What does a popular symbol in online slots have to do with chewing gum and multiplier bonuses? When you step up to the bar, all will be revealed.
The BAR symbol is one of the most well-known in slot games and is associated with classic slots in modern times. Developers have gotten creative with it over time in terms of function and presentation, but the three letters of the word are always present.
The word’s meaning can differ from one slot to the next, mostly based on how it can form paylines or trigger bonus features. Despite that diversity, there is a uniform origin for the BAR symbol.
The Meaning of the BAR symbol in Slots
Over time, this symbol has evolved along with slot games. For the most part, it’s now just another symbol typical of classic slot games.
It did have a special meaning at one point, however. In the early 20th century, many parts of the United States enacted laws that banned slot machines paying out currency.
To keep their businesses alive amid those changes, slot manufacturers changed slot games to pay out candy instead of cash. One common prize was a rectangular bar of chewing gum.
In such slots, the BAR symbol directly correlated to that prize. If you lined up enough of them, the machine gave you something to chew on, quite literally.
The BAR symbol became such an integral part of slot gaming that it stuck around as restrictions softened to allow machines to pay out money. Now, BAR is whatever the slot developer wants it to be in terms of what it means for players.
BAR Symbol Has Diverse Functions in Modern Slots
In the slots you find on BetMGM and brick-and-mortar casino floors today, the BAR symbol really has no uniform function. Its significance can vary greatly from one game to the next.
For example, if you play the exclusive BetMGM Jackpots at BetMGM, the Double BAR symbol works as a multiplier. In other games like the Crazy Jokers slot, the BAR symbol is a common symbol that you must add other symbols to in the right order to hit a payline.
When you register for BetMGM, you can explore all the different utilizations of this classic symbol. You are no longer barred from knowing the history and significance of BAR.
