slot themes.

This could potentially pose a threat to the future survival of these. If you have never played on a fruit machine before, you should definitely give it a go. They are fun, colorful, and easy to play, making them the perfect choice for beginners to online slots.